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.
All Content
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Twitter-hacking Syrian Electronic Army: How much state support does it have?
The Twitter hacks by the Syrian Electronic Army – the most recent hit The Guardian – reflect a shift toward disseminating propaganda and attacking Syria’s perceived enemies in the media.
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Terrorism & Security Site of assassination attempt on Syrian prime minister sends warning to regime
The Syrian prime minister escaped the bombing unharmed, but the attack – in one of Damascus's wealthiest neighborhoods – shows the safe zone for regime members is shrinking.
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Syria chemical weapons: Where did they come from? (+video)
The roots of Syria's chemical weapons program lie decades in the past, perhaps back to the 1970s. Other countries were early suppliers. What's uncertain now is if Syria can make its own chemical weapons.
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White House all but sure Syria used chemical weapons – but needs to be sure
Since August, President Obama has laid down use or transfer of Syria’s chemicals weapons as a 'red line.' The White House letter puts the US closer to acknowledging such a line has been crossed.
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Israel shoots down drone, Hezbollah denies it's theirs
The Shiite militant group in Lebanon has sent drones over Israel in the past, linking their use to Israeli violations of Lebanon's airspace.
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Could chemical weapons in Syria force Obama's hand?
President Obama last August declared that any use or transport of Syria's chemical weapons would constitute a 'red line' for US policy toward the country. Now Israel, Britain, and France say they have evidence that Syria has crossed that line.
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Terrorism & Security Israel charges Syria with lethal chemical weapons use
The Israeli military says its evidence shows that the Syrian regime used sarin gas during a March clash with rebels, reversing earlier reports that no such weapons had been used.
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Syrian rebels intensify rocket attacks into Lebanon
Rebels fighting the Syrian government are shelling villages on the Lebanese side of the border in order to curb a Lebanese group's efforts to help the Syrian regime.
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Iran's 'axis of resistance' loses its Palestinian arm to Syrian war
Sunni Hamas has broken its longtime ties with the Assad regime to fight alongside the predominantly Sunni Syrian opposition.
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Change Agent In Lebanon, a doctor offers comfort and healing to refugees from neighboring wars
Dr. Irad Beldjebel spends his days not only treating refugees, but serving as an all-round counselor to those fleeing violence – a trusty shoulder to lean on for people who are often traumatized by the past and unsure about the future.
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Were chemical weapons used in Syria? UN team poised for probe.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad called for a chemical-weapons investigation of an alleged March 19 attack, but he’s apparently gotten cold feet. Here's why.
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Syrian army launches counteroffensive, calls on rebels to lay down arms
The Syrian army targeted rebels with heavy airstrikes in at least seven cities and regions Sunday, killing at least 20 people. The government also called on rebel fighters to surrender their weapons.
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A witness in Galilee
The author hikes the 'Jesus Trail' and finds insight and resolve.
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U.N. peacekeepers freed: Syrians release 21 hostages
Syrian rebels have released 21 U.N. peacekeepers held hostage for four days. The peacekeepers crossed from Syria to safety in Jordan on Saturday afternoon.
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Terrorism & Security UN peacekeepers pull out of Syrian-Israeli DMZ as civil war edges closer
The eight peacekeepers, who were escorted into Israel by the IDF, are part of the same battalion as 21 UN troops who were captured by Syrian rebels on Wednesday.
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Terrorism & Security Syria's violence continues its march across borders, into Iraq
Dozens of Syrian Army soldiers were killed yesterday while in Iraq seeking temporary refuge from fighting with rebels. They were ambushed by suspected Al Qaeda-affiliated militants.
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Lebanon erects string of watchtowers on Syrian border
Lebanon is struggling to maintain control over its border region as Syrian rebels and the Syrian Army increasingly treat the area as just another battlefield in the civil war.
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The Monitor's View: In Syria, US mission creep with moral creep
President Obama is leaning toward providing nonlethal military equipment to certain rebels in Syria. Doing so runs moral risks. But doing nothing to stop the violence is also a moral risk. Can the US walk this fine line?
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Syrian government offers to meet with opposition
Against a backdrop of steady military gains for the opposition forces, Bashar Assad's government proposed a meeting. Critics call it a tactic to keep western arms out of opposition hands.
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Syrian regime battles rebels for control of highway to its safe haven
Lebanon appears closer than ever to getting dragged into Syria's war as the regime and rebels battle just over the border and Hezbollah's growing involvement raises rebel ire.
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Dozens killed in Damascus car bombing
The headquarters of Syria's ruling party was reportedly targeted in what the government once again described as a terrorist attack.
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Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander killed in Syria: Rebel claim
Tehran strongly backs Assad regime but claims no military support, says Guard commander was civil engineer in Lebanon.
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Syrian rebels battle at military base near Aleppo airport
Rebels have been attacking the civilian airport in the city of Aleppo for weeks, and now appear to have overrun the main defenses around the facility.
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Israel struggles to maintain secrecy over Australian spy story
The mysterious death of an Australian prisoner in Israel highlights the fact that its military-run censorship system is finding it harder to keep information secret during the age of the Internet.
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Rebels capture air base as Assad's forces come under pressure
Fighting in the nearly two-year-old Syrian conflict has intensified in the three weeks since the political leadership of the opposition offered to negotiate a departure for Assad.
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