Latest Syria News
Italy plans to return an ambassador to Syria to reflect new diplomatic developments, minister says
ROME (AP) — Italy plans to send an ambassador back to Syria after a decade-long absence, the country’s foreign minister said, in a diplomatic move that could spark divisions among European Union allies. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, speaking in front of relevant parliamentary...
Russia's Putin hosts Syria's Assad in the Kremlin as tensions rise in the Middle East
Russian President Vladimir Putin met President Bashar Assad of Syria in the Kremlin, video distributed by the Kremlin press service on Thursday showed. Putin told Assad he was concerned that tensions are rising in the Middle East, but neither leader provided further details on their...
German court rules in migration case that there's no general danger now to all civilians in Syria
BERLIN (AP) — A German court has ruled that there is no longer a general danger to all civilians from the long-running conflict in Syria, rejecting a claim to protected status by a Syrian man who had been convicted in Austria for involvement in smuggling people into Europe. The...
UN envoy warns that threat of terrorism is `resurging' with attacks by Islamic State extremists
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The top U.N. envoy for Syria told the Security Council on Monday that the threat of terrorism is “resurging” with attacks by Islamic State extremists set to double this year, endangering civilians already facing a “protracted state of displacement and dire humanitarian...
Syrian President Assad's Baath Party clinches control of parliament, election results show
DAMASCUS (AP) — The results of Syria’s parliamentary elections, announced Thursday, showed that President Bashar Assad’s Baath Party has won a majority of seats, as expected. The elections for 250 parliamentary seats were held Monday at 8,151 centers in government-held areas of...
Syrian official who oversaw prison where alleged abuse took place arrested by US officials
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A former Syrian military official who oversaw a prison where human rights officials say torture and abuse routinely took place has been arrested, authorities said Wednesday. U.S. Department of Homeland Security agents took Samir Ousman al-Sheikh into custody last...
Islamic State attacks on track to double in Iraq and Syria compared to last year, US military says
BAGHDAD (AP) — The U.S. Central Command said Wednesday that the Islamic State group is trying "to reconstitute” as the number of attacks in Syria and Iraq is on track to double this year, compared to the year before. IS claimed 153 attacks in the two countries in the first six...
The Latest | An Israeli drone strike kills a prominent Syrian businessman with close ties to Assad
An Israeli drone strike on a car Monday near the Lebanon-Syria border killed a prominent Syrian businessman who was sanctioned by the United States and had close ties to the government of Syria’s President Bashar Assad, according to pro-government media and an official from an Iran-backed group....
Syrians vote for their next parliament, which may pave the way for Assad to extend his rule
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Syrians voted for members of a new parliament in an election Monday that was expected to hold few surprises but could pave the way for a constitutional amendment to extend the term of President Bashar Assad. The vote is the fourth in Syria since mass...
Israeli drone strike along Lebanon-Syria border kills Syrian businessman close to the government
BEIRUT (AP) — An Israeli drone strike on a car Monday near the Lebanon-Syria border killed a prominent Syrian businessman who was sanctioned by the United States and had close ties to the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad, according to pro-government media and an official from an...
