Bashar Al-Assad

Syria Condemns Arab League Pullout

The Syrian government has condemned a decision by the Arab League to pull its monitors from the raging civil war zone.

Syrian Red Crescent Official Shot Dead

Even emergency medical responders are now apparently considered fair game in Syria's budding civil war. A Red Crescent official is dead.

EU Appoints New Mideast Envoy, Germany's Andreas Reinicke

The European Union has appointed a new Middle East envoy; Andreas Reinicke, Germany’s ambassador to Syria.

Arab League Plan Calls for Assad to Resign

The Arab League's path forward in Syria: Assad will delegate powers to his vice president after national unity government is formed.

Arab League Extends Syria Observer Mandate By 1 Month

The 22-member Arab League has officially voted to extend the mandate of the observer mission to Syria by one month.

Arab League Mulls Renewal of Monitor Mission in Syria

The Arab League is considering whether to end or renew the mission of 165 observers sent to Syria in hopes of deterring government murder.

GeaGea Tells Hizbullah 'The Game is Over'

LF party leader Samir GeaGea put Hizbullah on notice that it won't be able to keep its arms after Assad's regime falls.

GeaGea Repeats Demand for Hizbullah to Disarm

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea warns Hizbullah: Make a "historic" deal to disarm before Syria's president is toppled from power.

Ban to Israel: End the 'Occupation'

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on Israel Sunday to end its “occupation” of Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem.

Russia Suspected of Sending Ammo to Assad

Russia last week managed to outsmart the EU sanctions against Syria and slipped a ship filled with bullets through to the port of Tartus.

Arab League Chief Warns Against Civil War in Syria

Arab League chief Nabil Elaraby: Assad is not complying with our plan. If the violence continues, it may turn into civil war.

Arab League Reconsiders Observer Mission

The Arab League is rethinking its observer mission and may decide to pull its monitors from Syria.

Intelligence Officer: Iran Trying to Keep Assad Alive

Maj. Gen. Kohavi: Iran and Hizbullah assisting Assad through know-how, arms and active involvement.

Syria's Assad Rallies Supporters in Damascus

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad appeared in public Wednesday in Damascus for the first time in months to rally supporters.

Erdogan Warns of a Civil War in Syria

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warns of a “civil war” in Syria, says his country will continue to impose sanctions on Assad.

Arab League Meets to Decide: Time to Invite UN to Syria?

The Arab League is meeting in Cairo Sunday to decide whether it's time to invite the United Nations to join its mission to Syria.

Arab Israelis Cross Border to Help Assad

Two Arab Israelis are believed to have crossed the border to Syria last week to act on their support for President Bashar Assad.

Report: Assad Pulls Tanks from Syrian Cities

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has withdrawn tanks and heavy weapons from cities but his forces continue to kill unarmed protesters.

Barak: Assad 'Only Has Weeks'

Defense Minister Ehud Barak says the regime of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad only has 'a few weeks' before it loses control.

Arab League Advisory Board Says 'Pull Monitors From Syria'

An advisory board within the 22-nation Arab League is warning the organization to yank its monitors from Syria.

Hamas Leader Khaled Mashaal Flees Damascus

Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal has fled Damascus together with his family, the London-based Al-Hayat newspaper reports.

Syria: At Least 32 Dead in Clashes Around the Country

At least 32 people dead in Syria after thousands took to the streets to protest.

Syrian Pot Calls Lebanon Black

Lebanon Cannot Get Its Story Right on Arms to Syria

Lebanon is trying to stay out of the Syrian troubles, but Syria and Hizbullah are allies and the latter backs Syria's propaganda line.

Maher Assad, Brother of Syrian President, Missing

Maher Assad, the brother of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, is reported by Arab media as missing.

Syria: Arab Monitors Revisit Homs; Violence Continues

As Arab monitors visit the city of Homs, the violence continues throughout Syria. Assad urged to allow monitors complete their mission.

Assad Pulls Troops Out of Homs to Impress Monitors

In what observers say is a 'shell-game,' Syria has pulled its forces out of Homs just in time for Arab League observers to visit.

Report: Syrian Gov't Troops Shoot at Arab League Monitor

Syrian government forces shot an Arab League monitor Monday night, leading observers to question whether to continue their mission.

Dozens Die Ahead of Monitors' Arrival in Syria

Nearly two dozen Syrians were killed Monday as more Arab League monitors were scheduled to arrive in the country.

Syria: Sunnis Threatening to Massacre Minority Alawites

As the ethnic tension in Syria rises, the Sunnis are threatening to massacre the minority Alawites.

Arab League Sends Advance Team to Syria

The Arab League has sent a 10-member advance team to Syria to ensure that monitors will have free access across the country.

