Topic: Syria

Russia Just Sent Bashar al-Assad More Missiles

REUTERS

Russia, one of the few remaining friends of Bashar al-Assad's regime, just sent the Syrian government some advanced antiship missiles.

By Connor Simpson

May 15, 2013

Syria's Internet Is Offline Again

For the second time in as many weeks, the Internet usage in Syria disappeared mysteriously around 10 a.m. local time Wednesday with little to no warning. So, is it another case of the Assad regime trying to disrupt rebel communications or are they really having technical difficulties?

Comments | 817 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

May 14, 2013

The Video of a Rebel Eating a Dead Man's Organs Is a New Low in Syria

Every time it seems like the atrocities of the Syrian civil war have crossed another horrifying line, a new story comes along that pushes the bar even lower. And the video that's circulating — the one that appears to show a rebel commander eating the lung of a dead Syrian solider — is not the first video or the last, just the latest atrocity in this awful war.

Comments | 3,472 Views

By Connor Simpson

May 12, 2013

Things Are Getting Ugly for Syrian Refugees in Turkey

Turkish officials arrested nine Turkish nationals accused of having ties to Syrian intelligence forces for the brutal car bombings that killed 46 people in Reyhanli, a town on the border of the two countries where Syrian refugees have started living since the conflict began. 

Comments | 408 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

May 10, 2013

The World Is Going in Circles on Syria

It's been weeks since the first confirmations that chemical weapons are being used in Syria, but  for the international community, nothing has changed when it comes to balancing the equation for going to war.

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By Rebecca Greenfield

May 8, 2013

Syria's Internet Blackout Is Over, but the Digital Civil War Blame Is Just Beginning

It's still relatively unclear whether the Assad regime broke the Syrian Internet — even if nobody else, even "terrorists," really could — but after a 19-and-a-half-hour near complete shutdown across Syria, service started coming back today, according to multiple analytics firms.

Comments | 405 Views

By Rebecca Greenfield

May 7, 2013

Syria Made Its Internet Disappear Again

Did the Assad regime just shut down Syrian online access again? For several hours on Thursday — beginning around 3 p.m. Eastern time, or 10 p.m. in Damascus — Internet traffic in the warring country ground to an almost complete halt, just like it did in November when the government blacked out web usage to stymy opposition maneuvers.

Comments | 607 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

May 6, 2013

Inside Assad's Near-Perfect Plan to Turn Syria into 'The Sinkhole'

After more than two years of civil war, tens of thousands of deaths, a refugee crisis, ethnic cleansing, religious strife, terrorism, chemical warfare, and an international conflict that has engulfed all of its neighbors, Syria is still in the hands of Bashar al-Assad. Just the way he planned it. Here's how we got to the current state of play after the Israel attacks, and what's next.

Comments | 3,017 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

May 5, 2013

UN Sources Say Syrian Rebels — Not Assad — Used Sarin Gas

A member of the United Nations commission of inquiry announced on a Swiss-Italian television show that they believe the Syrian rebels have used chemical weapons on Assad's troops.

Comments | 14,053 Views

By Connor Simpson

May 5, 2013

Israel's Second Attack in Syria Was a Big One

For the second time in as many days, Israel mounted a late night air raid on Syrian military facilities that were allegedly holding weapons destined for Hezbollah. This attack produced some of the biggest explosions seen in Damascus since the two year old conflict began. 

Comments | 2,408 Views

By Connor Simpson

May 4, 2013

Israel Bombed Syria Because of Alleged Weapons Shipment to Hezbollah

Reports came out late Saturday night that Israel made the curious decision to attack Syria, potentially entering the armed conflict, but as more information came out it was clear Israel was trying to protect its own interests. 

Comments | 1,202 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

May 1, 2013

Jon Stewart Turns Obama into Dr. Seuss on Syria

Even though the administration has said that a "red line" would involve chemical weapons, there remain a lot of questions about the Assad regime. "For instance, did he use them in a boat? Did he use them with a goat? Did he use them in a house? Did he use them with a mouse?"

