Latest Syria government News

Minnesota man who joined Islamic State group is sentenced to 10 years in prison

Jun. 13, 2024 18:05 PM EDT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minnesota man who once fought for the Islamic State group in Syria after becoming radicalized expressed remorse and wept in open court Thursday as he was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. Abelhamid Al-Madioum, 27, cooperated with federal authorities...

Today in History: June 13, Johnson nominates Marshall to become first Black Supreme Court justice

Jun. 13, 2024 00:01 AM EDT

Today in History Today is Thursday, June 13, the 165th day of 2024. There are 201 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On June 13, 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson nominated Solicitor-General Thurgood Marshall to become the first...

Some Syrian refugees risk returning to opposition-held areas as hostility in host Lebanon grows

Jun. 12, 2024 01:22 AM EDT

IDLIB, Syria (AP) — For more than a decade, a steady flow of Syrians have crossed the border from their war-torn country into Lebanon. But anti-refugee sentiment is rising there, and in the past two months, hundreds of Syrian refugees have gone the other way. They're taking a...

7 EU members say conditions in Syria should be reassessed to allow voluntary refugee returns

Jun. 07, 2024 13:01 PM EDT

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — The governments of seven European Union member states said Friday the situation in Syria should be re-evaluated to allow for the voluntary return of Syrian refugees back to their homeland. In a joint statement, officials from Austria, the Czech Republic,...

Syria says no dialogue with Turkey before Ankara announces plans to withdraw its troops

Jun. 04, 2024 09:02 AM EDT

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Syria’s foreign minister said Tuesday that any dialogue between Syria and Turkey should only take place after Ankara announces that it will withdraw its troops from all Syrian territories it controls. Faisal Mekdad made the comments during a joint news...

Turkey's defense minister says planned elections by Syrian Kurdish groups are 'unacceptable'

Jun. 03, 2024 11:11 AM EDT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Plans by U.S.-backed Kurdish groups to conduct local elections in northern Syria are “unacceptable” and a threat to Turkey’s national security, Turkey’s defense minister said Monday. Turkey considers the move as a step by Syrian Kurdish groups toward...

Iran announces the death of a high-ranking Revolutionary Guard general after a long illness

Jun. 01, 2024 12:01 PM EDT

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — A high-ranking general in Iran's Revolutionary Guard has died after an illness, Iran's state TV reported Saturday. Gen. Vajihollah Moradi was one of the commanders of the Guard's foreign wing, TV said. He was also a comrade of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who was...

Turkish drone strikes in Syria kill 4 U.S.-backed fighters, wound 11 civilians, Kurdish group says

May. 31, 2024 18:00 PM EDT

QAMISHLI, Syria (AP) — Turkish drone strikes in northeastern Syria on Friday evening killed four U.S.-backed fighters and wounded 11 civilians, the Kurdish-led force said. The strikes on areas held by the U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces came a day after...

Syrian President Bashar Assad visits Iran to express condolences over death of Raisi

May. 30, 2024 23:14 PM EDT

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Syrian President Bashar Assad met with Iran's supreme leader in the capital Tehran on Thursday and expressed his condolences over the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash, state media reported Thursday. Assad met with Iranian Supreme Leader...

Saudi Arabia appoints first ambassador to Syria since 2012

May. 26, 2024 12:07 PM EDT

BEIRUT (AP) — Saudi Arabia on Sunday announced the appointment of its first ambassador to Syria since severing ties with Damascus in 12 years, marking an ongoing thawing in relations since the war-torn country was readmitted to the Arab League over a year ago. Faisal al-Mujfel's...