Topic: Damascus (Syria)
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Five things international community must give Syria after Bashar al-Assad
Transition in Syria after Bashar al-Assad will be impossible without constructive international support. From outsiders, Syria will need these five key things:
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Five reasons why Syria may be at a tipping point
Since the start of the conflict in Syria, international observers have been watching the government of President Bashar al-Assad for signs that the once-feared regime might be vulnerable to overthrow. Despite Syrian efforts to crush the rebels and to stifle news out of the country, this past week has shown the strongest evidence yet that the end of the Assad regime may be near. Here are five signs that the Syrian conflict may finally be tipping in favor of the rebels.
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Hezbollah 101: Who is the militant group, and what does it want?
The Shiite militant group and political party is a player not just in Lebanon, where it is based, but across the broader Middle East. It remains a staunch opponent of Israel, which it fought to a standstill in 2006, and a close ally of Iran and Syria – despite both regimes' crackdowns on citizens Hezbollah purports to champion.
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Diplomacy or military intervention in Syria? 7 opinions from around the globe.
After 15 months of violence in Syria, President Bashar al-Assad announced yesterday that the country was facing a full-on civil war, a conflict he would do everything in his power to win.This adds increased pressure to the ongoing international question du jour: Is the answer to Syria’s conflict diplomacy or military intervention? Or something else entirely? From Thailand to Jordan, here are some opinions around the globe.
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Briefing
Syria conflict: 5 warring factions
Syria is at the nexus of some of the Middle East's most central problems, meaning that fallout from its uprising is likely to ripple, in unpredictable ways, through the region. Here's a brief guide to the actors in the conflict.
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Will Syria's fires singe Lebanon?
Deadly sectarian clashes near the Syrian border in northern Lebanon have sparked concern that Syria's turmoil is spilling over to its neighbor.
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A sampler of books on Syria
As pro-democracy activists continue to battle the government of Bashar al-Assad, Syria looks likely to remain in the headlines for weeks and months to come. For those hoping to better understand one of the most influential countries in the current Mideast power dynamic, here are six books – a mix of literature, history, and politics – that offer insight.
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Photos of the Day: Photos of the Day 06/21
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Assad's speech may buy time, but not survival
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad gave his first speech in two months today, offering elections and reforms this summer in an apparent bid to secure the patience of Syria's silent majority.
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Assad stalwart bows out in move to placate Syrian protesters
Rami Makhlouf, President Assad's cousin and a business tycoon depicted as synonymous with Syrian corruption, announced on state TV that he was quitting.
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Best format for the Gay Girl in Damascus saga
A cartoon.
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Syrian Army deserter: 'We were ordered to shoot on the people'
Darwish Mohammed Fidou deserted his unit after he was given orders to fire directly on civilians. His story bolsters growing reports of dissent within Syria's military.
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Syrian troops strike flashpoint town as refugees recount violence
The assault on the restive northwest town of Jisr al-Shughur may prove to be a pivotal moment in the rebellion against the regime of Bashar al-Assad.
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Fleeing violence, Syrian refugees warn of potential massacre
As thousands of Syrians crossed into Turkey with tales of violence, many described troops amassing outside Jisr al-Shughur to take revenge for the deaths of 120 security and police forces.
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Is there really a 'Gay Girl in Damascus'?
Probably not.
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Opinion: Turkey's shift on Syria gives West room to get tougher on Assad
After a decade of much warmer relations between Ankara and Damascus, Turkey’s tough new stance against the Assad regime's crackdown on protesters should provide Washington and the West with the opportunity – if not the impetus – to adopt a more assertive stance on Syria.
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The Monitor's View: As Syria seethes, the West finds its courage
Overcoming fear is half the battle in the Arab Spring. As Syria's violence worsens, the West gets over its fears.
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Has Syria's peaceful uprising turned into an insurrection?
The Syrian regime's claims that 120 soldiers and security personnel were killed in Jisr al-Shughur over the weekend have intensified the debate over who is behind the uptick in armed resistance.
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Syrians flee to Turkey, fearing retribution
Assad's regime has vowed to avenge the death of 120 security personnel in Jisr al-Shughur, located near the Turkish border. The UN Security Council votes today on a resolution condemning Syria.
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In Pictures: Golan Heights unrest
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Syria's Assad offers amnesty to political prisoners
Assad's conciliatory gesture is unlikely to halt the momentum of Syria's opposition, which is meeting in Turkey to discuss a transition to democracy.
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The Monitor's View: Obama Middle East speech: That was the easy part
In case people doubted – and they did – the United States is on the side of democracy protesters, Obama said in his Middle East speech. But he did little to help Americans or Arabs grapple with hard choices.
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Opinion: Obama's Middle East speech: Good but irrelevant
President Obama’s Middle East speech at the State Department today is likely to be positively received in Washington. Middle Easterners, however, will probably find it disappointing, or worse, irrelevant.
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What Arabs want to hear (or not hear) from Obama speech
In contrast with Obama's major speech two years ago in Cairo, today's address on the Middle East has generated little interest in Egypt. But Libyans and Syrians have higher hopes.
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Four journalists held in Libya released Wednesday; fifth held in Iran also freed
A total of five Western journalists regained their freedom on Wednesday. Four that were held by the Libyan government, including Americans James Foley and Clare Gillis, made their way to a Tripoli hotel.
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'Nakba Day' protests: What regional leaders said
Protests erupted on Israel’s borders and throughout East Jerusalem and the West Bank on Sunday as Palestinians marked the 63rd anniversary of Israel’s independence, which they refer to as the “nakba,” or catastrophe, because it resulted in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. Israel has used the clashes to argue that it does not have a legitimate partner for peace, while Arabs have capitalized on the regional spirit of uprising to press Palestinian claims to statehood. Here is a roundup of notable statements:
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Assad regime may be gaining upper hand in Syria
One indication of Syria's confidence is that it has not yet attempted to wreak havoc regionally – a tactic it has employed in the past when feeling threatened.
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Syria detains hundreds, hindering protesters' efforts to organize
Syrian security forces detained hundreds in a door-to-door arrest campaign today – a tactic that appears to be borrowed from Iran.
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Amid Syria's turmoil, Israel sees Assad as the lesser evil
While Syria's 40-year Assad regime has fought multiple conflicts with Israel, it has also been a stable neighbor – making Israelis uneasy about the prospects of Islamists gaining power next door.
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Syria wants to talk to opposition leaders, but there aren't any
Western diplomats say that some members of Syria's Assad regime are ready to reach out, but a dearth of visible leaders gives those advocating force the upper hand.
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