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Israel, Syria Exchange Fire

Tue, 21 May 2013 09:57:00 -0700

Mideast border tensions flared again as Israel opened fire on Syria after an Israeli vehicle was struck across the Golan Heights ceasefire line. Syria claims it destroyed the vehicle because it crossed into its territory, which Israel denies. Syria warned attempts to violate its sovereignty would be "met with immediate retaliation."

Raw Video: Fierce Attack on Syrian Opposition in Qusayr

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:56:00 -0700

This amateur video, shot over the weekend, shows Syrian rebels under intense attack as their stronghold of Qusayr is shelled and they scramble to save themselves and fallen comrades. The death toll is mounting, but Reuters reports that several dead include Syrian government troops and their Hezbollah supporters.

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."

US, Russia Agree to Syria Conference

Tue, 07 May 2013 15:39:00 -0700

Russia and the US have agreed to arrange an international conference aimed at ending the crisis in Syria. They plan to involve both the government of President Bashar al-Assad and the rebels fighting to overthrow him. A visit by US Secretary of State John Kerry to Moscow appears to have helped bridge the gap between the powers, who have long held opposing views on the conflict. "Russia and the US will push the Syrian government and opposition to reach a political resolution," said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Democracy Now: 'Ruthless' Syrian Army Taking No Prisoners

Tue, 07 May 2013 12:03:00 -0700

As the US edges toward increased intervention in Syria, long-time Mideast correspondent Robert Fisk tells Democracy Now! of his recent encounters with the Syrian army, a "ruthless" organization whose troops are racking up kills and take no prisoners. Fisk believes the Syrian government is winning the war, but he also he zings President Obama's "pitiful" backing of the recent Israeli missile strikes. Americans aren't learning the real truth in Syria as too many media outlets have become mere mouthpieces for US power, he complains.

80 Killed in New Syrian Massacre

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 20:21:00 -0700

At least 80 people, including several women and children, have been cut down by Syrian army fire in the town of Jdeydet al-Fadel in the suburbs of Damascus, accoring to oppostion activists. The army reportedly stormed the town after five days of heavy fighting. The toll could be as high as 250, reports the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The deaths came as Secretary of State John Kerry promised the US would double its "non-lethal aid" to the opposition.

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.

Syria: Deadly Car Bomb Rocks Central Damascus

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 12:51:00 -0700

At least 15 people have been killed after a car bomb exploded in central Damascus. Dozens more were injured. State TV is calling it a suicide attack by terrorists. Al Jazeera's Rula Amin reports from Beirut in neighboring Lebanon.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Damascus Descends Into Lawlessness

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 21:11:00 -0800

As the Syrian civil war approaches its third year, Damascus is slipping into chaos, Reuters' Middle East editor finds. As the military battles rebels on the outskirts of the city, lawlessness is spreading and crimes like kidnapping are on the rise.

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 Army Strikes Aleppo Homes, Kills 16 Civilians

Sun, 03 Feb 2013 16:46:00 -0800

Violence in Syria has continued despite talks of a political solution. Activists say a Syrian army air strike on an Aleppo district has killed at least sixteen people and injured dozens of others.

Scores of Bound Bodies Found in Aleppo

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 09:40:00 -0800

Heart-breaking cries of grief erupt from family members seeking loved ones among some 65 massacred in Aleppo, many of them young men or teenagers with their hands bound behind their backs and shot in the head. The bodies were discovered on the banks of the Queiq River, and lined up in a hospital courtyard in hopes of identifying them.

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 Forces Gun Down Refugees at Jordan Border

Sun, 20 Jan 2013 14:16:00 -0800

Syrian refugees seeking shelter away from violence in the country are being gunned down by President Assad's forces alongside the Jordanian border, a recent video has revealed. The video, aired by Al Arabiya television on Sunday, showed several individuals struck down by regime forces as they try to cross into Jordan.

Foes Blast Assad 'War' Speech

Sun, 06 Jan 2013 19:49:00 -0800

Despite rapturous applause from supporters, opponents of Syrian President Basahr al-Assad have condemned the Syrian president's remarks about the onging civil war. Foes had hoped he would present a plan to emerge from Syria's crisis but viewed his remarks as a renewed declaration of war.

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 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.

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.

US: Syria Fired Scuds at Rebels

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 18:18:00 -0800

The Syrian regime has fired at least four Scud missiles at rebel forces in a dangerous escalation of the conflict, US officials say. The regime has at least 400 of the short to medium-range missile and also appears to be deploying incendiary "barrel bombs," the US says.

Obama Delivers Sharp Warning to Syria on Chemical Weapons

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 23:22:00 -0800

President Barack Obama has issued an "absolutely clear" warning to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad that any use of chemical weapons on his people is "totally unacceptable," threatening that there will be consequences if he ignores the warning. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton said she's not going into any specifics, "but we are certainly planning to take action if that eventuality were to occur."

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.

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.

