Topic: Syrian National Council

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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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Aleppo takes first step toward post-Assad governance in Syria

Syria's Aleppo Province elected a local council this weekend, replacing an interim local government and taking a step toward restoring some semblance of order to the war-torn province.
Backchannels Will limited US aid to Syria rebels hasten the end of war, or prolong it?

The US has promised to do a lot more to help Syria's rebellion against the government of Bashar al-Assad, but is stopping well short of the kind of aid that might prove decisive.
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.
John Kerry hints at more aid for Syria rebels. Does that mean arming them? (+video)

The answer could come Thursday, when Secretary of State John Kerry and other Western officials are to gather in Rome for a meeting with at least some of Syria’s divided opposition groups.
Syria border bombing: How will Turkey respond if attacks continue?

Turkey has worried about Syria's war creeping across the border since the uprising began. Yesterday's bombing at a border crossing indicates it may finally be happening.
UN estimate of Syria death toll highlights discrepancies in casualty reporting

The 60,000 deaths in Syria reported by the United Nations last week is a big jump from the 40,000- 45,000 deaths that most other organizations report.
Russia urges Damascus to talk with Syrian opposition

Russia, Syria's biggest international supporter, is leaning on President Bashar al-Assad to begin a dialogue with the Syrian opposition and take steps toward ending the conflict.
US draws line in Syria: aligns with moderate rebels, labels others terrorists

On the verge of formally recognizing a rebel coalition as representing the Syrian people, the US designated the al-Nusra Front as a terrorist organization that is an arm of Al Qaeda in Iraq.
Opinion: Threat of chemical warfare in Syria means it's time for US, NATO no-fly zone

The threat that Bashar al-Assad may use chemical weapons against opposition forces in Syria means it is time for President Obama and America's NATO allies to intervene and establish a no-fly zone. That's a far better option than directly arming the divided rebel forces.
Race is on to find rebel prime minister for Syria

A transitional government is crucial to win Arab and Western support for the revolt against Assad, and would bolster the opposition as a democratic alternative to decades of autocratic rule in Syria.
Syria: Will new opposition leader bring unity?

Mouaz al-Khatib, a religious leader and a voice of moderation, has been chosen to lead the Syrian National Coalition for Opposition and Revolutionary Forces. Supporters hope the new coalition can provide a conduit for foreign aid.
Opinion: Balkan conflicts hold clear lessons on intervention in Syria

As policymakers in Europe, the United States, the Gulf states, Turkey, and the Arab League search for ways to resolve the conflict in Syria, they should consider what the wars in Bosnia and Kosovo have to teach about outside intervention. The main lesson? Do it – to stop the killing.
Inside Syria, rebels offer cautious support for unified council

Fighters on the front lines of the Syrian war expressed optimism about the new council formed out of Syrian opposition groups.
Terrorism & Security What is The National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces? (+video)

The fractious Syrian opposition has come together to create a new unified front in their battle against President Bashar al-Assad.
Syrian opposition groups unify, boosting prospects for outside support

The agreement reached Sunday could boost efforts to secure international support and potentially weapons for Syria's rebels.
Israel fires warning shots into Syria for first time

Errant fire from Syria into the Israeli-held Golan Heights prompted the retaliatory move and warnings from Israel.
Terrorism & Security Refugee flow soars as Syrians flee intense fighting between rebels, Assad forces

The UN says that more than 11,000 people fled Syria overnight, and is warning that by early 2013, some 4 million inside Syria could need humanitarian aid.
Assad: 'I will live and die in Syria'

In an interview broadcast on Russian television, the Syrian president said he would not leave the country to end the conflict there, despite British offers of safe passage if he did so.
Terrorism & Security Rebel hopes rise that reelected Obama will act on Syria as blasts hit Damascus

Three explosions in the capital, including an attack on the presidential palace, could mark a new phase in the rebels' campaign against the Assad regime.
British PM Cameron says Assad could leave Syria

British Prime Minister David Cameron told the Arab news network Al Arabiya arrangements can be made to move the Syrian president out of the country.
Can Syria's opposition groups figure out how to pull together? (+video)

At a gathering in Qatar, Syria's opposition groups have been trying to overcome disarray in their ranks – and lay the foundation for eventual post-dictator leadership.
Suicide car bomber kills 50 soldiers, Syrian opposition says

Another day of relentless violence in Syria coincided with more unity talks in Qatar among opposition factions.
Terrorism & Security Syria's opposition groups convene in Qatar – can they build a unified front?

The opposition's Syrian National Council began a conference in Qatar yesterday to overhaul its structure. Many, including the US, have lost confidence in the fragmented group.
Backchannels War crimes and the fantasy of 'controlling' Syria's rebels

An atrocity in the strategic Syrian town of Saraqeb is a reminder that the landscape of that country's civil war is a place where angels fear to tread.
Behind the US gambit to seek new anti-Assad leadership in Syria

The US pulled its support from the opposition Syrian National Council, based in Paris, this week – a signal that the Obama administration plans to put more stock in rebel forces fighting the Assad regime on the ground.