Syria

Syria Blasts UN Envoy for Criticizing Barrel Bomb Attacks

Syria's government slams Staffan de Mistura for his criticism of regime air raids that killed nearly 100 people.

ISIS Beheads Antiquities Scholar in Palmyra

ISIS jihadists behead an 82-year-old antiquities scholar in ancient Syrian city, then hang his body on a column in a main square.

Chemical Watchdog 'Concerned' by ISIS Use of Mustard Gas

Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons voices serious concern over reports that ISIS used chemical weapons.

UN Security Council Backs New Syria Peace Plan

Security Council backs a new push for peace talks in Syria, in a measure adopted by Russia.

US Condemns Assad's 'Disregard for Human Life'

US demands Syrian President Bashar al-Assad be given the boot after nearly 100 killed in devastating regime strike in Syria.

As World Watches: Syrian Regime Carpet Bombs Market

Regime deploys 'scorched earth' policy in 10 strikes on busy market with death toll nearing 100; 'appalled' UN accused of accountability.

Testing Confirms ISIS Used Mustard Gas in Syria

Officials say test results from ISIS attack in Syria confirm mustard agent was used. Similar attack in Iraq still under investigation.

UN Aid Chief to Pay Visit to Syria

Stephen O'Brien, the UN's top aid official, will pay his first visit to Syria next week to step up relief efforts for the war-torn country.

Syrian Opposition Defends Moscow Support for Assad

Despite Moscow's open support for the Syrian regime, Damascus's opposition in exile insists Russia is only trying to find a solution.

Turkey Building Fence to Keep Syria Spillover Out

Ankara building concrete security fence, digging trenches against the onslaught of ISIS and other terror attacks.

UN Council to Meet on Islamic State Gay Attacks

First-ever meeting on 'sexual minorities' to be spearheaded by the US, Chile.

Syrian Opposition Insists: Assad Must Go

Syria's main opposition group meets Russian foreign minister, rejects calls to join forces against ISIS.

US Accuses Syria of Barrel Bomb Escalation

US envoy to UN calls for global action after regime drops over 2,000 lethal crude bombs on civilian areas since July.

Russian FM Caught in Saudi Hot Mic: 'F***ing Morons'

Hold that thought: Lavrov caught cussing in meeting on Syrian conflict - was he targeting cameramen, or Saudi counterpart?

Rebels Close in on Assad's Latakia Bastion

Rare lethal rocket attack strikes capital of Assad's Alawite sect's heartland on western coast, as rebels close in on key regime stronghold.

Venezuela Delays UN Resolution on Syria

A UN Security Council approval of a draft statement on Syria delayed because of objections from Venezuela.

Iran Calls on Arab Neighbors to 'Fight Terrorism'

Pot, meet kettle: Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif calls on Arab world to 'fight terrorism' as Tehran sponsors world terror.

Turkey, US Ready to Begin Anti-ISIS Mission

After a 'pause' for coordination, official says, Turkey and the US are ready to begin operations against Islamic State terror organizaiton.

Regime Airstrikes Near Damascus Kill 37 Civilians

Death toll keeps rising in bombardment that wounded at least 120, as rebels kill 13 in rocket strikes on Damascus.

NGO Documents Syrian Regime's 'War Crimes' Near Damascus

Bombings timed to terrorize civilians and use of starvation in Eastern Ghouta blockade constitutes 'crimes against humanity,' says Amnesty.

Obama to Press Ahead with Training of 'Moderate' Syrian Rebels

President Barack Obama's administration says it will continue with mission to train Syrian opposition fighters, despite initial failures.

Syria Rebels, Pro-Regime Forces Agree on 48-Hour Truce

Islamist groups and pro-regime forces agree on a ceasefire in flashpoint towns in northwest Syria and along the border with Lebanon.

Assad's Cousin Arrested Over 'Road Rage' Killing

Syrian authorities arrest Suleiman Al-Assad, a cousin of the president accused of killing a military officer in a road rage incident.

Turkey-Israel Relations Normalizing - Over Syria

Concern over both Assad and the terror groups vying to replace him is drawing Istanbul and Jerusalem together, top official reveals.

Power Shift? ISIS Trying to Conquer Key Rebel Supply Line

ISIS launches extended assault replete with suicide bombers to capture key villages in supply line from Turkey to Aleppo region.

Russia Slams 'Unfounded' Claims of Syrian Chemical Weapons

Russian FM Sergei Lavrov backs Syria after Security Council approves committee to investigate return of chlorine gas attacks.

Rebel Rocket Fire Kills 5 in Damascus

Rocket fire from rebel-held areas around Syrian capital kill five and wound 37.

Riyadh, Moscow to Meet Over ISIS, Syria

Russian and Saudi officials to meet over Middle East issues - just after news surfaces of a secret meeting between Russia, Iran.

Security Council Approves Syria Chemical Weapons Probe

UN Security Council votes unanimously to set up a panel to identify who is behind deadly chlorine gas attacks in Syria.