Syria: Residents Flee Air Strikes on Border Town

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 08:59:00 -0800

A second day of air strikes on Syrian towns near the Turkish border is continuing to cause chaos. Some refugees can be seen squeezing under barbed wire fences to enter Turkey. Medical workers and refugees in Ceylanpinar say bombs have fallen on residential areas of Ras al-Ain, an Arab and Kurdish town that fell to rebels last week during an advance into Syria's northeast.

Stray bullets from Syrian Civil War strike IDF jeep in northern Israel [IBA, Israel]

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Russia and Qatar compete over ownership of Syrian people's voice, Britain's Cameron slammed for acting as weapons dealer to Arab despots, Kuwaiti emir vows tough measures against "illegal" protestors, and more.

Almost Two Years On, Syrian Opposition Still Lacks Central Leadership

Sun, 04 Nov 2012 08:31:00 -0800

After almost two years of fighting, Syria's opposition still remains divided and ideologically fractured. Leaders of the Syrian National Council are due to hold a conference in Doha, Qatar to reorganise their ranks, but there remain serious doubts over how well they can form a unified body.

Syrian Rebels Lay Siege to Crucial Airbase

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 10:58:00 -0700

Rebels in Syria claim to have launched a major offensive against a key government airbase. The facility in Taftanaz is of immense strategic importance as it covers the city of Aleppo and the capital Damascus. The assault comes a day before a crucial opposition meeting in Doha, Qatar.

UN: Syrian Rebels' Summary Executions a 'War Crime'

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 16:37:00 -0700

The United Nations Human Rights Council has announced that the execution of soldiers from the Syrian army by the armed opposition is likely a war crime, and assured that if the video recording of the execution is real, then it will amount to evidence of war crimes if a trial is held. Meanwhile, 24-year-old Nujeen Dirik, the leader of a Kurdish armed unit that is affiliated with the Syrian branch of the PKK in Turkey, was killed in the northern city of Aleppo.

UN condemns Syrian rebels' summary execution of regime soldiers [New TV, Lebanon]

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Mauritanian president remains in Paris as opposition calls for end to military rule, UN condemns Syrian rebels' summary execution of regime soldiers, Arab-American voters lean toward Obama in US elections, and more.

Raw: Syria Pledges Truce as Rebels Boast of Gains

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 13:14:00 -0700

The Syrian army has pledged to observe a four-day ceasefire for the Muslim Eid holiday starting Friday, but fighting running up to the truce has been intense, with rebels claiming to have taken control of new areas in the key battleground of Aleppo.

Muslim Holiday Truce Hinges on Syria Decision

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 06:57:00 -0700

Though the UN envoy to Syria announced a four-day ceasefire marking the Muslim Eid holiday beginning Friday, the agreement still awaits official confirmation from the government, and it's not clear where all the opposition factions stand.

Captured Syrian Pilot 'Didn't Know He Was Bombing Civilians'

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 18:20:00 -0700

A Syrian air force pilot shot down by rebels claims he had no idea that he was bombing civilians. The captured pilot told Al Jazeera that he and his fellow pilots were unaware of the reality of the conflict and had been told the houses they were bombing were full of foreign terrorists.

Raw Video: Syrian Rebels Shoot Down Helicopter

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 10:54:00 -0700

A Syrian military helicopter was apparently shot down by rebels in the city of Idlib, although the amateur footage cannot be independently verified. The aircraft can be seen spiraling out of control before exploding in a dramatic fireball. The video appears to back up recent reports that rebels have acquired some heavier weaponry to help their fight against the superior firepower of government forces equipped with tanks, fighter jets, and attack helicopters.

Syrian Regime Denies Cluster Bomb Allegations

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 14:15:00 -0700

Human Rights Watch alleges that in recent days the Syrian government has begun widespread attacks using Russian-made cluster bombs. The Syrian Army denies the charge, and Russia on Monday also slammed the report -- saying the allegation is not confirmed. Henry Ridgwell reports for VOA from London.

Rebel Fighters Claim Capture of 250 Syrian Soldiers

Sat, 13 Oct 2012 09:20:00 -0700

Syrian opposition fighters have said they've captured more than 250 members of the government's armed forces in the province of Idlib. The announcement on Saturday was accompanied by an amateur video showing what the rebels claim are 256 captured Syrian soldiers who were displayed for the cameras. Al Jazeera's Stefanie Dekker reports.

Raw Video: Multiple Suicide Bombs Kill Dozens in Aleppo

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 08:56:00 -0700

A government official says at least three suicide bombers detonated their explosives near an officers' club in the Syrian city of Aleppo, trapping several bystanders under rubble. Syrian TV broadcast these scenes of devastation.

Deadly explosions rock central Aleppo [Al Jazeera, Qatar]

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Iranian riot police clash with demonstrators during currency crisis protests in Tehran, Bahrain launches crackdown on funeral for activist who died in custody, Tunisian woman accused of indecency after being raped by security forces, and more.