Syria
Hezbollah and Syrian army advance in border offensive
Lebanon's Shi'ite militia Hezbollah and the Syrian army advanced against Sunni militants on Saturday, the second day of an assault to drive them from their last foothold along the Syria-Lebanon border, pro-Damascus media reported.<p>The operation has targeted Sunni Muslim insurgents from the former …
Middle EastWomen burn burqas and men shave their beards as they celebrate escape from ISIS stronghold in Syria
Women are burning their burqas and men shaving off their beards in a show of defiance against ISIS after escaping from the terrorist group's …
Islamic State (ISIS)As Syria Crumbles, Only Iran Is a Sure Winner
A Q&A with Andrew Tabler, who spent years living under the Assad regime.<p>Six years. Half a million dead. Many millions displaced. Untold thousands tortured and killed.<p>The Syrian civil war is the worst humanitarian disaster of our young century, and would have been high on the list of the last one. …
Bashar al-AssadSyrian warplanes strike near Damascus despite ceasefire - Syrian Observatory
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian government warplanes carried out several air strikes in the Eastern Ghouta area east of Damascus on Sunday, a day after the Syrian military declared a cessation of hostilities in the area, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.<p>The British-based monitoring group said …
Middle EastJihadist group consolidates control of Idlib province: rebels
AMMAN (Reuters) - Syrian jihadists linked to a former al Qaeda affiliate consolidated their grip over large parts of the northwestern province of Idlib on Sunday after their main rival evacuated a major border crossing with Turkey, rebels and residents said.<p>Witnesses said the departing militants, …
Middle EastBashar Assad's teen son bombs at math contest in Brazil
The eldest son of Syrian President Bashar Assad has finished in 528th position out of 615 contestants in the International Mathematical Olympiad in …
Bashar AssadThe Trump team is repeating Obama’s mistakes in Syria
Trump administration officials consistently point back to the Obama administration’s failed Syria policy to justify their approach, which includes teaming up with Russia, accepting the continued rule of Bashar al-Assad and abandoning many of the rebels America supported for years.<p>But although the …
Middle EastHezbollah claims to have killed 46 Sunni militants near Lebanon-Syria border
<b>Beirut:</b> Lebanon's Shia Islamist movement Hezbollah on Sunday claimed it had killed 46 Sunni radicals during its offensive to liberate the …
Middle EastLebanese army: Arsal is not our battle
| <b>Published —</b> Monday 24 July 2017<p>People watch as Lebanese soldiers patrol a street in Labwe at the entrance of the border town of Arsal Sunday. …
Al-Nusra FrontCould Venezuela be on the brink of a civil war as bloody as Syria?
We Americans are really good at getting sucker-punched. From Pearl Harbor to Sputnik to 9/11 and the Syrian civil war, we constantly ask ourselves, …
VenezuelaTruman Would Have Agreed With Trump On The CIA In Syria
Posted: Jul 23, 2017 12:01 AM<p>Said the President: "For some time I have been disturbed by the way CIA has been diverted from its original assignment. …
Bashar al-AssadJohn McCain and the Cancer of Conflict | Global Research - Centre for Research on Globalization
<i>On Wednesday, his staff announced that the US Senator had been diagnosed with a brain tumor called glioblastoma discovered during recent testing at</i> …
Free Syrian ArmyZaire rebels hint at peace
The two sides of Zaire’s civil war have agreed tentatively to talk for the first time, reports Chris McGreal<p>ZAIRE’S rebel leader, Laurent Kabila, …
AfricaIs Syria Really a ‘Climate War’? Examining the Links Between Drought, Migration and Conflict
An over-emphasis on environmental stress overlooks the role of politics and economics in shaping the socio-economic landscape of the war in Syria.<p>The …
Middle EastThe Trump administration should not give up on removing Assad in Syria
<i>Michael G. Vickers served as assistant secretary of defense for special operations, low-intensity conflict and interdependent capabilities and undersecretary of defense for intelligence during the Bush and Obama administrations.</i><p>Based on recent statements by several senior administration officials, …