Comments | 2,168 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Apr 30, 2013

Hezbollah's Thinking About Joining the Syrian Civil War

Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, is running his mouth about Syria again, only this time the Assad ally sounds like he's actually getting ready to make a move.

Comments | 1,774 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Apr 30, 2013

Obama Is Maybe Kind of Thinking About Deciding to Arm the Syrian Rebels

The Obama administration is getting ready to send arms to Syrian rebels, The Washington Post's Karen DeYoung reports, by way of very convoluted descriptions from anonymous senior administration officials attempting to describe the Obama administration's thinking. Got that? Didn't think so. Here's a guide to where we're at — almost.

Comments | 591 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Apr 30, 2013

Americans Don't Want War with North Korea or Syria

A new CBS News/New York Timespoll suggests that most Americans aren't concerned about conflict with North Korea or Syria. However, the results also suggest that the reason Americans don't care about the conflict is because they aren't paying attention.

Comments | 1,181 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Apr 26, 2013

Syria to the U.S.: You're Lying

Syria's government has come forward to deny accusations that it has used chemical weapons, saying the United States lacks credibility. However, everyone from David Cameron to Barack Obama to Chuck Hagel and Jay Carney are stepping carefully around any response to the big question: "What are you going to do about it?"

Comments | 782 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Apr 25, 2013

The Latest Videos of Alleged Chemical Weapons Use in Syria Are Terribly Disturbing

Around the same time that the White House announced that it believe the Assad regime had crossed the "red line" President Obama set months ago, some troubling videos of alleged victims of a chemical attack made their way around the web.

Comments | 3,933 Views

Senators Say Chemical Weapons in Syria Cross Obama's 'Red Line'

John McCain, Lindsey Graham, and Bob Corker told reporters they believe the presence of the chemical weapons signals that the Assad regime has crossed the so-called "red line" the administration laid out previously that should dictate increased action by the U.S.

Comments | 586 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Apr 25, 2013

The U.S. Now Officially Says Chemical Weapons Have Been Used in Syria

In a stunning admission, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, as well as the White House and Secretary of State John Kerry, announced today that the U.S. intelligence services have evidence that chemical weapons have been used in the Syrian civil war

Comments | 2,539 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Apr 23, 2013

America's Allies Are Pushing Obama to a Red Line on Syrian Chemical Weapons

Last month at a meeting in Israel, President Obama defined his "game changer" on American involvement in the Syrian civil war as Bashar al-Assad using chemical weapons against his people. Today in Israel, a major Israeli military intelligence official said that Assad had done just that. With British and French officials appearing to believe the same, is the game about to change?

Comments | 1,166 Views

By Sara Morrison

Apr 12, 2013

Report: The Syrian Chemical Weapons 'Red Line' Has Been Crossed

Just when we thought that those Syrian chemical weapons attack claims were another false alarmThe Times is reporting that British scientists have found "hard evidence" that chemical weapons were used "at least once." We just don't know which side used them. 

Comments | 14,614 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Apr 11, 2013

The Tragic Comedy of the Syrian War

A YouTube video of Syrian men graciously offering their services in defending the U.S. from impending annihilation by North Korea is a window into the sad reality of tens of thousands of murdered and disappeared people.

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By Connor Simpson

Apr 6, 2013

What Is Holding the U.S. Back from Military Action in Syria

Reportedly facing pressure from U.N. security council allies, the U.S. is considering jumping into the Syrian conflict.

Comments | 2,155 Views

By Philip Bump

Mar 28, 2013

The U.S. Has a Case Against Its Army Vet for Using a 'WMD' Against Assad in Syria

There aren't a lot of rebels fighting against the Assad regime in Syria who update Facebook regularly. There are fewer still who were born in Phoenix, Arizona, and are U.S. Army veterans. But that's not why Eric Harroun faces federal charges. The FBI arrested him because he fought alongside Al Qaeda, employing a "weapon of mass destruction."

