Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

'Victory is near'

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad yesterday told his troops they were close to winning the country's seven-year civil war after inflicting a succession of defeats on rebels.

Syria's Assad to meet Kim in North Korea: KCNA

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said he plans to visit North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un, Pyongyang's state media reports, potentially becoming the first head of state to meet Kim inside the isolated country.

Syria denies US allegations of coming chemical attack

The involvement of external powers in the Syrian war continues to accelerate as President Bashar Assad’s government and Russia dismissed White House allegations that it was preparing a new chemical weapons attack.

Russian cruise missiles target Syria

Russian warships in the Mediterranean Sea fire cruise missiles at targets near Aleppo on Friday, a further sign of Moscow's broadening military effort in Syria days after it began to fly bombing missions from an airbase in Iran.

Russia air strikes ‘kill 200 Syria civilians’

At least 200 civilians are killed in Russian air strikes in Syria, an Amnesty International report says, quoting witnesses and activists.

THE WORLD IN WORDS / The Assad Dead End

Forget principles and morality. Forget, or try to forget, the quarter-million deaths for which Bashar al-Assad is responsible, directly or indirectly, since choosing to respond with violence to a peaceful uprising of the Syrian people.

Syria conflict: Putin defends Russia's air strikes

Russian President Vladimir Putin defends Russia's military operations in Syria, saying the aim is to "stabilise the legitimate authority" of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Obama, Putin clash over Assad's fate in UN duel

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Barack Obama accuses each other over Syria in duelling UN speeches, as Moscow and Tehran mounted a fierce defense of Bashar al-Assad.

Russian cargo planes 'carrying aid' arrive in Syria

Two Russian cargo planes carrying 80 tonnes of humanitarian aid have landed in Syria, Syrian state media say.

August 2, 2018
August 2, 2018

'Victory is near'

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad yesterday told his troops they were close to winning the country's seven-year civil war after inflicting a succession of defeats on rebels.

June 3, 2018
June 3, 2018

Syria's Assad to meet Kim in North Korea: KCNA

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said he plans to visit North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un, Pyongyang's state media reports, potentially becoming the first head of state to meet Kim inside the isolated country.

June 27, 2017
June 27, 2017

Syria denies US allegations of coming chemical attack

The involvement of external powers in the Syrian war continues to accelerate as President Bashar Assad’s government and Russia dismissed White House allegations that it was preparing a new chemical weapons attack.

August 20, 2016
August 20, 2016

Russian cruise missiles target Syria

Russian warships in the Mediterranean Sea fire cruise missiles at targets near Aleppo on Friday, a further sign of Moscow's broadening military effort in Syria days after it began to fly bombing missions from an airbase in Iran.

December 23, 2015
December 23, 2015

Russia air strikes ‘kill 200 Syria civilians’

At least 200 civilians are killed in Russian air strikes in Syria, an Amnesty International report says, quoting witnesses and activists.

November 7, 2015
November 7, 2015

The Assad Dead End

Forget principles and morality. Forget, or try to forget, the quarter-million deaths for which Bashar al-Assad is responsible, directly or indirectly, since choosing to respond with violence to a peaceful uprising of the Syrian people.

October 12, 2015
October 12, 2015

Syria conflict: Putin defends Russia's air strikes

Russian President Vladimir Putin defends Russia's military operations in Syria, saying the aim is to "stabilise the legitimate authority" of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

September 29, 2015
September 29, 2015

Obama, Putin clash over Assad's fate in UN duel

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Barack Obama accuses each other over Syria in duelling UN speeches, as Moscow and Tehran mounted a fierce defense of Bashar al-Assad.

September 13, 2015
September 13, 2015

Russian cargo planes 'carrying aid' arrive in Syria

Two Russian cargo planes carrying 80 tonnes of humanitarian aid have landed in Syria, Syrian state media say.

September 7, 2015
September 7, 2015

Migrant crisis: Why the Gulf states are not letting Syrians in

Images of Syrian refugees stuck at borders and at train stations have spurred on an outcry for more to be done to help those fleeing the war.