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Syria, Hezbollah Bombard Key Rebel Town

Sun, 19 May 2013 19:59:00 -0700

Syrian government troops have launched a major offensive to retake the strategically important rebel stronghold of Qusayr near Lebanon, and killed dozens, mostly civilians trapped by the fighting. Syrian forces are reportedly being supported by Hezbollah militants, and Israeli officials are vowing to take action. Some 60 percent of Qusayr is now controlled by Syrian troops, an activist told the New York Times.

'Heart-Eating Syrian Rebel' Rattles West

Tue, 14 May 2013 11:54:00 -0700

This extremely graphic video apparently showing a Syrian rebel cutting out and biting the heart of a dead government soldier has shaken Western nations already concerned about backing the forces battling Bashar al-Assad's regime. Human Rights Watch has identified the fighter as Abu Sakkar, a commander with the Farouq Brigades, one of the most prominent rebel groups. “I swear to God we will eat your hearts and your livers, you soldiers of Bashar the dog,” he declares. The Syrian Opposition Coalition said it condemns the “horrific and inhumane act."

Turkey Blames Syria for Deadly Bombs

Mon, 13 May 2013 08:47:00 -0700

Turkish officials are charging that twin car bombs that killed 46 people in the border town of Reyhanli were brought in from Syria, and are calling on the international community to take action against the nation. Police have busted nine men they say are linked to Syrian intelligence. Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan visits Washington this week and is expected to again press President Obama to provide military assistance to the Syrian rebels.

Lebanese Villagers Take Up Arms Against Syrian Rebels

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 15:51:00 -0700

As the conflict in Syria continues to escalate, it is increasingly spilling over into neighboring countries. Lebanese villagers near the border with Syria have formed armed militia groups to patrol the outskirts of their areas. They claim their villages are being attacked and residents kidnapped or killed. Meanwhile, elements from the Free Syrian Army threatened to attack Hezbollah sites in Lebanon, saying it is in response to the group sending fighters to join Syrian regime forces.

Foreign Fighters Clash with Each Other in Syria

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 10:25:00 -0700

Many groups of the Free Syrian Army include foreign fighters who came to Syria under the banner of Jihad. This report from BBC Arabic showed video recordings of confrontations and exchanged insults and ridicule between members of Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas Brigade, a Shiite group fighting to protect holy shrines, and the Sunni al-Nusra Front. Meanwhile, Syrian regime forces remain in control of the center of the capital Damascus, but the battle for the the capital is intensifying and the nature of it remains unclear.

6,000 Dead: March Is Deadliest Month Yet in Syria Conflict

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 09:21:00 -0700

March was the bloodiest month yet in Syria's conflict, according to the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. It estimates that over 6,000 people were killed, a third of them civilians, including 300 children. Almost nowhere is sacred. Damascus University was hit by rebel mortar bombs on Thursday, leaving 15 students dead. And 120,000 is the group's unofficial estimate for the total number killed throughout Syria's conflict since it first began almost two years ago. The city centre has seen some of the fiercest fighting. It's a stronghold of President Bashar al-Assad's forces and viewed as a prize by insurgents. They've encircled the centre and have intensified attacks this week as they push to end four decades of Assad family rule. President Assad labels them terrorists and claims they're funded by Gulf and other foreign powers.

In Syria, Citizen Journalists Turn a Cautious Eye on Rebels

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 09:44:00 -0700

Syria's opposition is made of many groups with different agendas, and many say the new reality in rebel-held areas has its own set of problems. Citizen journalists who used to report on abuses carried out by President Bashar al-Assad now cover issues emerging in 'liberated' areas: guns, lawlessness, theft, kidnapping and lack of services.

Unemployed Blogger Becomes Syria Conflict Arms Expert

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 02:30:00 -0700

An former admin worker in Britain with no military experience has become one of the world's top authorities on weapons being used in the Syrian civil war, largely through searching hundreds of YouTube channels. Eliot Higgins of the influential "Brown Moses" blog talks to NOS about the conflict and about how he gained so much knowledge in the space of a year.

Students Killed in Damascus University Mortar Attack

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 16:01:00 -0700

Fifteen students were killed and a number of others injured, some critically, after mortar shells fell on the college of architecture at Damascus University. At Damascus International Airport, the Free Syrian Army targeted an Iranian cargo military plane allegedly carrying weapons, causing it to explode as it was landing. Meanwhile, Turkey denied deporting Syrian refugees after clashes erupted yesterday at the Suleiman Shah camp, claiming instead that 50 to 60 of the residents returned to Syria "voluntarily."

Frontlines Split Syrian Cities as War Enters Third Year

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 23:53:00 -0700

Syria has entered its third year of war with frontlines between rebels and government forces dividing major cities, leaving civilians constantly in fear of death as they try to go about their daily lives. Al Jazeera reports.