Comments | 3,689 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Mar 25, 2013

Mike Rogers Thinks Syria Crossed a Line, Even If No One Else Does

U.S. intelligence sources spent most of last week tamping down the idea that the Syrians have begun using chemical weapons on each other. So why isn't Representative Mike Rogers going along with them?

Comments | 717 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Mar 25, 2013

Trimming the Times

The CIA's Secret Role in Syria, Newtown Aid, and Florida Gulf Coast's New Fans

A summary of the best reads found behind the paywall of The New York Times.

Comments | 522 Views

By Connor Simpson

Mar 24, 2013

The Syrian Opposition Lost Its Head

Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib announced his resignation as National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces chief on Sunday, but there are conflicting reports over who wanted him out and whether or not he'll end up leaving in the end. 

Comments | 521 Views

By Connor Simpson

Mar 24, 2013

John Kerry Is Sick of Iraq Letting Iran Fly Whatever It Wants Into Syria

Secretary of State John Kerry made a surprise trip to Iraq on Sunday to urge Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to at the very least do something about the continued Iranian flights to Syria that go right through Iraq's airspace. Right now they're not doing very much. 

Comments | 1,390 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Mar 21, 2013

Claims of Chemical Attacks in Syria Approach Boy-Who-Cried-Wolf Territory

This week delivered a familiar narrative from Syria. Allegations of a chemical weapons attack bubbled up to the international stage, eliciting shock and awe across the board, only to be disproven a couple days later.

Comments | 179 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Mar 21, 2013

Suicide Bomber Kills Top Syrian Cleric at Mosque in Potential Turning Point

A leading Sunni imam with close ties to Bashar al-Assad was killed today, when a suicide bomber blew himself up inside his mosque — a potential turning point that risks pushing the conflict from a war to unseat Assad into a Sunni vs. Shia grudge match.

Comments | 1,038 Views

By J.K. Trotter

Mar 20, 2013

Obama Paints His Red Line on Syria

President Obama faced a simple question: Did the dueling accusations about chemical weapons in Syria cross his supposed line to engage or not? Well, in a press conference with Benjamin Netanyahu, he said the line is still there, and chemical weapons are a "game changer" — he's just not sure who crossed it yet. But he's "deeply skeptical" the opposition did.

Comments | 1,727 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Mar 20, 2013

Reading Between the Red Lines in Syria

Did Syria use chemical weapons on its own people? If the verdict comes back "yes," then what? Will U.S. troops invade or bomb the country, as Republicans have suggested? Give the rebels all the guns they need? Welcome to the land of no consequences.

Comments | 861 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Mar 19, 2013

Lindsey Graham Wants Ground Troops in Syria to Deal with WMDs

The South Carolina senator called for U.S. troops to secure weapons of mass destruction sites in Syria on Tuesday, the eve of the tenth anniversary of the Iraq invasion he supported. 

Comments | 2,414 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Mar 19, 2013

Who's Using Chemical Weapons in Syria Now?

The Syrian regime blamed rebel forces for a chemical-weapons attack in the dangerous Aleppo province that killed around 16 people and wounded around 86 on Tuesday. The opposition denied the report, and said all talks would be cut off, because, really, these two sides can't agree on anything anymore.

Comments | 1,796 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Mar 18, 2013

The Syrian Rebels' New Prime Minister Is a Texan

It's hard to decide how Ghassan Hitto's recent election as interim prime minister of the Syrian opposition will play out in the near future, but the United States must be a little bit pumped. Or at least optimistic.

Comments | 1,035 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Mar 15, 2013

Trimming the Times

Two Years of Syrian War, Mental Health and School Violence, and Holly Golightly

A summary of the best reads found behind the paywall of The New York Times.

