Latest Syria News
Syria's economic pains far from over despite Assad's ouster
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Samir al-Baghdad grabbed his pickax and walked up a wobbly set of stairs made of cinderblocks and rubble. He is rebuilding his destroyed family house in the Qaboun neighborhood near Damascus, Syria 's capital. The traditional building, which...
Commercial flights between Turkey and Syria resume after 13 years
ISTANBUL (AP) — Commercial flights between Turkey and Syria resumed Thursday after 13 years with a Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to Damascus. Turkish media showed Syrian families draped in their national flag singing pro-opposition songs and cheering as they prepared to...
Southern rebels loom large as Syria's new rulers try to form a national army
NAWA, Syria (AP) — As insurgents raced across Syria in a surprise offensive launched in the country's northwest late last year, officials from several countries backing either the rebels or Syria’s government met in Qatar on what to do. According to people briefed on the Dec. 7...
Middle East latest: Israel says it killed a militant in Gaza as fragile ceasefire holds
The Israeli military said Wednesday its soldiers killed an alleged militant in Gaza whom it said posed a threat to its forces, as the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas stretched into a fourth day. It appeared to be the first time since the ceasefire began Sunday that the Israeli...
Mother of missing journalist Austin Tice says Trump team offered help in search
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — The mother of American journalist Austin Tice said Monday that the Trump administration had offered support to help find her son, who disappeared in Syria in 2012. Debra Tice made the remarks at a news conference in Damascus on her first visit to the country...
Middle East latest: Gaza ceasefire set to start 8:30 am Sunday after 15 months of war
The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas will go into effect at 8:30 a.m. local time (0630 GMT) on Sunday, mediator Qatar said. The ceasefire will pause the fighting after 15 months of war and see the release of dozens of hostages held by the militants in the Gaza Strip and hundreds...
A train station was once the pride of Syria's capital. Some see it as a symbol of revival after war
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — A train station in Damascus was once the pride of the Syrian capital, an essential link between Europe and the Arabian Peninsula during the Ottoman Empire and then a national transit hub. But more than a decade of war left it a wasteland of bullet-scarred walls and twisted...
International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor meets with Syrian leader in Damascus
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor Karim Khan made an unannounced visit Friday to Damascus to confer with the leader of Syria’s de facto government on how to ensure accountability for alleged crimes committed in the country. Khan's...
More than 1,000 Syrians have withdrawn asylum applications in Cyprus, another 500 have returned home
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — More than 1,000 Syrian nationals have withdrawn their applications for asylum or international protection because they intend to return to their homeland, while another 500 have already gone back, a Cypriot official said Friday. Cyprus’ Deputy Minister for...
Syrian Christians want their identity and freedoms protected in any new constitution, envoy says
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — As Syria begins recovering from 50 years of autocratic rule by the Assad family, an international envoy says Christians and other religious groups expect their rights and freedoms to be preserved under a new constitutional settlement. Salina Shambos, a...
