Latest in Region Highlight
Latest in Region
Mortar round kills one at Iraq consulate, Damascus
One woman killed and three wounded in the attack that came at around noon in the northwest of Damascus
Syria committed to chemical weapons deal: Assad
The Syrian president said he saw “no obstacles” to a plan under which Damascus will relinquish its chemical arms
59 people killed in Nairobi mall attack: minister
Hostages still trapped
US urges UN action, Syria sees stalemate
Damascus believes the conflict has reached a stalemate and would call for a ceasefire if long-delayed peace talks in Geneva were to take place.
Syria rebels ‘agree truce with jihadists’ in Azaz
The rival groups also undertook to free detainees captured in Wednesday’s fighting
Assad says one year, $1 bn to destroy chemical arms
Assad insisted Syria was not gripped by civil war but was the victim of infiltration by foreign-backed Al-Qaeda fighters.
US, Russia in crucial Syria talks after Putin appeal
Revealing details of the proposal for the first time Thursday, Russian daily Kommersant said Moscow had given Washington a four-step plan for the weapons handover
Putin, Cameron, discuss Syria in late night talks
Cameron and Putin met on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Saint Petersburg
Iran will support Syria ‘to the end’: military chief
Iran is Syria’s main regional ally and some analysts believe a wider goal of Obama’s determination to launch a strike against Syria is to blunt Tehran’s growing regional influence
UN seeks Syria peace talks amid military strike threat
The United Nations is making a desperate new push for a Syria peace conference even as the United States prepares a possible military strike
Israel says missile tested in joint exercise with US
As Washington mulls military intervention in Syria
UN team heads to army hospital on last day in Syria
The UN inspectors are due to leave Syria by Saturday morning, and will report straight back to UN head Ban Ki-moon
Obama ready to go it alone on Syria
Washington is ready to go it alone to strike Syria despite the British parliament’s rejection of military action and the lack of a UN mandate.
British parliament rejects military action in Syria
The government was defeated by just 13 votes in the House of Commons in its bid for a “strong humanitarian response” to the alleged use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime
AFP Infographic: The Syrian crisis
Foreign forces and bases in the Middle East and selected Syrian military equipment
Israel deploys Iron Dome defence system: Netanyahu
“We are not involved in the war in Syria. But I repeat: if anyone tries to harm Israeli citizens, Tsahal (the Israeli army) will respond with force,” Netanyahu said
Assad vows to defend Syria amid military buildup
The military build-up continued in the Mediterranean as Western powers appeared poised to launch strikes against Assad’s regime
US sends fifth destroyer to eastern Mediterranean
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told the BBC that US forces were in place and “ready to go” if Obama gives the order
UN chief awaits Syria chemical weapons probe, West waits
US President Barack Obama said he has yet to sign off on a plan to strike Syria
UN inspectors to leave Syria by Saturday
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has repeatedly spoken out against military action in Syria.
Any Syria strikes will be symbolic, limited: experts
The raids, if they go ahead, would be aimed at punishing President Bashar al-Assad’s regime and sending him a message rather than wiping out his military capacity
‘Human’ intervention needed in Syria, Egypt: Tutu
Western powers have made it clear that any strike would be limited in scope, aimed only at punishing the regime and not at toppling Assad
Security Council clearance needed before Syria military strike: UN envoy
His comments came as the United States and its allies were building their case for likely military action against the regime in war-torn Syria over alleged chemical weapons attacks.
Breaking: UK to give resolution to UN on ‘Assad chemical attack’: PM
“condemning the chemical weapons attack by Assad”
US attack on Syria to spell ‘disaster’: Iran’s Khamenei
The US intervention will be a disaster for the region,” Khamenei told a meeting with the cabinet of Iranian President Hassan Rowhani, state television reported.
Breaking: Syria says Russia will not abandon it
“I can assure you that Russia has not abandoned Syria.”
Greek foreign minister to visit Egypt
Evangelos Venizelos, who is also currently the deputy Prime Minister of Greece, was invited to visit Egypt on 5 September by Minister of Foreign Affairs Nabil Fahmy, announced a statement from the Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman Badr Abdelatty.
UK military drawing up Syria contingency plans: PM spokesman
Cameron has cut short his summer holiday in order to deal with the Syria crisis and is due to chair a meeting of Britain’s National Security Council in London on Wednesday.
Snipers shoot at UN chemical weapons team in Syria
A UN spokesman said unidentified snipers shot at the UN experts looking into allegations of a chemical attack near Damascus last week that the Syrian opposition claimed killed hundreds of civilians.
Yemen foils suicide bomber at English language centre
The assailant, 20, was caught after he hurled a grenade that failed to explode at the Yemen-America Language Institute in west Sanaa, the official said.