Topic: Damascus (Syria)

Featured

Opinion 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:

All Content

Human toll of Syria's civil war echoes Rwandan genocide, says UN

Approximately 5,000 Syrians are dying each month, and an average of 6,000 people flee the country every day, UN officials reported Tuesday. Since the war began, nearly 93,000 people are dead, and 1.8 million have fled.
Bombing campaign against Hezbollah claims first casualty in Lebanon

Hezbollah has been expecting Sunni retaliation for its support for the Syrian regime. A slew of roadside bomb attacks shows it has begun.
G8 wraps with progress on tax evasion - but not on Syria

The summit leaders agreed to crack down on money laundering and illegal tax evasion, but Russia and the West remain at odds over how to resolve the Syrian civil war.
Syrian rebels cling to enclave in eastern Lebanon

The Lebanese town Arsal, a Sunni stronghold surrounded by Shiite villages, is a haven for refugees and a weapons depot for rebel fighters. Its loss would be devastating.
Difference Maker Pianist spreads goodwill for America through the power of music

John Ferguson founded American Voices, a nonprofit whose mission is to help aspiring young artists around the world pursue their interest in American jazz, Broadway, break dancing, and classical music.
Hezbollah marks major triumph as Qusayr tips back into Assad camp

Rebels abandoned the strategic city of Qusayr on Wednesday in a significant victory for Syria's Assad regime and a psychological blow to opposition forces.
Terrorism & Security Britain joins France in saying nerve gas used in Syria

The British Foreign Office found the presence of sarin gas in several samples from Syria a day after the French government said there was 'no doubt' the chemical weapon was used by Assad's forces.
Terrorism & Security Syrian Army fires across border into Israel to retaliate for airstrikes

Today's incident marks the first time that Syria has admitted breaching the border with Israel since the civil war began.
Syrian Army, Hezbollah bear down on rebels in strategic Qusayr

For the Syrian rebels, Qusayr has been critical to bringing in weapons and fighters from Lebanon. But the regime and ally Hezbollah want the town, which lies at an important crossroads.
With Hezbollah's help, Syrian troops push to regain Lebanese border areas

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 30 people, including 16 rebel fighters and one woman, were killed in Qusair in morning fighting, but that the death toll was expected to rise.
Car drives into a crowd at Appalachian Trail hikers' parade

Car drives into a crowd at a parade in Virginia Saturday. The car, driven by an elderly man, injured 50 to 60 people, but there were no fatalities in the crowd.
Israel, US try full-court press to stop Russian weapons sale to Syria

The US and Israel argue the introduction of Russia's S-300 antiaircraft missile system could be a 'game changer' for the regime.
Focus Excitement fades to despair in rebel-held Syria as war grinds on

Early rebel optimism in Syria has given way to a grim realization that victory may still be years away. For the past two months, civilians have been fleeing Syria at a rate of 8,000 per day.
Turkey nabs nine bombing suspects with alleged ties to Syria's spy agency

Twin car bombings on the Turkey-Syria border left 46 dead this weekend. But Turkey insisted it would not be provoked into a war with Syria.
Terrorism & Security US and Russia team up to make fresh diplomatic push on Syria

US Secretary of State Kerry and Russia's Foreign Minister Lavrov say they hope to convene an international conference on Syria later in May. The US has also stepped up humanitarian aid.
Opinion Syria – another sign that US needs to recalibrate Middle East policy

As the US backs into Syria and other Mideast crises, China is proactively and strategically engaging in the region. Its actions point out what America has to lose if it continues to hesitate in the Middle East.
Syria civil war: This week could be decisive for US involvement

Secretary of State John Kerry travels to Moscow to discuss international pressure on Syria, following Israel’s targeted airstrikes on Damascus over the weekend.
Israeli airstrike in Syria brings Iran onstage, raising risk of proxy war

Iran dismissed Israeli claims that yesterday's airstrike in Syria targeted Iranian weapons destined for Hezbollah, accusing Israel of looking for an excuse to hammer the 'Axis of Resistance.'
Opinion US intervention in Syria must be legitimate in eyes of international law (+video)

Israeli air strikes on Damascus and the conflicting reports on the use of chemical weapons (sarin gas) may complicate President Obama's decision on intervention in Syria. The US must consider the international laws of war before taking any action.
Terrorism & Security Israel tries to tamp down Syrian anger after killing dozens of its elite soldiers (+video)

Israel is straining to arrest a slide toward regional conflict after staging an airstrike on a military facility outside Damascus, reportedly to stop a transfer of weapons to Hezbollah.
Israeli attacks inside Syria risk widening war

Israel, as well as Syria and its Lebanese-ally Hezbollah, has little interest in a wider conflict. But as Israel grows more assertive across its borders, the chance of a miscalculation is on the rise.
Thousands of Sunnis flee Syrian coastal region after mass killings

British human rights activists say about 4,000 people have fled the predominantly Sunni Mediterranean city of Banias. At least 62 people, including children were killed Friday by pro-government gunmen and troops.
Terrorism & Security Why Israel bombed Syria, again (+video)

Israeli aircraft bombed a warehouse in Syria Friday that reportedly held Iran-made Fateh-110 missiles bound for Hezbollah. It's the second time in four months that Israeli aircraft have hit targets in Syria.
US considering arming Syrian rebels, says Hagel

The Obama administration is rethinking its decision not to arm Syrian rebels, said Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel today, while emphasizing that 'rethinking' mean no decision has been made.
Emboldened by military gains, Assad regime shows resilience

Syrian President Assad has frustrated predictions of his imminent downfall for more than two years. A string of recent Army successes has rolled back some rebel gains and disrupted rebel plans.