[Published here on April 21, 2016]
Beirut (AFP) – Aid groups launched their largest humanitarian delivery yet in war-torn Syria on Thursday after the UN evacuated hundreds of besieged residents, intensifying relief efforts even as peace talks falter.
[Published here on April 16, 2016]
Geneva (AFP) – Syria’s opposition has rejected a proposal from the UN envoy that would have kept Bashar al-Assad as president during a political transition, with three deputies of his opponents’ choosing.
[Published here April 15, 2016]
Beirut (AFP) – Fighting escalated around Syria’s second city Aleppo, as a Russian-backed government offensive strained a landmark ceasefire and threatened a new round of peace talks in Geneva.
[Published here on April 4, 2016]
Naameh (Lebanon) (AFP) – Imagine living near a trash dump so putrid that you would rather move to war-torn Syria.
[Published here March 15, 2016]
Beirut (AFP) – One is a seasoned, multi-lingual diplomat, the other a relatively unknown rebel figure and student of Islam: the two men heading rival delegations at Syrian peace talks seem worlds apart.
[Published here on March 10, 2016]
Beirut (AFP) – Analysts on Thursday cast doubt on the authenticity of thousands of documents reportedly leaked from the Islamic State jihadist group, pointing out mistakes and uncharacteristic language.
[Published here on March 1, 2016]
Beirut (AFP) – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad pledged on Tuesday to do his part to guarantee the success of a shaky ceasefire that was largely holding on its fourth day.
World powers have thrown their weight behind the landmark truce as a way to bring an end to Syria’s conflict, which began in 2011 with anti-government protests.
[Published here February 3, 2016]
Geneva (AFP) – Talks aimed at securing peace in Syria were suspended Wednesday as President Bashar al-Assad’s regime secured a major battlefield victory against rebels and his ally Russia vowed no-let up in air strikes.
The United States and France condemned the Russian bombing around Syria’s second city of Aleppo, with French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius accusing the government and its backers of “torpedoing the peace efforts”.
[Published here January 20, 2016]
Beirut (AFP) – In Syria’s coastal Latakia province, Abu Mohammad sends a warning from his phone to a secret network of colleagues: “Caution: A Russian plane just took off in your direction.”
Moments later, activists in a rebel-held area in northwestern Syria sound warning sirens that prompt civilians to take cover before incoming air raids.
[Published here December 30, 2015]
Beirut (AFP) – US-led strikes against Islamic State group officials in Iraq and Syria are robbing the jihadists of one of their most valuable resources: experienced mid-level commanders.
Ten of the group’s higher-ups, including one with “direct” ties to the alleged mastermind of the Paris attacks, were killed in air strikes in December alone, the US military said.
MAYA GEBEILY 