North Korea helping Syria manufacture chemical weapons, reports claim
North Korea has been sending equipment to Syria that could be used in the manufacturing of chemical weapons, according to a New York Times report citing United Nations experts.
Syria
Violence rages in Syria as U.N. calls to stop ‘hell on Earth’
Syrian forces launched a ground offensive Monday on a rebel-held eastern Damascus suburb despite a U.N. Security Council resolution demanding a 30-day cease-fire across Syria. The U.N. chief denounced the violence in the embattled region, describing it as ‘hell on Earth.’
Iran says Damascus suburbs assault to continue as fighting rages
Iran said pro-Damascus forces would press ahead with attacks on an insurgent enclave near the Syrian capital, as ground fighting raged on there in defiance of a U.N. resolution demanding a 30-day truce across the country.
Russia deploys advanced stealth jets in Syria with warning aimed at Israel
Russia has deployed two of its most advanced and sophisticated stealth jets in Syria, in a power move likely to draw US criticism, as the Pentagon expressed its alarm earlier this month over recent close calls with Russian planes in the war-torn country.
Air strikes again hit Syria’s Ghouta, U.N. considers ceasefire resolution
Warplanes pounded the last rebel enclave near Syria’s capital for a fifth day running on Thursday as the U.N. Security Council considered demanding a 30-day ceasefire across the country to allow emergency aid deliveries and medical evacuations.
Russia tests new stealth fighter over war-weary Syrian skies
Russia’s most advanced combat warplane, the Su-57 stealth fighter, appears to have begun trial missions over the war-weary Syrian skies.
Israel, Iran on collision course over Syria
Iran and Israel are on a collision course over Tehran’s expanding footprint in Syria, raising the odds of a direct clash between the region’s two military heavyweights that could quickly draw in other combatants.
Iran has 10 military bases in Syria, two near Israel border — analyst
Iran operates 10 military bases in Syria and is training militias loyal to President Bashar Assad’s regime for a possible battle with Israel, with two key facilities located near the border with Israel, an analyst for an American think tank said in an article published Monday.
Syria war: More than 70 killed in rebel-held Ghouta as UN warns situation ‘spiralling out of control’
War monitors say a massive surge in attacks by the Syrian Government and its allies has killed more than 70 people in the rebel-held eastern Ghouta pocket near Damascus in the past 24 hours.
Russia knocks Iran over vow to destroy Israel
Russia admonished Tehran on Monday for calls by Iranian leaders to destroy Israel, marking rare criticism of Moscow’s ally in the Syrian civil war.
Top IDF general warns of increased chance of war in 2018
The chances of war breaking out on the northern border in 2018 are greater than ever before due to the victories of Syrian President Bashar Assad backed by Iran and Hezbollah, a senior IDF general said Monday.
Benjamin Netanyahu: Israel will attack Iran if necessary
Israel is prepared for a direct conflict with Iran if the threat of the regime’s terrorist proxies increases, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned.
Tillerson meets Turkey’s Erdogan for ‘open’ talks after weeks of strain
Top U.S. diplomat Rex Tillerson and Turkey’s Tayyip Erdogan had a ‘productive and open’ talk on Thursday about improving ties strained recently over their policies on Syria, in a meeting following weeks of escalating anti-American rhetoric from Ankara.
U.S. defense chief says talks with Turkey on Syria ‘open and honest’
U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Thursday that the United States and Turkey, NATO allies, would press on with their collaboration over Syria despite their areas of difference.
Open Doors Has Rebuilt 678 Homes in a Christian Community That Were Destroyed By ISIS
The organization Open Doors has announced that they have joined with partners in Iraq to restore almost 700 homes destroyed after ISIS rose to power in the Nineveh Plains. Many local Christians fled their communities when the radical Islamic group took over large portions of Iraq and Syria, abandoning their homes — many of which were ransacked, fell into disrepair or destroyed.
Russian FM: 5 Russians killed in US Syria strike
The Russian Foreign Ministry says five Russians have been killed in a U.S. strike in Syria, the first official recognition of Russian deaths in the incident that has threatened to further strain Russia-U.S. ties.
Israel said to fear Assad chemical weapons spillover into Golan Heights
The Foreign Ministry fears poison gas may leak into Israel if the Assad regime uses chemical weapons against rebels near the Golan Heights, and has reported warned of a punishing response should such a situation unfold.
Iran and Hezbollah Intend to Remain in Syria, US Ambassador Nikki Haley Warns UN Security Council
The US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, eviscerated Iran’s rulers before the Security Council on Wednesday as the global body debated the ongoing civil war in Syria.
Tillerson demands Iran-backed militias leave Syria
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Wednesday called for Iranian-backed militias to withdraw from Syria after meeting with opposition negotiators from the war-torn nation during a visit to Jordan.
‘France will strike’ if proven chemical bombs used in Syria: Macron
President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday that ‘France will strike’ if chemical weapons are used against civilians in the Syrian conflict in violation of international treaties, but that he had not yet seen proof this was the case.