5 Iranian Technicians Kidnapped in Syria

Five Iranian electrical engineers have been abducted in Syria by unknown gunmen in the central city of Homs.

Syrian Army Deserters Mowed Down by Machine Guns in Idlib

Dozens of Syrian Army soldiers were shot to death Monday as they fled their base in an attempt to desert in the province of Idlib.

UN Condemns Syria

The United Nations has voted to condemn the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for its murderous nine-month campaign of violence.

U.S. Official: Assad is 'Dead Man Walking'

Senior U.S. official Frederic Hof: The downfall of Assad's regime is imminent. He's like a dead man walking.

Syria Death Toll: 1,000 Dead in 10 Days

The UN Security Council has been warned: Syrian citizens are dying by the thousands -- 1,000 in the first 10 days of December.

UN Report: Syria Deaths Top 5,000

UNHRC chief Navi Pillay revised her count of the death toll in Syria upward by 1,000; repeated calls to refer Syria to the ICC.

Expert: A Threatened Assad May Attack Israel

Middle East expert Professor Eyal Zisser: If Assad feels threatened by the anti-regime protesters, he may attack Israel.

Syrians Vote Despite Battles in the Street

Syrians went out to vote in a nationwide municipal election Monday, despite continued violence and a feeling the polls were useless.

Barak: Assad's Downfall Would be a 'Blessing'

Defense Minister Ehud Barak: Assad's rule is coming to an end. It would be a blow to Iran and Hizbullah.

Syrian Opposition Calls General Strike, Fears Bloodbath

Syrian opposition forces call a general strike hoping to hasten the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad, despite fears of a bloodbath.

Prof. Daniel Schechtman Receives Nobel Prize, Gold Medal

Technion Institute's Professor Dan Schechtman received the Nobel Prize Saturday night in Stockholm from the King of Sweden.

Syrian Oil Pipeline to Homs Blown Up

The oil pipeline leading from eastern Syria to the central city of Homs was blown up on Thursday, destroying supplies to the city.

Syrian FM: Assad's Words Distorted by State Dept

Syria's Foreign Ministry is working on damage control, denying President Assad refused to take responsibility for the actions of his troops.

Assad Tells ABC: 'We Don't Kill Our People'

Syrian President Assad tells ABC's Barbara Walters, "No government in the world [would] kill its people unless it's led by a crazy person."

Assad's 'Mexican Standoff' with the Arab League

Syria's president accepts monitors to ensure his troops end violence, but only if the Arab League agrees not to enforce its own deal.

US, French Ambassadors Return to Damascus

The U.S. and France have both returned their ambassadors to Damascus this week as the world hopes to see democracy in Syria.

Former Syrian Vice President: My Nephew Bashar Must Step Down

Rifaat al-Assad, uncle of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad: He needs to step down. The Syrian people live in fear.

Syria Says It is Negotiating with Arab League

The deadline has passed, but Syria says it is still negotiating with Arab League over its request to send observers.

Assad Ignores Arab League Ultimatum, 25 More Die

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has not responded to an Arab League deadline to sign its initiative to end the violence against its people.

UN Official: Syria 'On Cusp of Civil War'

The Syrian National Council and Free Syrian Army agreed to cooperate; top UN rights official says Syria is approaching 'civil war.'

Arab League Adds Travel Ban, Tightens Sanctions on Syria

The Cairo-based Arab League has tightened its sanctions on Syria, listing 17 high-ranking officials on a travel ban to other Arab nations.

Turkey Hits Syria with Sanctions

Turkey has struck Syria with a list of economic sanctions designed to break the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

UNHRC Charges Syria's Assad with Crimes Against Humanity

The UN Human Rights Council has decided Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is guilty of crimes against humanity committed by his troops.

Lebanon: Thousands Rally Against Hizbullah and Syria

Tens of thousands Lebanese residents protest against the Assad regime and its ally, the Hizbullah terror group.

Arab Countries Preparing to Sanction Assad

After Syria refuses to let observers enter its territory, Arab nations now planning to slap sanctions on the Assad regime.

Turkey: Syria at 'Point of No Return'

Turkish President Abdullah Gul warned the Royal Society Wednesday in London that Syria has “come to a point of no return.”

Erdogan to Assad: 'Your Days Are Numbered'

Turkey's prime minister tells Syria's Assad tanks and cannons would not keep him in power forever - who will you fight?

Assad: Syria Won’t Bow Down, Crackdown will Continue

Syrian President Bashar Assad says he will not bow down to Arab League pressure and will continue his brutal crackdown against protesters.

Syria Agrees to Observers; Bloodshed Continues

Syria agrees "in principle" to allow Arab League observers into the country. Meanwhile, the bloody crackdown continues.

Syrian Army Defectors Attack Security Facility

Syrian army defectors attack an intelligence complex in Damascus, the first assault on a major security facility.