Syria: Arm the Rebels, Say France and Britain

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 17:20:00 -0700

France and the UK are pushing to supply arms to Syrian opposition fighters, and have requested that European Union talks on lifting the arms embargo currently imposed on rebel groups be brought forward. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said France intends to arm opposition forces in Syria regardless of the EU's decision. The moves were condemned by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, while the Syrian government described it as a blatant violation of international law.

Syrian Regime Plays Islamist Card

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 20:27:00 -0700

Bashar al-Assad's once proudly secular regime appears to be embracing Islamism as the battle for Syria continues, Al Arabiya finds. A state TV report on the regime's forces was accompanied by background music commonly used by al-Qaeda, and Syria's grand imam has issued a fatwa calling fighting for Assad a 'religious obligation.'

UN Blames Assad Regime for 'Most' Syria Massacres‬

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:19:00 -0700

UN investigators examining 20 alleged massacres in Syria say regime forces carried out six of the eight confirmed atrocities. Meanwhile, al-Nusra Front is ‪imposing harsh, Taliban-style regulations‬ in areas under its control, mostly in Deir Ez-Zour and its surroundings. New TV reports on these developments.

Incredible Footage Reveals Syria From Behind a Tank Turret

Sun, 10 Mar 2013 11:36:00 -0700

Extraordinary footage has emerged from a camera mounted to a Syrian tank as it ploughs through a badly scarred suburb of Damascus. It comes as the UN refugee agency says the number of Syrians fleeing the war could triple this year.

Free Syrian Army Demands Weapons from Europe

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 16:34:00 -0800

The Free Syrian Army's Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Salim Idris, called on European governments to give the opposition the arms it needs to defeat President Bashar al-Assad. These statements follows pledges from the US and Britain to provide rebels with "non-lethal" aid. On Tv reports.

Syrian Rebels Seize UN Peacekeepers

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 18:23:00 -0800

A rebel group calling itself the "Martyrs of Yarmouk" has seized a convoy of around 20 United Nations peacekeepers in a Syrian-controlled part of the Golan Heights. The rebels accuse the UN, the US, and the Assad regime of being agents of Israel.

Syria: Rebels Capture Ar-Raqqah, Destroy Statue of Bashar al-Assad's Father

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 15:22:00 -0800

Syrian opposition forces have taken control of Ar-Raqqah in the country's north. Residents destroyed a statue of Bashar al-Assad's father, Hafez, which stood in the town's main square.

Russia Criticizes Outcome of Friends of Syria Meeting

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 16:14:00 -0800

The International diplomatic group of countries known as 'Friends of Syria' met in Rome to discuss the situation in the country. However, Russia criticized the decisions that emerged from this meeting, and found that it is encouraging extremists to seize power by force. Defected Brigadier General Manaf Tlass hopes that a Russian-American agreement would bring an end to the crisis. New TV reports.

US Pledges $60M, Supplies to Syria Rebels

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 06:28:00 -0800

John Kerry pledged stepped-up American aid to the Syrian opposition today after a "Friends of Syria" meeting in Rome. The US will provide $60 million in assistance, along with nonlethal supplies like food and medicine for rebel fighters. Military aid will be discussed at another meeting next week.

Powers, Syria Opposition Meet for Crucial Rome Talks

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 23:04:00 -0800

World powers and Syrian opposition leaders are meeting in Rome today for crucial talks aimed at ending the country's civil war. Al Jazeera takes a look at potential roadblocks -- including Russia's insistence that the opposition stop making "unrealistic demands."

Syria: Massive Car Bomb Kills Dozens in Central Damascus

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 11:35:00 -0800

At least 42 people, most of them civilians, have been killed in a powerful car bomb targeting the ruling Baath Party headquarters in central Damascus on Thursday, state media and activists say. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a UK-based anti-government rights group, said the attack took place in the central Mazraa neighborhood on Thursday, and left at least 42, including nine members of government forces and many civilians, dead. It said that dozens of the wounded were in critical condition. Syrian state television reported that at least 53 people had been killed and 237 injured. It described the bombing as a "terrorist attack". Syria's main opposition group, the National Coalition, also denounced those responsible as "terrorists", saying that the opposition was not responsible for the bombing. Al Jazeera's Rula Amin reports from Beirut, in neighboring Lebanon.

Huge Blast Shakes Central Damascus

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 03:37:00 -0800

At least 31 people have been killed by a series of blasts in central Damascus, including a huge car bomb that damaged the Russian Embassy and the offices of the ruling Ba'ath party. The bombings came as the Free Syrian Army's 48-hour ultimatum for Hezbollah to stop shelling or face retaliation expired.