OpinionTrump officially hands Syria over to Russia and Iran
It’s no longer possible to accuse U.S. President Donald Trump of inconsistency, at least on Syria. In December, before taking office, he said …
Free Syrian ArmyA Play About Syria as a Country in a Coma
When one’s entire life is spent waiting, how does one measure the time? In the play “While I Was Waiting,” which on Sunday wraps up a run as part of the Lincoln Center Festival, Omar (Mustafa Kur), a former telecom worker from the less affluent and besieged Damascus suburbs, gives us the sum of his …
Bashar al-AssadCongress reaches deal on Russia sanctions, creating tough choice for Trump
WASHINGTON — Congressional leaders have reached an agreement on sweeping sanctions legislation to punish Russia for its election-meddling and …
Bashar AssadPhilippines extends martial law in region under siege by Muslim militants
President Duterte gets support of Congress for martial law until yearend<p>The Philippine Congress on Saturday overwhelmingly approved the president's …
Martial LawTrump budget cuts will hit an office prosecuting ISIS and Assad's war crimes, say former U.S. officials
President Donald Trump has railed against the crimes of the Islamic State militant group (ISIS), yet his administration may make it more difficult to …
Bashar al-AssadRussia: Boundaries of Ghouta 'safe zone' determined | Miami Herald
Russia's Defense Ministry says an agreement has been reached with the Syrian opposition on the boundaries for a de-escalation zone for the East …
Middle EastWorld digest: July 22, 2017
SYRIA<p>Airstrikes occur near<p>U.S.-backed forces<p>Syrian warplanes carried out airstrikes against Islamic State targets in the countryside east of Raqqa and close to where U.S.-backed forces operate, Syrian state TV reported.<p>The attacks in the town of Maadan and village of Bir al-Sabkhawi, near the …
U.S. Geological SurveyRussia, Syria announce ceasefire for eastern Ghouta rebel enclave near Damascus
Russia and Syria have announced a deal to de-escalate conflict in a rebel-held stronghold outside Damascus. The US, Russia and Jordan brokered a …
Middle EastTrump just gave Russia a 'beautiful' gift
<b>(CNN) —</b> President Donald Trump has just given Russia what he might call a "beautiful" gift. According to the Washington Post, Trump has decided to dismantle a US program that was arming and training some of the rebels fighting the Syrian dictator, President Bashar al-Assad. When asked about the …
OpinionUnphased by Brain Cancer, McCain Fires Off Shot at Trump Presidency's Decision
If John McCain treats brain cancer like he treats the Trump presidency, the cancer won't even know what hit it.<p>Just days after the Arizona Republican …
Middle EastRussian Military Could Force The U.S. Out of Syria, Army Official Says
Special Forces head General Raymond Thomas said that, while the U.S. may wanna stay, Syria was a sovereign state and its government backs Russia.
Syrian Civil WarTop general confirms end to secret U.S. program in Syria
Special Operations commander walked back remarks that appeared to surprise the CIA.<p>ASPEN — U.S. Special Operations Commander Tony Thomas confirmed Friday that the U.S. had ended its covert program aiding rebel groups fighting against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, saying the decision was made …
Bashar AssadSyrian army and Hezbollah launch attack near Lebanese border
BEIRUT (AP) — The Syrian army and members of Lebanon's militant Hezbollah group have launched a major ground offensive in a border area between the two countries.<p>Government-controlled Syrian Central Military Media reports that military operations began Friday from two fronts on the outskirts of the …
Syrian ArmyUS withdrawal of backing for insurgents may bolster links with Moscow
CIA programme to topple Syrian president Bashar al-Assad has been deemed a failure<p>about an hour ago<p>The Trump administration’s decision to cancel CIA …
Bashar al-AssadThe End of American Support for Syrian Rebels Was Inevitable
Where the Syrian insurgency is concerned, Trump and Obama have plenty in common.<p>This week, the Trump administration reportedly cancelled a long-running covert program to support vetted Syrian rebels in the war against the regime of Bashar al-Assad. While this move has provoked a small outcry among …
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