ISIS Abducts 60 Christians Who Already Fled Once

Will the Christian world respond? Large number of Christians among 230 total civilians kidnapped in capture of central Syrian town.

Oman and Syria to Work Together to End Civil War

Syria's Foreign Minister visits Oman, agrees with counterpart to work together to end brutal civil war.

Syrian Death Toll Tops 240,000

Of the nearly quarter million killed in four-year war, 12,000 were children, as the bloodshed shows no signs of stopping.

Will Perpetrators of Syria Chemical Attacks be Identified?

United States and Russia agree on draft UN resolution aimed at identifying the perpetrators of chemical weapons attacks in Syria.

Iran to Submit Syria Peace Plan to the UN

Iran says it will submit a new peace plan for war-ravaged Syria to the United Nations after holding consultations with Damascus.

Syria, Russia and Iran Huddle Up in Tehran

Day after Turkey claims Russia is going to drop Syria, key meeting of foreign ministers taking place - will it mark a shift in region?

White House: We'll Defend Syria Rebels with Airstrikes

White House confirms it will defend American-backed rebels in Syria with airstrikes if necessary.

United States Widens Sanctions on Syria

New American sanctions target individuals and entities providing energy products used by the Assad regime in fighting its own people.

Russia Condemns US Plan to Extend Syria Bombing

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov pushes for 'immediate end to external intervention in the Syrian crisis.'

US May Take 'Additional Steps' to Defend Syria Allies

White House threatens Syrian regime not to interfere with US-backed groups after Al Qaeda affiliate kidnaps soldiers.

Mortar Shells Strike Golan Heights

Shells explode in an open area; strike presumed to be Syria spillover.

End of Assad? Erdogan Claims Putin Pulling Support

Putin 'may give up on Assad' according to Turkish president, in a sign that some of the last backers of Assad may leave him out to dry.

Obama Authorizes Airstrikes to Defend Syrian Rebels

Obama authorizes use of airstrikes to defend U.S.-trained Syrian rebels if they come under attack from terrorist groups or the Assad regime.

Key Syrian Anti-Regime Group Quits Opposition Bloc

Local Coordination Committees quits opposition in exile, accusing it of being undermined by internal conflict.

Al-Qaeda Attacks US Trained 'Moderate' Rebels in Syria

Al-Qaeda's Nusra Front launches assault on HQ of 'New Syrian Force,' leaving casualties on both sides, day after alleged abductions.

Syria Skeptical About Turkey's Efforts to Fight ISIS

Syria's foreign ministry says it is skeptical that Turkey is genuine in its efforts to fight ISIS.

UN Envoy Invites Syrians to Parallel, Thematic Talks

'Sadly there is still no consensus on the way forward,' UN envoy to Syria laments.

Report: Israeli Airstrike Kills Pro-Regime Fighters in Syria

Lebanese, Syrian sources claim airstrike by either jet or drone killed a number of regime militiamen in Syrian Golan Heights.

Syrian Rebels Gain Ground Near Regime Heartland

Al-Qaeda and other rebels push back government troops in an area bordering President Bashar Al-Assad's coastal heartland.

UN Aid Chief Calls for Greater Access to Syria

United Nations aid chief Stephen O'Brien announces Syria visit, says he hopes to secure better humanitarian access to Syrians.

ISIS Expelled From Syrian Provincial Capital

In major loss for jihadists, regime troops and Kurdish fighters drive ISIS out of Hasakeh a month after the group launched assault on it.

United States and Turkey to Create 'ISIS-Free Zone'

United States and Turkey to work together to drive ISIS jihadists from northern Syria, senior American officials say.

Kurds Cut Key ISIS Supply Route in Northern Syria

Kurdish fighters score latest victory in Syria, taking strategic town from jihadists after weeks of intense battles.

Two Swedes Charged Over Terrorism in Syria

Two Swedish men charged in their country over "terrorist crimes" committed in Syria in 2013.

Iranian Nuclear Deal to Strengthen Damascus?

Syrian government defiantly dismisses talk that the West could influence the Iran-Syria pact, boasts it will become 'more powerful.'

Prelude to Iran?

Officials: Despite Inspections, Syria Kept its Chemical Arsenal

Inspectors reveal regime lied to them and hid chemical arsenal, but Western governments refused to press Assad.

Syrian Rebels Launch Offensive on City of Daraa

Rebels including Al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate launch a fresh offensive on the city described as the "cradle of the revolution."

Watch: Australians Nearly Shot by ISIS on Reality TV Show

When TV gets too real: participants in Australian show join Kurds and are brought straight to frontlines, where ISIS almost kills them.

Spain Working to Track Down Three Missing Journalists

Spanish intelligence agents working urgently to track down three journalists missing in Syria, says Spanish PM.

Three Hezbollah Officials Sanctioned by United States Treasury

United States Treasury imposes sanctions on three Hezbollah military officials and a businessman tied to the group.

Key Figure in Al-Qaeda Offshoot Killed in Syria

Pentagon says an airstrike in Syria has killed Muhsin al-Fadhli, a key figure in the Khorasan terrorist group.