Mixed Messages Reveal Divisions Within Free Syrian Army

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 18:02:00 -0800

The Free Syrian Army has disowned an earlier statement in which it had apparently vowed to attack Hezbollah in Lebanon. The original threat of force was made over accusations that Iranian-backed Hezbollah is working alongside government forces in Syria - a claim that has yet to be independently confirmed. What seems more clear is that the Free Syrian Army's contradictory declarations reveal its continuing failure to act as a unified fighting force. New TV reports.

Raw Video: Aleppo Missile Strike Kills 19

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 08:17:00 -0800

Stunned residents of Aleppo scream and cry as the crowd scrambles to dig out and save the injured after a Syrian missile strike leveled a stretch of buildings and killed at least 19 people.

Syria: Rebels in Aleppo Gain Key Army Highway

Sat, 09 Feb 2013 16:56:00 -0800

Syrian rebels are making the largest gains in Aleppo City in months. The rebels have taken control of a key district, effectively blocking government forces from moving in by land. The battle looks to be a difficult one as government forces refuse to back down.

Syrian Kurds Clash With Rebels

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 19:54:00 -0800

Syria's Kurdish minority has been caught in the middle of the civil war. While some Kurdish fighters are battling Bashar al-Assad's forces, one group is fighting the Free Syrian Army. Fighters say they haven't made a deal with the regime but are trying to stop the FSA from abusing local Kurds.

The Headquarters of Pro-Regime Forces in Hama Targeted by Suicide Bombing

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 16:15:00 -0800

The headquarters of pro-regime forces in Hama was attacked, when a suicide bomber detonated a booby-trapped car. New TV reports on the bloody day in Syria, where a number of towns and cities also witnessed clashes.

Syrian Rebels Desperate for Ammo

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 06:24:00 -0800

Free Syrian Army fighters say they are running desperately low on ammunition and other supplies to fight Bashar al-Assad's forces, who are suspected of massacring more than 100 people in Homs earlier this week. Rebel commanders complain that the Syrian National Council has done nothing to help them.

Syria: Air Strike on Crowded Damascus Petrol Station 'Kills Dozens'

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 10:37:00 -0800

A petrol station has been attacked on the eastern edge of Damascus. A video taken by activsts which could not be independently verified shows the carnage. Witnesses claim at least 30 were killed when the shells fired by warplanes struck at lunchtime. Reports suggest the attack happened after a consignment of fuel had just arrived and crowds packed the forecourt.

Raw Video: Head of Syrian Military Police Defects to Rebels

Wed, 26 Dec 2012 06:37:00 -0800

The head of Syria's military police, General Abdelaziz Jassim al-Shalal, announces his defection from the army and declares allegiance to the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad.

Syrian Civilians Face Daily Struggle for Bread

Tue, 25 Dec 2012 12:51:00 -0800

As rain pours down, the residents of one Syrian village stand in line for bread. It's a scene that is repeated in towns across the war-torn country as shortages of fuel and flour -- as well as random shelling and air strikes -- make it almost impossible for bakeries to keep up with demand.

Syrian Planes Bomb Bakery, Up to 90 Dead

Sun, 23 Dec 2012 11:02:00 -0800

WARNING: Very Graphic Content. At least 90 people were killed and scores of others injured in an air strike on a bakery in Syria's central Hama province, activists said. The region has seen an increase in reports of heavy shelling since rebels began advancing in the province.

Syria: Regime Using Cluster Munitions as 'Collective Punishment' on Civilians

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 16:33:00 -0800

WARNING: Very Graphic Content. The New York Times correspondent C.J. Chivers reports from Maraa, Syria, on the government's use of cluster munitions against civilians in what appears to be a from of bloody, brutal collective punishment.

UN: Syria War Could Outlast Assad

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 05:30:00 -0800

The Syrian civil war has become so sectarian that fighting could continue for years even if Bashar al-Assad relinquished power tomorrow, United Nations investigators warn in a bleak assessment of the conflict. Foreign fighters are pouring in to aid Sunni rebels and Assad's Alawite sect.

The Fight for Aleppo: Life Among the Ruins of Syria's Largest City

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 14:39:00 -0800

In Syria's largest city, a sustained and pitched battle between rebels and the Syrian army has left the city in ruins. Now children rip apart their old classrooms in a desperate hunt for firewood, as residents face shortages of fuel and food, and frustration grows with both the government and rebel fighters.

Syria: Battle Rages for Control of Damascus Refugee District

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 11:28:00 -0800

Clashes between rebels and armed Palestinians loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have continued in a Damascus neighbourhood inhabited mainly by Palestinian refugees. Residents in Yarmouk camp said several mortar rounds landed in the neighborhood on Tuesday and gunfire echoed around the area. Locals said there were no Syrian government troops in the camp and that most of the fighting was between opposition fighters and gunmen from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command (PFLP-GC). The Palestinian refugee forces have been loyal to the regime until now, but that loyalty is being tested after a government air strike killed some Palestinian civilians. Al Jazeera's Mohammed Adow reports.

