Syria Unrest

Morsi to Assad: Time to Step Down

Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi: "I tell the Syrian regime: there is still a chance to end the bloodshed."

Red Cross Chief Visits Syria as Violence Continues

Red Cross chief Peter Maurer urges Assad to respect international humanitarian law and let the ICRC provide aid.

Syria: No Talking with Rebels Until they Lay Down Arms

Syria’s Information Minister clarifies his country will not speak with rebels until they lay down their arms.

Senior Iranian Official Warns U.S. Against Attacking Syria

A senior official in the Iranian Revolutionary Guards threatens the U.S. that Iran would respond harshly to a “stupid” attack on Syria.

Khamenei Blames Israel, U.S. for the Situation in Syria

A day after calling Israelis “ferocious Zionist wolves”, Iran's Supreme Leader claims Israel is “behind the tragedy in Syria.”

UN Urged to Set Up 'Safe Havens' Inside Syria

The United Nations says that proposals to set up secure safe zones in Syria need to be studied carefully.

Assad Blames Turkey for the Violence in His Country

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad claims that Turkey is to blame for violence in the 17-month-old uprising in his country.

Assad: The Situation is 'Improving'

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in special interview to Syrian television: The situation is improving but it will take time.

Syrian Rebels Claim to Take Over Chemical Weapons

A statement published by the Syrian rebels says that they have taken over a military base and found missiles with non-conventional warheads.

Assad Vows to Defeat 'Foreign Plot'

Assad says Syria will defeat the foreign plot being waged against the country as his troops continue to kill rebels.

Number of Syrian Refugees Rises to 200,000

The United Nations refugee agency says more than 200,000 Syrian refugees have fled to neighboring countries.

Former Syrian MP Flees to Jordan

A former Syrian MP, Nasser Al Hariri from Daraa, has fled to Jordan along with large numbers of Syrian officers.

Syrian Opposition: No Talks with 'Criminal' Assad

Senior member of the Syrian opposition rejects remarks that Syria is ready to discuss Assad's resignation.

Syria Hints it is Ready to Talk About Assad's Resignation

Qadri Jamil, Syria’s deputy prime minister, says Syria ready to discuss the resignation of President Bashar al-Assad.

Obama to Assad: Using Chemical Weapons is a Red Line

Obama warns Assad to heed warnings to neither use nor move chemical or biological weapons or face consequences.

Report: Germany Sending Data to Syrian Rebels

Germany has been sending intelligence information to Syrian rebels, according to a report in Bild Am Sonntag.

Cousin of Syrian Vice President Defects

Colonel Yarab al-Shara, a cousin of Syrian Vice President Farouk al-Shara, announces defection from Assad’s regime.

UN Ends Observer Mission in Syria

The United Nations calls an end to its military observer mission in Syria, days before its mandate expires.

Syria Suspended from Islamic Group as Violence Rages

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation officially suspends Syria from membership, as Assad's forces shell a town near Aleppo.

Syria: 31 Dead in Air Strike on Rebel Bastion

A Syrian air strike on a rebel bastion near Aleppo kills 31 people including children.

Former Syrian PM: Assad Only Controls 30% of Syria

Former Syrian Prime Minister Riyad Hijab, who defected last week, says the Assad’s regime now controls only 30 percent of the country.

Organization of Islamic Cooperation Agrees to Suspend Syria

Foreign ministers at a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation agree to suspend Syria from the international body.

Video: Syrian Rebels Present Pilot of Downed Plane

Syrian rebels release a video of the pilot of a Syrian Air Force plane which had been downed earlier.

Syrian Opposition Leader Calls for No-Fly Zone

Opposition leader says the Syrian rebels fighting to oust Assad need the protection of no-fly zones near the borders with Jordan and Turkey.

Clashes Break Out Between Jordanian and Syrian Troops

Fighting breaks out between Jordanian and Syrian troops near the border between the two countries. No casualties reported.

U.S. Imposes Penalties on Syrian Firm and on Hizbullah

The United States imposes penalties against Syria that target state-run oil company Sytrol.

Clinton Warns Against 'Sectarian War' in Syria

U.S. Secretary of State warns Syria must not be allowed to descend into a sectarian war, calls on world to plan for post-Assad Syria.

Assad Receives Support from Iranian Allies

Syria's President Bashar Assad meets Iran's Saeed Jalili, who says Iran will maintain its partnership with Syria.

White House: Assad's Government is Crumbling

White House says the defection of Syria's prime minister shows that the Syrian government is “crumbling from within”.

Syrian Intelligence Officer Defects as Fighting Intensifies

Senior Syrian officer reported to have defected. He was head of an intelligence organization responsible for monitoring dissent.

