Topic: Free Syrian Army
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Opinion Five guidelines for US role in Syria
The civil war in Syria has reached a stalemate. While strategic military steps like arming the opposition or establishing a no-fly zone present complications, the US can do other things to bring aid, support the opposition, undermine the Assad regime, and counter a rising Islamist influence. Here are five guidelines for the US in addressing the conflict in Syria:
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In key Syrian city, snipers and bombing tear at fabric of daily life
As rebels and the Syrian government battle for control of Aleppo, residents tap caution – and dark humor – to survive.
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Why no safe zone in Syria, yet? 5 complications
The flood of Syrian refugees entering Turkey – as many as 5,000 a day for the last 10 days – has ratcheted up the pressure for a safe zone’s creation. But a safe zone is complicated and carries many risks.
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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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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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Backchannels Why the UN suspended ineffective observer mission in Syria
Citing the safety of unarmed observers, the UN has suspended its Syria monitoring effort. It's the first step toward crafting a new international approach.
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Backchannels Syria war drumbeat builds, but where is it leading?
Pundits from John Bolton to Nick Kristof are issuing calls to arms. But there's little regard for national interest, or the law of unintended consequences, in the urgings to act now.
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A day in the life of a UN observer in Syria
Gen. Robert Mood's job is to convince both sides in Syria's civil war that they're not interested in destroying the other.
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Along Syria's volatile border, rebels, rabbits, and ambushes
A Lebanese gas smuggler was killed in a Syrian Army ambush this week, snapping the patience of locals in the Lebanese town of Arsal. Another ambush targeted rabbit hunters.
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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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Backchannels Why it's time to call Syria a civil war
A generally accepted definition of civil war is a fight for control of a nation, involving the state, one or more non-state actors, and at least 1,000 battlefield casualties. Sounds like Syria.
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Terrorism & Security Syrian rebels call for peace plan to be declared a failure
If the Free Syrian Army abandons the peace plan, which they warned yesterday they might do, any vestiges of restraint – on either side – could vanish.
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Focus Exclusive: Veteran Lebanese fighter trains new generation of jihadis – for Syria
Longtime fighter Mustapha explains to the first Western reporter to visit his Bekaa Valley orchard camp how he is preparing eager Lebanese to take up arms against the Assad regime.
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Opinion Will Al Qaeda cement its foothold in Syria?
The massacre in Houla, Syria, over the weekend pushed Russia to finally denounce the atrocities there. But Moscow also warned that the regime of Bashar al-Assad faces threats from Al Qaeda. Al Qaeda's future in Syria depends on how Sunnis there respond to foreign jihadi fighters.
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Terrorism & Security UN mission to Syria comes under attack in Idlib (+video)
An IED went off yesterday in the town of Khan Sheikhoun, damaging a UN observer convoy and killing at least 20 locals, but no UN observers. The government and opposition blame each other.
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Terrorism & Security Damascus bombings prompt warnings of Iraq-style insurgency
Yesterday's bombings in Damascus were the largest since the uprising began. The US and others are sounding an alarm about a particularly worrisome turn in the conflict.
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Terrorism & Security Two bombings rock Damascus in one of largest attacks since uprising (+video)
No group has claimed responsibility for today's bombings in Damascus that killed at least 40 people, but an Al Qaeda-inspired group has claimed similar attacks in the past.
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Global Viewpoint Heed Balkan lessons for a fragmenting Syria and revise Kofi Annan plan
Kofi Annan's peace plan is failing to stop violence and ensure a political dialogue in Syria. To avoid a Balkans-like tragedy, an updated plan must include negotiations between Bashar al-Assad's regime and the opposition and deploy armed UN peacekeepers.
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Assad's actions in Syria spur US to consider intervening
The ongoing violence in Syria, despite the regime's lip service to the Annan peace plan, has pushed the Obama administration to weigh stronger steps.
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As Syria cease-fire wavers, rebels head back to battle in battered sedan, pickups
A Western journalist who made a rare visit inside Syria confirmed a breach in the UN cease-fire yesterday, as rebels engaged a military convoy.
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Syrian army shells Homs as government pushes back on UN monitors
Reports out of the Syrian city of Homs have government forces firing mortars into an opposition neighborhood. Meanwhile, Syria has challenged the UN over its truce monitoring mission.
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Terrorism & Security All parties make contingency plans as Syria's cease-fire wobbles (+video)
The US envoy to the UN warned that a monitor mission could be curtailed, while rebel fighters amassed weapons in preparation for a renewal of fighting.
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Syrian activists to rebels: Give us our revolution back
Many of the activists who began the uprising in Syria more than a year ago feel their peaceful push for change has been hijacked by the rebel Free Syrian Army. They're meeting in Cairo today.
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Syria: Opposition protests will test uncertain truce
The opposition plans broad protests tomorrow in an effort to call attention to ongoing abuses in the country.
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Opinion The danger that Saudi Arabia will turn Syria into an Islamist hotbed
A tentative UN-brokered ceasefire does not settle Western concerns over Saudi intervention in Syria. While the US and its allies are wary of seeing Syria become a sectarian battleground, the power brokers in Riyadh seem to have been hurtling toward it – with a form of state-sponsored jihad.
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Syria crisis enters 'new phase' after Assad ignores UN deadline
Turkey is likely to stir international leaders to stronger action after two Turkish officials were injured by cross-border gunfire. Envoy Kofi Annan said it was too early to say the UN cease-fire had failed.
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Syrian army fighting rebels days before troop pullback (+video)
Syrian army troops and tanks are reportedly fighting rebels near Damascus and other cities. President al-Assad has agreed to pull back troops as part of a UN-brokered peace plan next week.
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Assad: Aid to rebels must stop for Annan's Syria peace plan to succeed
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is under international pressure to call his troops and tanks back to their bases, a year into a popular revolt against his iron rule. But he warned the success of international envoy Kofi Annan's peace plan would not work without securing an end to foreign aid and arming of rebels opposing him.
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As Syria's war rages, Assad bans military-age men from leaving
The Syrian regime issued new travel restrictions for military-aged men on Monday.
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Syria's opposition faces 'divided we fall' moment
Syria's opposition meets today after being shaken by resignations and splits. A united front could sway skeptical Syrians who don't particularly support Assad but fear the alternative could be worse.
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