Cyprus calls on the EU to rethink Syrian safe zones for eventually repatriating Syrian migrants

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Cyprus has formally called on the European Union to re-evaluate which areas of Syria can be declared safe and free from armed conflict so that Syrian migrants can eventually be repatriated there, Cypriot authorities said Friday. Interior Minister Constantinos...

Israel strikes alleged Syrian military structures. It says the buildings violated a 1974 cease-fire

JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli military said tanks struck two structures inside a demilitarized zone in Syria on Thursday, claiming the buildings violated a half-century-old cease-fire agreement between the two countries. The structures, it said, were being used by the Syrian...

Syrian President Bashar Assad is in China on his first visit since the beginning of war in Syria

BEIJING (AP) — Syrian President Bashar Assad arrived in China on Thursday on his first visit to the country since the start of Syria's 12-year conflict, one in which Beijing has been one of his main backers. China’s Foreign Ministry said Assad would join other foreign leaders...

Syrian President Bashar Assad arrives in China on his first visit since the beginning of the war in Syria

Syria's Assad will visit China as Beijing boosts its reach in the Middle East

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Syria's President Bashar Assad will head to China later this week in his first visit to Beijing since the start of his country's 12-year conflict during which China has been one of his main backers, his office said Tuesday. China has been expanding its reach...

Strategic border crossing reopens allowing UN aid to reach rebel-held northwest Syria

BAB Al-HAWA, Syria (AP) — A United Nations aid convoy reached rebel-held northwest Syria on Tuesday after a vital border crossing from Turkey reopened following an agreement with the Syrian government. The 17-truck convoy carrying medicine, medical equipment, food supplements and...

Attack on Turkish-backed opposition fighters in Syria kills 13 of the militants, activists say

IDLIB, Syria (AP) — A Kurdish-led force attacked Turkish-backed opposition fighters in northern Syria on Monday, killing at least 13 of the militants, activists said. The opposition activists blamed the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces for carrying out the assault, though the...

AP PHOTOS: Moroccan earthquake shattered thousands of lives

AMIZMIZ, Morocco (AP) — With their arms around each other, three boys walked through the streets of their town at the foot of Morocco’s Atlas Mountains. It could have been a scene like millions around the world that day. But in the Moroccan town of Amizmiz, the boys were walking...

An explosion hits an apartment in northern Syria. At least 1 person was killed with others wounded

BEIRUT (AP) — An explosion ripped through an apartment on the second floor of a building in a northern Syria town controlled by Turkey-backed opposition fighters Saturday, killing at least one person and wounding others, pro-government media reported. It wasn't immediately clear...

Iraq steps up repatriations from Islamic State camp in Syria, hoping to reduce militant threats

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq is stepping up repatriation of its citizens from a camp in northeastern Syria housing tens of thousands of people, mostly wives and children of Islamic State fighters but also supporters of the militant group. It’s a move that Baghdad hopes will reduce...