PA Sends Aid Convoy to 'Palestinian Refugees' in Syria

An aid convoy with food and medicine left Ramallah and headed towards a Syrian area of 'Palestinian refugees'.

Assad's Forces Pound Rebels in Aleppo

Assad's forces attack rebel positions in Aleppo as rebels prepare for a “strong offensive” by government forces on the city.

UN Chief: Aleppo Brutality May be Crimes Against Humanity

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon: The reported brutality in Aleppo may amount to crimes against humanity.

Russia Condemns UN's Condemnation of Assad

Russia says the resolution on Syria adopted by UN us “harmful,” says it was tantamount to a show of support for rebels.

Prosor Attacks Syria in Fiery UN Speech

Israel's ambassador to the UN, Ron Prosor, fiercely attacks Syria and its ambassador during a speech to the General Assembly.

UN Condemns Syrian Government, Demands Political Transition

UN General Assembly votes 133-12 to condemn the Syrian government, demands a political transition in Syria.

Assad Transfers Missiles to Lebanese Border

Assad has transferred a advanced missiles to a border crossing used as a central route to transfer weapons to Hizbullah.

UN Confirms Syrian Rebels Have Heavy Weapons

The head of the UN peacekeeping department confirms Syria's rebels have heavy weapons, as rebels capture a tank.

Syria's Muslim Brotherhood Hopes for Islamic State

The Muslim Brotherhood in Syria says that the country post-Assad will be an Islamic state.

Report: Obama Authorized U.S. Support for Syrian Rebels

President Barack Obama has signed a secret order authorizing U.S. support for rebels in Syria, sources say.

Report: Syrian Rebels Acquire Surface-to-Air Missiles

News report says rebels fighting to depose Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad have acquired a small supply of surface-to-air missiles.

UN General Assembly to Discuss Syria Crisis

UN General Assembly to meet on Syria, vote on a resolution that condemns the Security Council for failing to take action against Damascus.

Syria's Foreign Minister Blames Israel for Unrest

Syria’s Foreign Minister and his Iranian counterpart accuse Israel of plotting to overthrow the regime of Syrian President Assad.

Syrian Army Declares Victory in Damascus

Government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad declares victory in Damascus and pounds rebels in Aleppo.

Erdogan in Britain, Calls for International Steps Against Syria

Turkish PM: International steps must be taken to deal with Assad's military build-up around Aleppo and his threat to use chemical weapons.

Ban Demands Syria State it Won't Use Chemical Weapons

UN Secretary-General Ban says he is “deeply” concerned about reports of the possible use of chemical weapons by Syria.

Hizbullah Places Itself at Assad's Disposal

The Hizbullah terror group affirms its allegiance to Syria, offers to place itself at President Bashar Assad’s disposal.

Defected Syria General Meets Turkey's Foreign Minister

Brigadier General Manaf Tlas, one of the most senior defectors from Assad's rule, says he will try to help unite Syria's opposition.

U.S. Concerned Over Impending Aleppo Massacre

U.S. says it is concerned that Assad's forces are planning a massacre in Aleppo, but rules out military intervention in the conflict.

Defected Syrian General: Denounce Assad's Crimes

Defected Syrian brigadier general Manaf Tlas calls on the Syrian military to denounce the crimes committed by Assad's forces.

Obama Directly Warns Assad About Using Chemical Weapons

Obama: Assad will be held accountable if he made the “tragic mistake” of using his stockpile of chemical weapons.

Syrian Troops Execute 20 Men in Damascus

Syrian troops execute unarmed men suspected of assisting rebels in Damascus.

Syria: Rebels Seize an Army School Near Aleppo

Syrian rebel forces seize key army infantry school north of the city of Aleppo as fighting continues.

Syria Fighting Continues as Army Pounds Damascus

Syrian army helicopters pound Damascus with rockets and heavy machine guns and tanks, try to reverse gains by rebels.

Barak: Assad's Fall Closer than Ever

Defense Minister Ehud Barak estimates that the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime is closer than ever.

UN Security Council Extends Syrian Monitoring Mission

The UN Security Council votes unanimously to extend its monitoring mission in Syria for 30 days.

Syria: Rebels Attack Damascus Police Headquarters

Rebel attack on Damascus police headquarters leaves dozens of security personnel dead or wounded.

Jordan's King: Damascus Attack a Serious Blow to Assad

Jordan's King Abdullah II says the attack that killed members of Assad's inner circle is a “tremendous blow to the regime.”

Defecting Syrian General Confirmed to be in France

General Manaf Tlas, who defected from Assad's regime this month, is confirmed by President Hollande to be in France.

Syrian Rebels Plan to Intensify Attacks in Damascus

Syrian rebels will intensify attacks inside Damascus and target sensitive security installations in operation to “liberate Damascus”.