Syrian VP Calls for 'Government of National Unity' to End War

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0800

In an interview with Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, Syrian Vice President Farouk al-Sharaa expressed his belief that there is no military solution for either side in the conflict in Syria. Al Jazeera reports on the contents of the interview, in which al-Sharaa states that without a non-military solution, the bloody stalemate will continue.

Syria's Vice President Says War Is 'Unwinnable'

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 15:30:00 -0800

The Syrian vice-president Farouq al-Sharaa says neither the government nor rebel forces can win the civil war that has torn apart their country. It comes as fighting between government troops and rebel forces intensifies around Damascus airport.

Russia Admits Rebels Are Winning Syrian Conflict

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 09:10:00 -0800

Russia's deputy foreign minister Mikhail Bogdanov admits that a rebel victory is possible in Syria's long-running conflict, saying the Assad government is losing control of the country -- but adds such an outcome would come at an unacceptable price and could lead to "years" of civil war in the country. The statement follows an international conference, where around a hundred states pledged to boost their support for the opposition.

US Among 130 Countries to Recognize Syria Opposition

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 19:37:00 -0800

The US has joined 129 other countries in formally recognizing Syria's new opposition coalition as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people. At a "Friends of Syria" conference however, a coalition spokesman said the opposition needs "recognition with teeth" that will achieve tangible results.

US Declares Syrian Rebel Group Terrorists

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 22:12:00 -0800

The US has declared Syrian rebel group Jabhat al-Nusra a terrorist organization, which will tie up its assets in America. The move is a bid to bolster moderate rebel factions, but it may backfire, warn some Syrians. The group, which officials say is linked to al-Qaeda, is particularly effective in combat operations. Besides, says CNN, rebels are wondering:"Al-Nusra are terrorists, but Bashar is not?"

Raw Video: Syrian Rebels Unveil Homemade Tank

Sun, 09 Dec 2012 11:19:00 -0800

Using the chassis of a car as a base, and a video game controller for weapons systems, Syrian rebels revealed the Sham II, a homemade armored vehicle ready to be deployed in the ongoing civil war with Syrian government forces.

Raw Video: Smoke Rises as Fighting Rages South of Damascus

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 11:38:00 -0800

Smoke rises from several areas south of Damascus amid reports of heavy fighting between regime forces and rebels in the area. The nearby airport has been closed to all incoming flights, and earlier today phone and internet services were cut off across Syria.

Rebel Gains May Be 'Turning Point' in Syrian Conflict

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 16:20:00 -0800

Two Syrian military aircraft downed in two days -- seemingly by ground-to-air missiles -- changes everything, says Joshua Landis of SyriaComment.com, who believes the growing dominance of the Syrian Free Army in the north of the country may force pro-Assad troops to retreat south.

Twin car bombings kill scores in Damascus as rebels down warplane in Aleppo [New TV, Lebanon]

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Twin car bombings kill scores in Damascus as rebels down a warplane in Aleppo, the Obama administration seeks to codify its kill list with a drone rule book, many Afghan regions remain at the mercy of warlords, and more.

Rights group condemns Syria's continued use of cluster bombs [Jordan TV, Jordan]

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Egyptians take to the streets again to protect revolution from "new Mubarak," rights group condemns Syria's continued use of cluster bombs, new study reveals majority of disappeared persons in Kashmir are innocent, and more.

Raw Video: Syrian Rebels Capture Air Base Near Damascus

Sun, 25 Nov 2012 14:42:00 -0800

Amateur video shows rebel fighters surveying the smoldering shells of two destroyed helicopters after having taken control of the Marj al-Sultan air base outside of Damascus, Syria. Anti-Assad forces have had success in the north, but have yet to make inroads into the Syrian capital.

Free Syrian Army claims it 'shot down' two military jets [Future TV, Lebanon]

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Israel pounds Gaza as Arabs rally in solidarity with Palestinian people, Jordan caught between demands for king's ouster and pleas for reform, European leaders meet to finalize plan for military intervention in Mali, and more.

Syrian conflict claims 39,000 lives as violence rages with no end in sight [Future TV, Lebanon]

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Syrian conflict claims 39,000 lives as violence rages with no end in sight, Palestinian resistance factions unite as Israeli escalations stoke fears of ground war, Jordanian police kill one man amid angry anti-government protests, and more.

Sixty killed across Syria as regime army steps up attacks on armed opposition [Future TV, Lebanon]

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Israel assassinates Palestinian resistance leader in Gaza, anti-Abdullah protests erupt across Jordan over gas prices, series of deadly bombings rock Iraq ahead of the holy month of Muharram, and more.