Syria

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11 Dead as Syria Shells Homs
 11 Dead as Syria Shells Homs 
Jun 17, 2012 9:01 AM CDT

11 Dead as Syria Shells Homs

'Clear escalation' since UN pullout, say activists

(Newser) - A day after the UN abandoned its mission in Syria , Bashar al-Assad's troops are turning up the heat in Homs, riddling the city with shelling that activists say has killed at least 11 so far. "Around 85% of Homs is now under shelling or bombardment with mortar rounds...

Russian Arms Exporter: 'This Is Not a Threat, but ...'

The stuff we're selling to Syria works really well, he warns

(Newser) - It's Russia's turn in the war of words playing out over Moscow's role in supplying arms to Syria. In an interview with the New York Times , the man in charge of arms exports notes that Moscow has been sending missile-defense systems to Syria for some time, and...

UN Observers Abandon Syria Mission

They say it's become too dangerous

(Newser) - Another ominous development in Syria: UN observers called it quits today because of the rising violence. The Norwegian general in charge of the 300-person mission complained of a "lack of willingness" from both sides to stop fighting, reports the BBC . Gen. Robert Wood also noted a spike in violence...

UN: 'Stench of Death' Hangs in Air in Haffa

Observers find town deserted and in ruins

(Newser) - United Nations observers found a deserted town with ruined buildings and the stench of death in the air after finally being allowed into Haffa, where the US and UN had warned of a looming massacre . "A strong stench of dead bodies was in the air," said a spokeswoman...

Russia May Not Actually Be Sending New Copters to Syria

Officials say Clinton was likely referring to repaired helicopters

(Newser) - Hillary Clinton came out swinging against Russia Tuesday, accusing it of sending attack helicopters to the Syrian government , but US officials tell the New York Times the helicopters in question might not actually be new shipments. More likely, they are being returned to Syria after Syria sent them to Russia...

Cash-Strapped Syria Just Prints More

Move risks unleashing ravages of inflation

(Newser) - It's getting expensive for Bashar al-Assad to cling to power, so his regime is just printing new bank notes to ensure that Syria can pay salaries and other expenses, bankers tell Reuters, in a move that experts warn could lead to rampant inflation. Violence and sanctions have shrunk Syria'...

Clinton: Russia Sending Attack Helicopters to Syria

It's more bad news as situation deteriorates

(Newser) - Moscow apparently isn't just digging in its heels against international reproach of Syria. It's sending attack helicopters to Bashar al-Assad, says Hillary Clinton. The shipment is on its way and "will escalate the conflict quite dramatically," she said at a news conference, according to AP . Russia...

UN on Syria: It&#39;s a Civil War
 UN on Syria: It's a Civil War 
Jun 12, 2012 1:34 PM CDT

UN on Syria: It's a Civil War

'This is really becoming large scale,' peacekeeping chief says

(Newser) - The situation in Syria has officially descended into a full-blown civil war, the UN's peacekeeping chief said today. "Yes, I think we can say that," Herve Ladsous told Reuters , explaining that the opposition has claimed "large chunks of territory in several cities," and that regime...

World Now a More Peaceful Place


 World Now a More 
 Peaceful Place 
new study
Jun 12, 2012 9:32 AM CDT

World Now a More Peaceful Place

Syria isn't doing so hot, but globally, 2012 is looking better

(Newser) - You wouldn't know it from Newser's coverage , but apparently the world has become a more peaceful place in 2012. Reuters reports that the Global Peace Index registered its first boost in two years, after surveying everything from civil unrest to military spending in 158 countries. The Middle East...

US Fears New Massacre in Syria
 US Fears New Massacre in Syria 
Jun 12, 2012 4:22 AM CDT

US Fears New Massacre in Syria

UN observers blocked from town of Haffa

(Newser) - The US and UN are warning that the Syrian government may be organizing another massacre, this time in the town of Haffa, where UN monitors have been impeded, reports the BBC . International envoy Kofi Annan says he is "gravely concerned" about the escalation of violence, and reports of mortar,...

