Syria

Turkey: More Than 2,000 Refugees from Syria in One Day

More than 2,300 Syrian refugees pour into Turkey in a day. 22,000 Syrians so far have crossed into Turkey.

Red Cross Signs Deal with Syria

The International Committee of the Red Cross has signed a deal with Syria's government to expand a humanitarian mission to Syrian citizens.

UN Negotiating Deployment of Syria Observers

Norway's Maj. General Robert Mood is negotiating the deployment of an unarmed UN observer force in Syria.

Russia May Back UN Draft on Syria

Russia has hinted it will consider backing a US drafted demand for Syrian president Bashar al-Assad to honor an April 10 ceasefire date.

Russia's Lavrov Warns Against Arming Syrian Opposition

Russia’s foreign minister warned other nations against arm thein Syrian opposition, saying it would only escalate hostilities.

Fierce Fighting in Syria Despite Pullout Claims

Even as President Bashar al-Assad's government claims it is honoring a pullback agreement, his troops are striking at rebels.

Peres Thanks Soldiers over Secure Radio

President Shimon Peres thanked soldiers during a visit to Israel’s northern border. Peres also slams Assad.

Report: Syrian Troops Begin Pullout from Some Cities

Syrian government claims troops are withdrawing from cities ahead of ceasefire, but opposition is saying otherwise.

Syria: Fighting Continues as Ceasefire Looms

An advance team of UN peacekeepers are headed to Syria ahead of a planned ceasefire, but fighting has not abated.

Syria: Assad Agrees to April 10 Pull Back

Syrian president Bashar al-Assad has agreed to implement a ceasefire plan by former UN chief Kofi Annan on April 10.

US Officials: Assad is Winning

US intelligence reports indicate Syrian president Bashar al-Assad isn't going anywhere as the world refuses to back the rebels.

'Friends of Syria' to Send Millions in Aid to Rebels

A coalition of more than 70 partners pledges to send millions of dollars and communications equipment to Syria's opposition groups

70 Foreign Nations Meet in Istanbul Over Syria

As regime forces continue to slaughter Syrians, foreign ministers debate if and how to arm rebel fighters against gov't troops in Syria.

Syrian 'Peace': Fresh Clashes Break Out

Clashes erupt across many parts of Syria, despite Assad having accepted a peace plan brokered by UN envoy Kofi Annan.

Annan to Assad: 'The Deadline is Now'

UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan has demanded Syrian president Bashar al-Assad immediately implement an agreed to ceasefire.

Syrian Opposition: Implement Peace Plan Within 2 Days

Syrian opposition willing to accept Kofi Annan's peace plan if Assad's complies with its points within two days.

Khamenei: Syria's Anti-Israel, So We'll Defend It

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei tells Turkish PM Erdogan: Iran will defend the Syrian regime due to its anti-Israeli stance.

UN Human Rights Chief: No Statute of Limitations for Assad

UN human rights chief Navi Pillay says there is enough evidence to prosecute Syrian president Bashar al-Assad for war crimes.

Arab League Calls on Syria to Halt Violence

The Arab League wants to resolve the crisis in Syria, but Damascus refuses to consider the 22-nation body's appeal until it is reinstated.

UN Calls for Immediate Ceasefire in Syria

UN Sec'y-Gen. Ban Ki-moon has called on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to immediately implement the ceasefire deal he agreed to.

Syrian Army Seizes City Despite 'Peace Plan'

Syrian Army troops have taken control of the central city of Kalat el-Mudik despite the government having allegedly accepted a peace plan.

Beirut Denies Syrian Incursion

A Lebanese Army officer said reports of a Syrian incursion into Lebanon were of a dubious nature due to nebulous border markings.

Syria Formally Accepts 'Annan Peace Plan'

President Bashar al-Assad has formally accepted a UN-backed peace plan penned by special envoy Kofi Annan.

Syria Fires on Lebanese as Deserters Flee Army

Syrian troops fired machine guns on a border town in northern Lebanon, but Beirut denied reports that Assad’s crossed the border.

Kara Charges Assad with Death of Syria Druze Leader

Deputy Minister Ayoub Kara says President Bashar Assad is behind the death of a Druze leader who died in a mysterious 'accident'.

Syrian Forces Resume Shelling of Homs — 8 Killed

Violence in Syria continues apace even as UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan and President Bashar al-Assad exchange letters.

Turkey Closes Syrian Embassy; Death Toll at 10,000

The international noose is closing in on Assad. Turkey has shut down its Damascus embassy, and Russia warned Syria it faces civil war.

Medvedev Says Annan's Mission is 'Last Chance' for Syria

Russian President warns that Kofi Annan’s mission is the last chance for avoiding a civil war in Syria.

Druze Anti-Assad Leader Dies in Syria

A Syrian Druze leader has been killed in the city of Soueida, the country's Waqf Ministry and its Druze Unitarians' Sect announced.

US Human Rights Group: Syrian Army Using Human Shields

A US-based human rights group has accused the Syrian government army of using human shields in its war on rebels.

