Syria

Today

Obama said U.S. military action against Syria carries the risk of inadvertently hitting a chemical weapons site on Monday. He also expressed skepticism over whether setting a no-fly zone or waging a major military offensive against Damascus would save lives or change balance of power on the battlefield.
08:00 GMT

Obama said U.S. military action against Syria carries the risk of inadvertently hitting a chemical weapons site on Monday. He also expressed skepticism over whether setting a no-fly zone or waging a major military offensive against Damascus would save lives or change balance of power on the battlefield.

The unit soon encountered a large number of militants and backed down to “await reinforcements,” according to a security source.
07:05 GMT

The situation in Lebanon’s northern Bekaa Valley is deeply troubling. A few days after the June 11 killing of a man from Ersal in Hermel, four local men were killed on Sunday near the border town of Qaa. Hezbollah is straining to deflect blame from the people of Ersal in order to prevent further strife in a region where Syrian militant groups maintain a heavy presence.

Israeli President Shimon Peres has dismissed fears that U.S. plans to arm Syrian rebels could expose the Jewish state’s national security to danger, adding that the world’s “unemployed terrorists” were heading to the region.
06:42 GMT

Israeli President Shimon Peres has dismissed fears that U.S. plans to arm Syrian rebels could expose the Jewish state’s national security to danger, adding that the world’s “unemployed terrorists” were heading to the region.

Fadel Shaker is proud to support the Free Syrian Army (FSA)
06:00 GMT

After announcing his resignation from his booming musical career last year, Lebanese singer Fadel Shaker has kept us on our toes with some crazy zealous stunts. The latest daring deed is to put his home up for sale to back the Free Syrian Army (FSA).

June 17, 2013

US NATO ambassador Ivo Daalder. Image courtesy of NATO
21:27 GMT

Days after Russia said it would not allow a no-fly zone to be enforced over Syria, the US NATO ambassador said that this issue is not on the agenda of the Western allies.

Syrian President Bashar Assad (Al Bawaba file photo)
19:29 GMT

Syrian President Bashar Assad threatened European powers that the Syrian regime will retaliate if Western states provide arms to the Syrian opposition forces.

A picture shows destruction in Sbeneh, south of the Syrian capital Damascus, used for illustrative purposes (AFP / Ward al-Keswani)
12:45 GMT

At least 10 soldiers loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad were killed in a Damascus car bomb attack which left a further 10 wounded

Putin and Obama shake hands. (Al Bawaba file photo)
08:33 GMT

US President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin are to meet for the first time in over a year at the G8 Summit, where they will discuss their opposing views on the Syrian crisis and arming the rebels.

A picture shows destruction in Sbeneh, south of the Syrian capital Damascus, on Sunday. A car bomb exploded in the Mezzeh neighbourhood later that day. AFP photo
07:04 GMT

A car bomb was detonated in the Damascus neighbourhood of Mezzeh late on Sunday, near a military airport and several embassies. There have been no reports on the number of casualties as of yet.

June 16, 2013

British Prime Minister David Cameron  and Russian President Vladimir Putin in London on Sunday, where they discussed the latest developments in Syria.(AFP PHOTO/POOL/ANTHONY DEVLIN)
19:54 GMT

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke out against the Western position on the Syrian crisis, criticizing their decision to arm the 'organ eating' Syrian rebels.

King Abdullah II of Jordan. (Al Bawaba file photo)
11:28 GMT

Jordan's King Abdullah has said that the Kingdom is ready to act defensively in the face of any threat to its security that arises out of the Syrian civil war.

 A Syrian rebel fighter points his riffle through a hole in sandbags as he holds a position in a trench, 100m far from the regime-controlled military base in Idlib province. AFP photo
09:28 GMT

Extremist fighters in the eastern Syrian province Deir Al Zor have destroyed a Shiite religious building, posting the video on the internet.

Noam Chomsky discusses the future of the MidEast (Photo: Marwan Bu Haidar / Al Akhbar)
08:53 GMT

American academic Noam Chomsky gives his views on the changing shape of the Middle East in an interview with Al-Akhbar's Maha Zaraket

Iran is to reportedly send 4,000 Iranian Revolutionary Guards to Syria to support President Bashar al-Assad in the fight against opposition forces. The move comes just one day after newly elected Iran President Hassan Rowhani praised his election as a “victory of moderation over extremism."
08:22 GMT

Iran is to reportedly send 4,000 Iranian Revolutionary Guards to Syria to support President Bashar al-Assad in the fight against opposition forces.

Saudi King Abdullah (File photo)
07:09 GMT

The King returned to Saudi after Washington announced it will arm the Syrian rebels