Why Not Assassinate Bashar al-Assad?
 Why Not Assassinate 
 Bashar al-Assad? 
OPINION
Jun 11, 2012 1:24 PM CDT

Why Not Assassinate Bashar al-Assad?

Peter Beinart points out that it would fit with current US policy

(Newser) - Is there a logical reason the US hasn't assassinated Bashar al-Assad? It's a pretty unsavory idea, but "given how far we appear willing to go in prioritizing American security interests, it doesn't seem very radical," argues Peter Beinart of the Daily Beast . You might argue...

Syria Used Human Shields to Raid City: Activists

Damascus suburb of Douma reportedly site of 'raid-and-arrest spree'

(Newser) - Things are reportedly getting worse in Homs—and the towns of Al-Haffa and Rastan and the Damascus suburb of Douma aren't being spared, either, according to activists. A rundown of the latest from Syria:
  • The opposition reports that "civilians are being used as human shields to complete the
...

Sudan to Syria, Obama Protects &#39;Odious&#39; Regimes

 Sudan to Syria, 
 Obama Protects 
 'Odious' Regimes 
Nicholas Kristof
Jun 10, 2012 9:58 AM CDT

Sudan to Syria, Obama Protects 'Odious' Regimes

Kristof: US should be 'crystal clear about which side we're on'

(Newser) - In both Syria and Sudan, President Obama's "dithering" is "lame, ineffective, and contrary to American interests and values," writes Nicholas Kristof in the New York Times . Worse, by "taking prudence to the point of paralysis," he's protecting two of the most "odious"...

Observers in Syria Find Traces of Mass Killing

Journalists suspect 'cover-up' in Qubair

(Newser) - Qubair was filled with blood and body parts, broken buildings, and the smell of burnt flesh, according to UN observers and journalists who examined the tiny Syrian town yesterday, reports the BBC . "This has basically been a scorched-earth policy by whoever this was; they've killed the people, they'...

UN Enters Alleged Syria Massacre Site

Reporter calls scene 'ghastly' but says no bodies have been spotted

(Newser) - Things just keep getting worse in Syria: Activists say the government is shelling Homs again, possibly in preparation for a large troop surge. But UN monitors have finally made it to the site of the alleged massacre in Qubair, after being waylaid and shot at yesterday, reports Sky News . "...

UN Monitors Shot At Trying to Probe Syria Massacre

Clinton, Cameron condemn killings

(Newser) - UN monitors came under small arms fire today while trying to reach the site of Syria's latest alleged massacre, Ban Ki-moon told the UN General Assembly today. Ban said he'd heard the news only "a few minutes ago," according to CNN, and denounced Bashar al-Assad as...

Walters Sorry for Trying to Score Job for Assad Aide

She tried to help Syrian leader's media adviser find job, university place

(Newser) - Barbara Walters has apologized for trying to find a job and a spot at an Ivy League university for one of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's aides. Emails obtained by the Telegraph reveal that the veteran ABC journalist struck up an ill-advised friendship with Assad media adviser Sheherazed Jaafari as...

Opposition Reports New Massacre in Syria

Unconfirmed reports say more than 80 dead, including women and children

(Newser) - Syrian opposition leaders say pro-government forces are responsible for another massacre on the scale of the one in Houla . Early reports say about 80 people were killed today in Hama province, with about half of the victims women and children, according to the BBC and Reuters . As in Houla, witnesses...

Syria Kicks Out Diplomats
 Syria Kicks Out Diplomats 
Jun 5, 2012 7:48 AM CDT

Syria Kicks Out Diplomats

As Putin heads to China to discuss their partnership with Assad

(Newser) - Syria kicked out diplomats from 11 countries today, in response to those same 11 countries booting Syrian ambassadors in the wake of the Houla massacre. The ousted countries include the US, Britain, France, Turkey, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Bulgaria, and Canada, CNN reports, though the US ambassador had already...

80 Killed as Syria Rebels Dump Annan Plan

Peace plan looks 'essentially dead'

(Newser) - Syrian rebels killed 80 government soldiers this weekend, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said today, after the regime ignored its Friday deadline to implement Kofi Annan's peace plan. A rebel spokesman told Reuters that they had "decided to end our commitment" to Annan's plan. "We...

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