[Published here on April 23, 2016]
Aleppo (Syria) (AFP) – At least 30 civilians were killed Saturday in regime and rebel bombardment of areas across Syria, threatening an eight-week-old truce at a time when peace talks are stalled in Geneva.
AFP
Syria relief efforts intensify even as peace talks falter | AFP
[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.
Syria opposition rejects UN proposal for Assad to stay | AFP
[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.
Escalating Syria violence threatens ceasefire | AFP
[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.
To flee Lebanon’s trash crisis, family heads to Syria | AFP
[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.
Inconsistencies in leaked IS files sound ‘alarm bells’: analysts | AFP
[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.
Assad vows to ‘do our part’ so shaky Syria ceasefire holds | AFP
[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.
Syrian talks suspended as regime, Russia hit rebels hard | AFP
[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”.
US-led strikes in Syria, Iraq hit IS ‘middle-management’ | AFP
[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.
Rebel chief death may hurt Syria talks, boost IS: analysts | AFP
[Published here December 26, 2015]
Beirut (AFP) – The killing of Syrian rebel chief Zahran Alloush, fiercely opposed to both the regime and the Islamic State group, has eliminated a key bulwark against the jihadists and could derail UN-brokered peace talks, analysts say.
The head of Jaish al-Islam, the foremost rebel group in Damascus province, was killed on Friday in an air strike claimed by Syria’s government.
MAYA GEBEILY 