Latest Bashar Assad 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...
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...
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...
A rapprochement between Syria and Turkey is on the table. Here's what it might mean for the region
ANKARA (AP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Syrian President Bashar Assad have recently signaled that they are interested in restoring diplomatic ties that have been ruptured for more than a decade. Erdogan has said that he hopes to arrange a meeting with Assad soon...
Syria and Saudi Arabia resume regular commercial flights as part of a thaw in relations
DAMASCUS (AP) — Regular flights between the Syrian capital of Damascus and Saudi Arabia resumed Wednesday for the first time in more than a decade as part of a thaw in relations between the countries, Syrian state media reported. Syria and Saudi Arabia had severed ties in 2012 over...