Comments | 172 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Mar 14, 2013

Russia and Iran Prop Up Syria's War Machine, and Tell the West to Butt Out

While Europe and the U.S. hem-and-haw about finding ways to support Syria's rebel army — and get threatened for even considering it — Iran appears to have no reservations about funneling money to their enemies.

Comments | 3,621 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Mar 13, 2013

The Dutch Are Worried the Syrian War Is Headed Their Way

The government of the Netherlands raised its terror threat level to "substantial" today, amid fears that terrorists trained in Syria will try to disrupt the coronation of their new king.

Comments | 690 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Mar 6, 2013

Syrian Refugee Population Tops One Million

This month will mark the second anniversary of the start of the Syrian civil war, and after two years of violence and destruction the number of citizens who have fled to neighboring countries has reached 1,000,000.

Comments | 517 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Mar 5, 2013

Trimming the Times

Drone Denials, Inside the God Particle, and the Rise of Amazon Primetime

A summary of the best reads found behind the paywall of The New York Times.

Comments | 862 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Mar 4, 2013

Syrian Troop Ambush in Iraq Heightens Fear of Bigger Sectarian War

As has been feared for months, violence from the Syrian civil war has spilled across the border into Iraq, threatening an already unstable balance of power in the neighboring country.

Comments | 345 Views

By Connor Simpson

Mar 2, 2013

Bashar al-Assad Uses Rare Interview to Insult the U.K.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad rarely speaks to his own people, or even emerges from his Presidential palace, so him giving an interview should be newsworthy in and of itself. But then, on top of giving an interview, he and said some terrible things about Britain

Comments | 4,141 Views

By Connor Simpson

Mar 2, 2013

Iran and Syria Are Committed to the Their Friendship

Barring any international intervention or rebel advancement, Bashar al-Assad will be the President for another year, at least, if Iran is to be believed. Their friendship will live on.

Comments | 1,143 Views

By David Wagner

Mar 1, 2013

Today's Best

Five Best Friday Columns

Paul Krugman on Ben Bernanke vs. the man, Yochai Benkler on the Bradley Manning case, Jonathan DeHart on Dennis Rodman in North Korea, Michael O'Hanlon on intervention beyond Syria, and David Min on government-backed mortgages.

Comments | 1,207 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Mar 1, 2013

Trimming the Times

The Perfect Pig, the Real Harlem Shake, and Michelle Obama's Self-Defense

A summary of the best reads found behind the paywall of The New York Times.

Comments | 688 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Feb 28, 2013

U.S. Steps Up Support for the Syrian Rebels, but Still Won't Arm Them

New Secretary of State John Kerry met with leaders of the Syria opposition today and pledged the United States to increased assistance for the rebels—but only the "nonlethal" kind.

Comments | 345 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Feb 26, 2013

Pro-Assad Hackers Take Over AFP's Twitter with Syrian Propaganda Photos

After a couple of high-profile corporate hacks last week, a much nastier Twitter sabotage took place today on behalf of supporters of Bashar Al-Assad.

Comments | 2,586 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Feb 25, 2013

Saudi Arabia's Buying Yugoslavian Guns for the Syrian Rebels

A steady stream of weapons from the Balkan has been flowing across the border and into Syrian rebels hands since December, thanks to some clandestine assistance from Saudi Arabia.

Comments | 1,163 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Feb 21, 2013

Massive Car Bomb Kills at Least 31 in Damascus

Just one day after Russia and the Arab League proposed to facilitate talks between President Bashar al Assad's government and Syrian opposition forces, a massive car bomb has detonated in the heart of Damascus—right where the Russian embassy is located. 

Comments | 1,035 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Feb 15, 2013

Trimming the Times

China's New Leader, the Real Problem with Cruises, and Maurice Sendak

A summary of the best reads found behind the paywall of The New York Times.

Comments | 690 Views

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