Pressured Assad Steps Up Tempo

Russia Shifting Position on Assad, Tells Him to Make Haste

For various reasons, Russia is moving away from its unwavering support for Bashar Assad.

EU Shopping Sanctions for Asmaa al-Assad

European foreign ministers have decided Asmaa al-Assad's extravagant shopping sprees must come to and end if Syria is to be free.

Syrian Tanks Shell Damascus Suburbs

Rebel raids on the Syrian capital have resulted in yet more shelling of civilian areas and President Bashar al-Assad fights to surrvive.

Security Council in Toothless Show on Syria

The UNSC has made a non-binding 'presidential statement' calling for a ceasefire and talks in Syria based on envoy Kofi Annan's proposals.

Damascus Suburbs Under Government Tank Fire

Syrian Army regulars attacked two large Damascus suburbs Wednesday, using tank fire in an attempt to rout entrenched rebel forces.

Videos of Assad’s Thug Squads

Videos emerge of Assad loyalists executing rebels and throwing bodies off rooftops. Russia is suspected of sending troops to help Assad.

Assad Control Freaking Out

Damascus Fighting and Wife's Emails Dent Myth of Assad Control

The Assad regime, however repressive, appeared to offer stability and control. Without that, who needs him?

Syrian General Staff Suffering Brain Drain

Generals continue to defect from Bashar al-Assad's army to join the rebels; two more left for Turkey as fighting erupted in Damascus.

Turkey Seeking Its Journalists in Syria

Turkey has asked the Syrian government to locate two of its nationals, working journalists, who have gone missing in the war-torn country.

Dozens Killed in Machine-Gun Battles in Streets of Damascus

The raging anti-Assad rebellion has reached Damascus, where rebels and Assad’s forces are locked in battle. Dozens are dead.

Report: Syria Imported 6 Times More Weapons Between 2007-2011

Syria imported six times more weapons between the years 2007 and 2011 than in previous years, says a Stockholm-based institute.

Video: Dozens Dead, Wounded in Damascus Car Bombs

Dozens of civilians and soldiers were killed and wounded in multiple explosions in Damascus. Rebels and the Assad regime blame each other.

27 Dead in Syria Bombing

Damascus car bombing kills 27, wounds 97. Bombers targeted soldiers, police.

Erdogan Considers Buffer Zone Along Border with Syria

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan suggests a safe zone could be established along his country’s border with Syria.

Egyptian Fatwa – Assassinate Assad!

A prominent Egyptian cleric has called for good Muslims everywhere to kill Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad saying failing to do so is a sin

Gulf States Close Embassies in Syria

All six Arab Gulf states will close their embassies in Syria in protest of the year-long crackdown on protesters.

Syrian Crisis Enters Second Year

In Syria: Saudi Arabia closes embassy; massacres continue; death toll approaches 9,000; some 230,000 are displaced; world remains deadlocked

Assad's E-mails Reveal Iranian Ties

A cache of several thousand e-mails sent by President Bashar Assad and his wife reveal he took advice from Iran on handling the uprising.

Russia Frustrated With Assad

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov made a rare show of public pique over Assad's slow adoption of recommended reforms in Syria.

UN: More Than 230,000 Syrian Refugees

The top UN official for refugees says hundreds of thousands of Syrians have been displaced since violence erupted in the country a year ago.

Syria Condemns Israel, Ignores Own Crackdown

Syria condemns Israeli air raids on Gaza, blatantly ignoring its own brutal crackdown on opposition protesters.

Syrian Troops Murder 55 in Idlib Massacre

In the second mass execution this week, forces loyal to Syrian president Bashar al-Assad murder 55 in Idlib; UN remains deadlocked.

Moscow Refuses to Stop Arms Sales to Syria

Russia insists on fulfilling its 'contractual obligations' to provide arms to Syria even as reports of war crimes by Assad's regime emerge.

Syria: 47 Women and Children Murdered in Homs

The widely varied death toll in Monday's horrific massacre in Homs has solidified at 26 women and 21 children as Assad's forces "mop up"

It's Time For Arab Apartheid Week

Demonstration in Tel Aviv protesting Syrian bloodshed and the regime's heinous human rights violations, as part of Arab Apartheid Week.

Massacre in Homs

Reports of summary executions and mass arrests continue to emerge from Homs and the UN Security Council remains deadlocked on Syria.

Congressman: Impeach Obama if US Fights in Syria

A Congressman introduces a resolution calling for impeaching Obama if he sends US troops into Syria without Congressional approval.

Assad, Annan Meet as Troops Launch an Assault on Idlib

Visiting UN envoy Kofi Annan meets President Bashar Assad as military launches an anticipated assault on the city of Idlib.

Syrian Opposition Rejects Dialogue with Assad

Syrian opposition rejects calls by UN envoy Kofi Annan for dialogue with President Bashar Assad, putting a wrench in his peace plan.

Shelling Renewed in Homs Ahead of Annan Visit

As former UN secretary general Kofi Annan hopes for peace in Syria the crackdown of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad continues apace.