Syrian activists say rebel forces battling for control of the northern city of Aleppo are engaged in heavy fighting with pro-government forces. Friday’s clashes were described by residents and activists as unprecedented, and come as part of a new rebel offensive to push regime forces out of the city. Elsewhere in the country, the Britain-based […]
Clinton to Host Talks on Syria
Posted September 28th, 2012 at 4:00 am (UTC-5)
Officials from several Western nations and their allies will meet to discuss coordination efforts among Syria’s fractured opposition. Friday’s ad-hoc meeting of selected members of the Friends of Syria group, is hosted by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and will include ministers from more than 20 nations and representatives from local revolutionary councils. A […]
UN: ‘Rapidly Increasing’ Number of Refugees Fleeing Syria
Posted September 27th, 2012 at 6:05 am (UTC-5)
The United Nations Refugee agency says up to 700,000 Syrians could flee the conflict-ravaged country by the end of the year. The UNHCR issued an appeal Thursday for nearly $500 million in aid to help “rapidly increasing” numbers of refugees fleeing to neighboring Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Turkey. It says between 2,000 and 3,000 people […]
Twin Car Bombs Target Syrian Military HQ
Posted September 26th, 2012 at 6:35 pm (UTC-5)
Syrian rebels detonated two suicide car bombs at President Bashar al-Assad’s heavily guarded army headquarters in Damascus Wednesday, killing four security guards and sparking a gunbattle in which an Iranian journalist also died. Security video aired by Syrian state TV showed a white van driving on a busy street outside the military compound, then veering […]
Twin Explosions Target Syrian Military Building
Posted September 26th, 2012 at 6:25 am (UTC-5)
Syrian officials say a pair of explosions targeted a military building in central Damascus but did not wound any commanders. The blasts happened minutes apart Wednesday, leaving part of the building in flames. Information Minister Omran Zoubi said the explosions caused only “material damage” and blamed terrorists for the attack. A Syrian military statement said […]
Twin Blasts Hit Syrian Capital
Posted September 26th, 2012 at 3:20 am (UTC-5)
Two explosions have hit minutes apart near a Syrian military command building in central Damascus, sparking a fire in the capital’s Omayyad Square. Syria’s information minister said the explosions Wednesday morning caused only “material damage” and that security forces were pursuing “armed terrorists.” The explosions are the latest to hit the capital during the country’s […]
Twin Blasts Hit Syrian Capital
Posted September 26th, 2012 at 2:20 am (UTC-5)
Syrian state television says two “terrorist” explosions have hit near an army staff building in Damascus, sparking a fire in the capital’s Omayyad Square. There was no immediate word on any casualties from the Wednesday morning blasts. The explosions are the latest to hit the capital during the country’s 18-month conflict, following a bombing Tuesday […]
Syrian Rights Group: Dozens ‘Arbitrarily’ Detained in Banias
Posted September 25th, 2012 at 7:10 pm (UTC-5)
A Syrian human rights group says security forces have arrested at least 68 people, including three children, over the past few days in and around the coastal city of Banias. Mataz Suheil of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told VOA Tuesday the “arbitrary detentions” of 25 women, three children and at least 40 […]
Syria Rights Group: Dozens ‘Arbitrarily’ Detained in Banias
Posted September 25th, 2012 at 3:35 pm (UTC-5)
A Syrian human rights group says security forces have arrested at least 68 people, including three children, over the past few days in and around the coastal city of Banias. Mataz Suheil of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told VOA Tuesday the “arbitrary detentions” of 25 women, three children and at least 40 […]
Satellite Images Show Scope of Syrian Military Moves
Posted September 25th, 2012 at 10:20 am (UTC-5)
Satellite images released Tuesday show the scope of Syrian military activity in neighborhoods of the besieged Syrian commercial center, Aleppo. A major U.S. science association says an analysis of high-resolution images of Aleppo reveals that heavily armored vehicles were deployed in civilian neighborhoods during last month’s fighting. Battles between Syrian government forces and rebels continue […]
