France: French, Turkish leaders discuss Syria ‘road map’
French officials say President Emmanuel Macron and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan are talking about working on a ‘diplomatic road map’ for Syria in the ‘coming weeks.’
Syria
Russian delegation ‘sought to stop Israeli strikes in Syria, Lebanon’
A delegation of senior Russian security officials visiting Israel this week reportedly sought to dissuade Jerusalem from striking Iranian and Hezbollah weapons facilities in Syria and Lebanon.
U.S. says Syria may be developing new types of chemical weapons
The Trump administration is prepared to again take military action against Syrian government forces if necessary to deter the use of chemical weapons and is concerned they may be developing new methods to deliver such weapons, senior US officials said on Thursday.
DHS lets protected Syrians stay in US another 18 months, newly arrived Syrians shut out
The Department of Homeland Security announced Wednesday night that it will extend humanitarian protected status for the some 6,900 Syrians in the U.S. that already have it, but won’t allow newly arrived Syrians to apply.
Kurds in Syria call on US support to rein in Turkish operations
Syria’s Kurdish militias have grown frustrated with the United States and its stance over the assault by Turkish forces in Afrin, on mainly-Kurdish areas of northwestern Syria near the Turkish border.
Netanyahu confronts Putin over Iran’s actions in Syria, Lebanon
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin met Monday in Moscow.
Netanyahu to head to Moscow to discuss Iran, Syria with Putin
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is headed to Moscow on Monday for a whirlwind trip, during which he is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin and visit an exhibition on the Holocaust.
New ISIS Video Sings to U.S. Jihadists: ‘It is Now Time to Rise, Slit Their Throats, Watch Them Die’
The Islamic State issued a new video today calling on ‘brothers in Europe, America, Russia, Australia and elsewhere’ to ‘kill them all’ as ‘it is now time to rise.’
Danon: Iran currently controls 82 thousand fighters in Syria
Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon revealed on Thursday previously undisclosed information concerning the Syrian Civil War to the UN Security Council.
Israel accuses Iran of trying to turn Syria into its base
Israel’s U.N. ambassador is accusing Iran of attempting to turn Syria into ‘the largest military base in the world’ to destabilize the region, threaten Israel and ‘terrorize the entire free world.’
Damascus Bombs Kill 9 in Christian Village
Families in Syria are grieving after a barrage of mortars struck a predominately Christian district near Damascus Monday, killing nine and wounding 21 others.
US: Russia ultimately to blame for Syrian chemical attacks
Russia is ultimately to blame for any use of chemical weapons in Syria, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Tuesday amid reports of a suspected chemical attack this week near the capital, Damascus.
Turkey intensifies offensive against US-backed Kurds
Turkey has begun a major new offensive in northwestern Syria, in a bid to oust Kurdish militia from the area.
Pence lands in Israel as PM stresses ‘no alternative’ to US as peace broker
US President Mike Pence arrived in Tel Aviv Sunday evening for a two-day visit to Israel amid unprecedented tensions with the Palestinians over President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital last month.
Iran calls for end to Turkish offensive in Syria
Iran on Sunday called for a quick end to a Turkish incursion into northern Syria’s Afrin province, saying it may help ‘terrorist’ groups, state news agency IRNA reported.
Turkish forces push into Syria, battle Kurdish militia
Turkey’s army and rebel allies battled US-backed Kurdish militia in Syria’s Afrin province on Sunday (Jan 21), stepping up a two-day-old campaign against YPG fighters that has opened a new front in Syria’s civil war.
Rift between U.S., Turkey widens as Ankara presses Syrian offensive
The U.S. and Turkey moved closer to an open rift Sunday, with the Trump administration expressing deep concern as Turkish ground forces crossed into northern Syria in a bid to rid the area of U.S.-backed Kurdish militias.
Reports: Israel Attacked ‘Hezbollah Arms Depot’ in Syria’s Damascus
Syrian opposition sources claimed Israeli warplanes attacked the Almas military airport near Damascus early Wednesday morning. According to reports, a Hezbollah arms depot was the target of the attack.
Tillerson says US troops to stay in Syria to counter Assad and Iran
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Wednesday that US troops will remain in Syria not just to fight jihadists but also to counter the power of Bashar al-Assad and his ally Iran.
Russian, Iranian Foreign Ministers Discuss Syria and Iran Nuclear Deal
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif discussed the conflict in Syria and the Iran nuclear deal in a phone conversation, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.