Latest Bashar Assad News

Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's pick to oversee US spy agencies, grilled about Snowden, Syria and Russia
WASHINGTON (AP) — Tulsi Gabbard, President Donald Trump's pick to be director of national intelligence, faced sharp criticism from Democrats and Republicans alike Thursday during a fiery confirmation hearing focused on her past comments sympathetic to Russia, a meeting with Syria's now-deposed...

Middle East latest: Eight hostages are released from Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners
Hamas released eight hostages on Thursday — five Thai farm workers and three dual German-Israeli nationals — in exchange for 110 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. This is the third round of exchanges in the Gaza ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, which is now in its...

Leader of rebels who toppled Syrian President Bashar Assad is named country's interim president
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — The Syrian factions that toppled President Bashar Assad last month named an Islamist former rebel leader as the country‘s interim president on Wednesday in a push to project a united front as they face the monumental task of rebuilding Syria after nearly 14 years of civil...

Middle East latest: Israeli strike kills at least 10 people in the West Bank, officials say
Palestinian health authorities said an Israeli airstrike in the northern West Bank killed at least 10 people late Wednesday, as Israeli forces have carried out a major crackdown in the occupied territory during the ceasefire in Gaza. Israel's military said a fighter jet targeted a...

Tulsi Gabbard's views on Russia, Syria, Trump and government surveillance — in her own words
WASHINGTON (AP) — As an unconventional pick to lead the nation's intelligence service, Tulsi Gabbard is expected to face tough questions about her past comments on Syria, Russia, foreign surveillance and President Donald Trump when she goes before lawmakers at her confirmation hearing Thursday. ...
The leader of the former rebel group that toppled Syrian President Bashar Assad is named the country's interim president

A mysterious meeting with Syrian president is at the center of spy chief's nomination fight
WASHINGTON (AP) — When Tulsi Gabbard returned to Washington from a clandestine sit-down with Syria’s then-president Bashar Assad eight years ago this month, she was greeted with a flurry of criticism. Lawmakers and civil society groups chastised Gabbard, then a Hawaii...

Russian government delegation makes first official visit to Syria since Assad's fall
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — A delegation of Russian officials arrived in Damascus on Tuesday for the first such visit to Syria since the fall of former President Bashar Assad. Assad, an ally of Moscow, took refuge in Russia after his ouster in December in a lightning rebel offensive. ...

Middle East latest: Palestinians return to their homes in northern Gaza for a second day
Crowds of displaced Palestinians made the arduous journey back to heavily destroyed northern Gaza for a second day Tuesday, under a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. More than 375,000 Palestinians have crossed into northern Gaza since Israel allowed their return on Monday...

The discovery of brutal mass graves in Syria reveals Assad's legacy of horror
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — The charred remains of at least 26 victims of the Bashar Assad government were located Tuesday by Syrian civil defense workers in two separate basements in rural Damascus. The discovery adds to the growing tally of mass graves unearthed since the fall of the...
