Damascus

Bashar al-Assad: From Tyranny to Collapse

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad oversaw a merciless crackdown on a pro-democracy revolt that morphed into one of the bloodiest wars of the century. On Sunday, as rebels entered the capital, a Syrian war monitor said he had left the country, in what could spell the end not just of his 24-year rule but the downfall of his clan's five-decade ...

Islamist-Led Rebels Advance Towards Damascus

Rebels on a lightning advance through Syria said they were nearing Damascus on Saturday, although Bashar al-Assad's government denied that the army had withdrawn from areas around the capital. "Our forces have begun the final phase of encircling the capital," said rebel commander Hassan Abdel Ghani, with the Islamist-led alliance ...

Syria: Government Forces Retreat on All Fronts

According to a security source in Damascus, rebels have taken control of three army and police posts in Sweida, and most of Deraa is no longer in the hands of the regime. Rebel forces pressing a lightning offensive in Syria aim to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad's rule, their Islamist leader said in an interview published on Friday. The ...

Lebanese Detainees Presumably Freed from Hama Prison Spark Calls for Action

The issue of the Lebanese detainees in Syria resurfaced unexpectedly, on Thursday, when Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) announced the release of the Hama prison inmates, including some Lebanese. This revelation prompted widespread sharing of a list of names of individuals arrested during Lebanon’s war (1975–1990) on WhatsApp and social ...

Syrian army lost control of Hama

The Syrian army lost control of Hama, according to the Syrian news agency, Sana. The rebels took control of the city and freed all prisoners detained in the central incarceration center. Syrian government forces were locked in heavy fighting around the central city of Hama on Thursday morning, trying to halt an advance of Islamist-led rebels, a ...

Aleppo Loss Marks a Turning Point for Assad’s Regime

The ease with which rebel groups captured Aleppo (North) and advanced toward central Syria has shaken Bashar al-Assad’s legitimacy, fueling the ambitions of his opponents, analysts unanimously say. The capital remains well-defended, with the army launching a counteroffensive on Wednesday, aided by Russian airstrikes. However, the blow dealt in ...

Israel Strikes Car on Damascus Airport Road: State Media

An Israeli airstrike hit a car on the Damascus airport road on Tuesday, causing it to explode, Syria's official news agency SANA reported. "A car exploded after it was targeted in an Israeli aggression on the road to Damascus International Airport," SANA reported, citing a police source. It did not say who was targeted or if there were any ...

Syria: A Confounding Chessboard of Escalating Tensions

The situation in Syria is marked by an escalation of tensions, with major clashes on multiple fronts and increased international intervention. From US airstrikes to reinforcements arriving from Iraq and statements from Tehran, the chaos continues to deepen, painting an increasingly complex picture of the ongoing conflict. US strikes on ...

Iraqi Armed Group Calls on Baghdad to Deploy in Support of Assad

Iraq's powerful Iran-aligned Kataeb Hezbollah armed group has called on Baghdad to send troops to Syria to support the Damascus government against a rebel offensive. Kataeb Hezbollah, or Hezbollah Brigades, made the appeal in a statement shared on pro-Iranian Telegram channels late Monday. Excerpts were also posted on its official website. The ...

Araghchi in Ankara: Iran and Turkey Advocate Syrian Sovereignty

The Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Aragchi, continued his regional tour on monday, in Ankara, by meeting his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, following a visit to Damascus. In a joint press conference, Aragchi emphasized the agreement between Tehran and Ankara on a key principle: "The unity and sovereignty of Syrian territories must be ...

Iran to Maintain Military Advisers in Syria After Aleppo Loss

Iran said on Monday that it plans to keep military advisers in Syria after its ally's second city Aleppo was overrun by rebels in a surprise offensive. The Islamic republic, which has backed President Bashar al-Assad since Syria's civil war broke out in 2011, says it only deploys military advisers in the country at the invitation of ...

Iranian FM Vows Full Support to Syria in Meeting With Assad

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Damascus on Sunday to deliver a message of support to Syria's government and armed forces, days after rebels launched a swift offensive capturing Aleppo, the coutry’s second largest city, and other localities.  Araghchi is said to have assured Syrian President Bashar al-Assad ...