Syrian Affairs
McCain Seeks Air Strikes in Syria as Levin Urges Caution
Senator John McCain urged military air strikes on Syria, saying the U.S. can’t afford to be “standing by, watching a massacre.” While opposing the use of U.S. ground troops, the Arizona senator said the U.S. should give weapons to the Syrian rebels and establish “sanctuaries” in the war-torn country that would be protected by allied […]
Syrian pilot flies his MiG to Jordan, gets asylum
BEIRUT—A Syrian fighter pilot on a training mission flew his MiG-21 warplane to neighboring Jordan, where he was
Leading Syrians prepare to defect
Members of Bashar al-Assad’s inner circle ‘making secret plans to defect’ as Syria air force colonel abandons attack mission and flies MiG to Jordan. President Bashar al-Assad is under intense pressure over the 15-month uprising, with world leaders considering offering the Syrian president an immunity deal to ensure he relinquishes power
CIA aiding those supplying weapons to Syria rebels
WASHINGTON — A small number of CIA officers are operating secretly in southern Turkey, helping allies decide which Syrian opposition fighters across the border will receive arms to fight the Syrian government, US officials and Arab intelligence officers said. The weapons, including automatic rifles, rocket-propelled grenades, ammunition, and some antitank weapons, are being funneled mostly […]
Eyewitnesses Contradict Houla Massacre Claims
A mass burial for the victims of the Houla massacre (May 26 photo). Recent German media reports have suggested that Syrian rebels carried out the Houla massacre and then blamed President Assad’s forces. But eyewitnesses to the killings contradict those claims.
Sources: Senior Alawite officers want to oust Assad
High-level sources in the Iraqi “Dawa” party, led by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, have conveyed that the Syrian regime began to take ” exceptional” security measures around the family of President Bashar al-Assad, and vital security centers in the country amid fears of growing rifts within in the Alawite leadership of the Syrian army. The […]
UPDATE 1-Putin no longer backs Syria’s Assad – Cameron
(Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin made clear during talks this week that he does not want President Bashar al-Assad to remain in power in Syria any longer, British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Tuesday. Russia has been the staunchest backer of Assad and his military crackdown against militants and protesters in Syria, including […]
US Adds Syria to Human Trafficking Blacklist
The Obama administration on Tuesday added Syria to the list of countries that could face U.S. sanctions for not doing enough to combat trafficking. Sixteen other nations were included among those
Syrian Affairs 