Hezbollah in big Syria battle, Obama ‘concerned’

Published on May 20, 2013

Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas have fought their biggest battle yet for Syria's beleaguered president, prompting international alarm that the civil war may spread and an urgent call for restraint from the United States.

Ditto

By Steve Greenberg
Published on May 15, 2013

Editorial cartoon

U.S., Russia seek new Syria peace talks, rebels skeptical

Published on May 8, 2013

Russia and the United States agreed to seek new peace talks with both sides to end Syria's civil war, but opposition leaders were skeptical on Wednesday of an initiative they fear might let President Bashar Assad hang on to power.

May 7, 2013

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on May 7, 2013

Syrian rebels increasingly frustrated

Published on May 6, 2013

Gazing out at the rubble, which was all that remained of a four story apartment complex in the city of Azaz just south of the Turkish border, 41 year old bricklayer Khalid Jaza’iri did not see much to be optimistic about.

Israel did not warn U.S. on Syria attacks, U.S. official says

Published on May 6, 2013

Israel did not provide advance warning to the United States on its alleged Israeli airstrikes on Syria, a U.S. intelligence official said.

7 Quick Comments on Israel’s Syria Bombings

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on May 5, 2013

May 3, 2013

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on May 3, 2013

Over the line

By Steve Greenberg
Published on May 1, 2013

Editorial cartoon

Obama: ‘Chain of custody’ needed for Syria action

Published on April 30, 2013

President Obama said he needs to have all the facts on who used chemical weapons in Syria before taking further action.

Thinking Methodically About Syria, Red Lines and Chemicals

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on April 29, 2013

Israel’s security cabinet meets on Syria

Published on April 29, 2013

Israel's security cabinet met to discuss the situation in Syria.

White House: Evidence Syria used chemical arms not ‘airtight’

Published on April 26, 2013

The White House said on Friday it was continuing to study evidence that the Syrian government has used chemical weapons and would not set a timetable for corroborating reports.

White House: U.S. intelligence community believes Syria used chemical weapons

Published on April 26, 2013

The U.S. intelligence community believes Syria used chemical weapons on anti-government rebels.

April 26, 2013

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on April 26, 2013

U.S. believes Syria used chemical weapons but says facts needed

Published on April 25, 2013

U.S. intelligence agencies believe Syria's government has likely used chemical weapons on a small scale, the White House said on Thursday, but added that President Barack Obama needed "credible and corroborated" facts before acting on that assessment.

Israeli intelligence: Syria used chemical weapons

Published on April 23, 2013

Syrian forces have used chemical weapons against rebel forces and civilians, the head of Israel's military research said.

April 12, 2013

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on April 12, 2013

Israeli general: Israel could withstand Syrian chemical weapons

Published on March 29, 2013

Israel could withstand any attack involving Syrian chemical weapons, an Israeli general said on Friday, adding it was improbable that Damascus would order such a strike.

U.N. hopes chemical arms team deploys to Syria soon

Published on March 27, 2013

The United Nations hopes that a team investigating allegations about the use of chemical weapons in Syria's civil war will deploy to the country as early as next week, U.N. diplomatic sources said on Wednesday.

Alleged chemical attack kills 25 in northern Syria

Published on March 19, 2013

Syria's government and rebels accused each other of launching a deadly chemical attack near the northern city of Aleppo on Tuesday in what would, if confirmed, be the first use of such weapons in the two-year conflict.

Obama’s planned visit to Israel

By Shmuel Rosner
Published on February 5, 2013

As you’ve probably heard, President Obama will visit Israel next month, his first time as president. And for those people still upset with him for not visiting during his first term, here’s the good news: Obama’s visit is still much earlier in his second term than when George W. Bush visited.

Clinton warns Russia, Iran of Syria conflict spreading

Published on February 1, 2013

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Iran and Russia on Thursday to rethink their support for Syria, saying the most dire scenarios of the conflict spilling beyond its borders could come to pass.

Syria warns of ‘surprise’ response to Israel attack

Published on January 31, 2013

Syria warned on Thursday of a possible "surprise" response to Israel's attack on its territory and Russia condemned the air strike as an unprovoked violation of international law.

