[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.
Syria
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.
Chief negotiators at Syria talks are polar opposites | AFP
[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.
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.
Limelight-hungry IS ups the ante with violence | AFP
[Published here December 11, 2015]
Beirut (AFP) – As the Islamic State jihadist group comes under growing military pressure, its prodigious propaganda output has slowed somewhat but turned increasingly gruesome in a bid to keep in the headlines.
Since it announced a self-styled caliphate across Iraq and Syria last year, IS has become notorious for broadcasting its macabre tactics.
MAYA GEBEILY 