Bashar al-Assad
From the Arab Spring to a refugee crisis: exploring Syria’s decade of civil war

From the Arab Spring to a refugee crisis: exploring Syria’s decade of civil war
Ten years after the first battles between Syrian government forces and the armed opposition, no resolution is in sight
7 Oct 2021
How Russia is using Syria in ‘Cold War-style stand-off’ with West

How Russia is using Syria in ‘Cold War-style stand-off’ with West
Moscow deploys nuclear bombers to strengthen Bashar al-Assad’s regime - and boost its own power
28 May 2021
Why Denmark is stripping Syrians of residency

Why Denmark is stripping Syrians of residency
Copenhagen orders refugees back to Damascus claiming security has ‘improved significantly’
16 Apr 2021
How did the Syrian Civil War start?

How did the Syrian Civil War start?
Trump’s withdrawal of troops from Syria hampers the fight against Islamic State
9 Aug 2019
Syria votes in local elections as bloody battle looms 

Syria votes in local elections as bloody battle looms
First vote since 2011 comes as Russia-backed government forces prepare major assault on Idlib
17 Sep 2018
Is Germany considering military intervention in Syria? 

Is Germany considering military intervention in Syria?
Report suggests the nation would join US-led air strikes in the event of another chemical attack
11 Sep 2018
Syrian jet downed by Israel over Golan Heights

Syrian jet downed by Israel over Golan Heights
Rare confrontation could provoke tensions as Assad forces fight to regain border territory
25 Jul 2018

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What is happening in Syria? Assad forces retake rebel city

What is happening in Syria? Assad forces retake rebel city
City of Deraa, where the uprising began more than seven years ago, falls ‘without a fight’
13 Jul 2018
Syria’s Assad ‘planning state visit to North Korea’

Syria’s Assad ‘planning state visit to North Korea’
Controversial president reportedly admires the ‘outstanding political calibre’ of Kim Jong Un
4 Jun 2018
Israel warns Iran over nuclear ambitions

Israel warns Iran over nuclear ambitions
In a veiled threat, Israel confirms it destroyed Syrian nuclear reactor in 2007
22 Mar 2018
Syria: 12,000 civilians flee Eastern Ghouta as army advances

Syria: 12,000 civilians flee Eastern Ghouta as army advances
Government air strikes prompt mass exodus and mark ‘beginning of the end’ for rebels
16 Mar 2018
US-led forces kill 100 fighters loyal to Syria’s Assad

US-led forces kill 100 fighters loyal to Syria’s Assad
Syrian news agency says US targeted forces fighting Islamic State
8 Feb 2018
Russia’s Syrian peace talks begin despite opposition boycott

Russia’s Syrian peace talks begin despite opposition boycott
Turkish-backed rebel representatives refuses to leave airport in protest over ‘branding’
30 Jan 2018
Putin pulls his forces out of Syria

Putin pulls his forces out of Syria
Analysts suspect he will not relinquish his growing influence in the region
12 Dec 2017
How Vladimir Putin became the Middle East’s power-broker 

How Vladimir Putin became the Middle East’s power-broker
Russian president to push world leaders for Syrian peace plan after Assad meeting
22 Nov 2017
Syria’s civil war is over and Assad has won, says the UN

Syria’s civil war is over and Assad has won, says the UN
Special envoy Staffan de Mistura says Syrian rebels must give up their armed struggle and try to ‘win the peace’
8 Sep 2017
75,000 Syrians 'disappeared' by Assad regime

75,000 Syrians 'disappeared' by Assad regime
Amnesty launches a campaign against abduction to mark International Day of the Disappeared
31 Aug 2017
Assad regime behind Syria's sarin gas massacre, says UN

Assad regime behind Syria's sarin gas massacre, says UN
In Depth: Russia claims report contains inconsistencies and unverified evidence
30 Jun 2017
Sean Spicer criticised after Hitler chemical weapons comment

Sean Spicer criticised after Hitler chemical weapons comment
Comparing the Nazi leader with Assad is a 'moral horror' and risks trivialising the scale of Hitler's crimes, say critics
12 Apr 2017
A brief guide to who supports who in Syria

A brief guide to who supports who in Syria
In a conflict involving countries far beyond the Syrian borders, we take a look at the nations involved and the sides they are on
10 Apr 2017
Hillary Clinton: I would have taken on Assad

Hillary Clinton: I would have taken on Assad
Former presidential candidate says she pushed US to 'move aggressively' against Syrian regime in 2012
7 Apr 2017
Syrian Civil War: Six years on

Syrian Civil War: Six years on
As one of the most severe humanitarian crises since World War II enters its seventh year, what has changed?
13 Mar 2017
Russia in Syria: whose side is Vladimir Putin on?

Russia in Syria: whose side is Vladimir Putin on?
Several theories have been put forward about Putin's motivation for intervening in the Syrian war
26 Nov 2015
SYRIA: Bashar al-Assad 'informed' on US-led airstrikes
SYRIA: Bashar al-Assad 'informed' on US-led airstrikes
Syrian President says regime has no plans to work with US and denies ever using barrel bombs
10 Feb 2015
How do Arab media write about Assad and Syria?
How do Arab media write about Assad and Syria?
President Assad remains a sharply divisive figure for mainstream Arabic-language media
7 Nov 2014
Islamic State: are US air strikes in Syria breaking the law?

Islamic State: are US air strikes in Syria breaking the law?
US launches attacks on Islamic State without UN mandate or consent from the Syrian regime
24 Sep 2014
THE MOLE: UK could join IS airstrikes next week

THE MOLE: UK could join IS airstrikes next week
William Hague makes it clear that prior approval from Parliament would not be necessary
5 Sep 2014
ROBERT FOX: Islamic State grows as we hesitate

ROBERT FOX: Islamic State grows as we hesitate
Can 'coalition of the willing' come together to deal with Islamic State? Not if Cameron can help it
28 Aug 2014
PM considered plan to train and arm 100,000 Syrian rebels

PM considered plan to train and arm 100,000 Syrian rebels
Secret plan came from army top brass: create rebel army so Syrians could defeat Assad themselves
4 Jul 2014
Fighting Isis could mean targeting British citizens

Fighting Isis could mean targeting British citizens
Government under pressure to do something about British jihadists joining Islamist takeover campaign
13 Jun 2014
Syria holds presidential elections as war rages on

Syria holds presidential elections as war rages on
Main opposition boycotts election, describing it as 'theatre written with the blood of Syrians'
3 Jun 2014
VENETIA RAINEY: 13 nuns reveal the truth about Syria

VENETIA RAINEY: 13 nuns reveal the truth about Syria
For a start, we now know Bashar Assad’s regime does detain children. But there’s more…
14 Mar 2014
Syrian peace talks resume in Geneva as hundreds escape Homs 

Syrian peace talks resume in Geneva as hundreds escape Homs
Ceasefire set to continue in the 'capital of the revolution', but what's next for Geneva II?
10 Feb 2014