Israel said to have attacked Syrian weapons transport

Published on January 30, 2013

Israeli planes reportedly struck a Syrian weapons transport on the Lebanese border amid increasing fears that the country’s chemical weapons stockpile could fall into the hands of Hezbollah.

Report: Israel attacks target in Syria

Published on January 30, 2013

Israel reportedly attacked a target inside Syria.

Israel worried about fate of Syria’s conventional arsenal

Published on January 29, 2013

Syria's advanced conventional weapons would represent as much of a threat to Israel as its chemical arms should they fall into the hands of Syrian rebel forces or Hezbollah guerrillas, Israeli sources said on Tuesday.

Netanyahu talks Syria, Iran with congressional delegation

Published on January 25, 2013

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with a U.S. congressional delegation and discussed the prospect of an Iran with a nuclear weapon and the dangers posed by chemical weapons in Syria.

U.S. says it has no reason to believe Syria used chemical weapons

Published on January 16, 2013

The United States has no reason to believe Syria has used chemical weapons during its 22-month conflict with rebels seeking to end the Assad family's rule, the U.S. State Department said on Wednesday.

Syrian rebels battle army near Damascus

Published on December 11, 2012

Syrian rebels clashed with forces loyal to President Bashar Assad near Damascus airport on Tuesday, battling for the capital's outskirts after 20 months of conflict which the United Nations said has driven half a million people from the country.

Is Syria bluffing on chemical weapons?

Published on December 6, 2012

As rebel forces move closer to Damascus, there are reports of activity in Syrian chemical weapons sites, raising fears in the region that Syria could use those chemical weapons.

Assad kept chemical weapons out of hands of extremists, Moshe Yaalon says

Published on December 5, 2012

Syrian President Bashar Assad responded to past warnings about the security of chemical weapons by taking steps to keep them out of the hands of militants, Israel's vice prime minister Moshe Yaalon said on Wednesday.

Clinton: U.S. will take action should Syria use chemical weapons

Published on December 3, 2012

The United States is planning action should the Syrian regime use its chemical weapons, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said.

U.S., Israel, Jewish groups apprehensive about Iran-hosted non-aligned summit

Published on August 23, 2012

As Iran gets set to host the Non-Aligned Movement triennial summit, Israel, the United States and a number of Jewish groups are worried that what happens in Tehran won't stay there.

Obama warns Syria’s Assad chemical weapons a ‘red line’

Published on August 20, 2012

President Barack Obama bluntly warned Syrian President Bashar Assad on Monday not to cross a "red line" by using chemical or biological weapons in his country's bloody conflict and suggested that such action would prompt the United States to consider a military response.

Lebanon breaks with past in Syrian bomb probe

Published on August 17, 2012

A plot hatched by Damascus and allegedly aimed at igniting a Lebanese civil war through a series of bomb attacks has come as little surprise in a nation where blame for political violence has often been laid at Syria's door.

Securing Syria chemical weapons may take tens of thousands of troops

Published on August 16, 2012

The United States and its allies are discussing a worst-case scenario that could require tens of thousands of ground troops to go into Syria to secure chemical and biological weapons sites following the fall of President Bashar Assad's government, according to U.S. and diplomatic officials.

Russia tells Syria Chemical Arms Threat Unacceptable

Published on July 25, 2012

Russia has told the Syrian government clearly that it is unacceptable to threaten to use chemical weapons, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday in its strongest condemnation of a recent warning by a Syrian official.

Assad chemical weapons plans blocked by Moscow

Published on July 24, 2012

Increasingly under pressure by rebels intent on unseating him, Bashar al-Assad has considered using chemical weapons against his enemies but Washington and Moscow have formed an unlikely alliance to force him to abandon such plans.

Israel: Syria Government Still in Control of Chemical Weapons

Published on July 24, 2012

The Syrian government is still in full control of its chemical weapons stockpiles, a senior Israeli defense official said on Tuesday.

Syrian minister says gov’t will not use chemical weapons on rebels

Published on July 23, 2012

Syria will only use its chemical weapons on threats from outside of the country, Syria's Foreign Ministry said.

Syria reportedly moving chemical weapons

Published on July 13, 2012

U.S. officials are warily watching as Syria begins moving undeclared chemical weapons out of its storage facilities.

World Briefs

By JTA Staff
Published on May 6, 2004

World Briefs