Syrian Alawites horrified by rising death toll

Most Alawites remain steadfast in their support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, but many are quietly horrified at the high number of Alawite men dying in combat.

Syria

Obama: Syria chemical attack would cross US 'core national interests'

President Obama is consulting with allies and advisers over what the US response would be if the Syrian Government did in fact attack a rebel village with chemical weapons.

Syria

Ayatollah Khamenei, Assad spoke of reforms

Iran's former ambassador to Syria conceded in an interview that the Syrian government made mistakes in the first stages of the Syrian protests and revealed that Iran's supreme leader wrote a letter to Syria's president urging reforms.

Syria

Kerry says 'indiscriminate' Syria chemical attack 'undeniable'

US Secretary of State John Kerry has said that the delayed access for UN inspectors to the chemical attack sits is due to the Syrian Government shelling the areas in an attempt to destroy evidence.

Syria

Beyond US strikes, signs of intensifying UN diplomacy on Syria

Obama administration officials have said that the goal of military action in Syria would be to uphold the universal prohibition of chemical weapons and not regime change, citing that the conflict must be resolved politically.

Syria

Obama makes case for 'decisive' but 'limited' action on Syria

President Obama has said the military action he is considering for Syria will not deeply involve the US in the conflict, but will "have a positive impact on our national security over the long term."

Syria

Arsal clashes a threat to Lebanon's future

The outcome of the clashes in Arsal between the Lebanese army and fundamentalists supporting the Syrian opposition may hold the key to how Lebanon can resolve its political crises.

Lebanon

Does Iran benefit from Gaza crisis?

Iran reconsiders Hamas ties; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s fixation on Iran may have distracted him from the threat from Hamas; Asmaa Al-Ghoul reports from Gaza; the Islamic State offers no support for Hamas.

Qatar

Obama cabinet briefs Congress on Syria, as UK participation looks in doubt

Senior Obama administration national security officials will brief lawmakers on the chemical weapons attack in an unclassified phone call.

Syria

Kerry: World 'watching to see if Syria can get away with it'

President Obama has said that he is consulting lawmakers over military options in Syria and that the US will only take limited military action that will not involve boots on the ground.

Syria

Obama tasks Congress with Syria vote: 'We should have this debate'

Obama has decided to seek congressional approval for limited airstrikes on Syria to punish and deter the use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime.

Syria

Russia urges Syria to surrender chemical arms to avert strikes

Russia announced that it has given a proposal to the Syrian Government which would require the Syrian regime to place their chemical weapons under international control and allow their subsequent destruction.

Syria