Syria

Read recent Syrian news stories and current events on Newser.com

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ISIS Chief to Israel: 'We Are Getting Closer'

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi releases new video

(Newser) - The Islamic State group on Saturday released a new message purportedly from its reclusive leader, claiming that his self-styled "caliphate" is doing well despite an unprecedented alliance against it, threatening Israel, and criticizing the recently announced Saudi-led Islamic military coalition against terrorism. In the 24-minute audio, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi...

Father of Drowned Toddler Delivers Christmas Message

He urges world to open its doors to Syrians

(Newser) - In Britain, the "alternative" Christmas message on Channel 4 has become almost as much of a tradition as the Queen's message, and this year it was delivered by the father of drowned Syrian toddler Aylan Kurdi. Abdullah Kurdi also lost his wife and 5-year-old son Galeb when their...

Syrian Rebels Vow to Fight On After Leader Killed

Army of Islam was battling Assad, ISIS

(Newser) - A Syrian insurgent group whose commander was assassinated by an airstrike near the Syrian capital has appointed a successor, vowing to continue fighting both the Syrian government and the ISIS. The Army of Islam, which is widely known to be supported by Saudi Arabia and Turkey, says it has appointed...

Top Syrian Rebel Killed in Airstrike

Missiles strike meeting outside Damascus

(Newser) - Opposition activists say an airstrike near the capital Damascus has killed top rebel commander Zahran Allouch. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said an airstrike hit an Islam Army meeting near the Damascus suburb of Otaya on Friday killing several officials including Allouch. The Local Coordination Committees said Allouch...

Report: US Secretly Tried to Spur a Coup in Syria

Obama administration held secret talks with 'elements of' regime for years

(Newser) - For years, the Obama administration held secret back-channel talks with members of the Syrian regime in the hope of unseating Bashar al-Assad, US and Arab officials tell the Wall Street Journal . The communication came in bursts—sometimes with senior Syrian officials, other times through intermediaries including Russia and Iran. In...

UN Syria Plan Leaves Assad's Fate a Mystery

Security Council votes 15-0 to try to end conflict

(Newser) - After years of ruinous civil war, the United Nations Security Council has finally approved a peace deal for what's left of Syria—but it leaves the future of President Bashar Assad a mystery. The resolution adopted by a unanimous vote on Friday says Syria must hold elections within 18...

Syrian Refugee Whose Story Went Viral Moves to US

'The Scientist' is hoping to restart his life in Troy, Michigan

(Newser) - A Syrian refugee whose moving story went viral earlier this month starts his new life in Troy, Michigan, on Thursday, NBC News reports. The refugee—who wants to keep his real name out of the media to protect family members still in Syria—is known as "The Scientist" on...

Edward Norton Raises $390K for Refugee Whose Story Moved Us

Family is headed to Michigan from Turkey

(Newser) - Lots of people are moved by the stories featured on Humans of New York —but not all of us are actor Edward Norton, who helped raise nearly $390,000 as of this writing for a Syrian refugee family headed to Troy, Mich., from Turkey, Michigan Live reports. Norton says...

Texas Plumber Wants $1M After Jihadists Get His Truck

Mark Oberholtzer says his business has been ruined

(Newser) - The Texas plumber whose truck infamously ended up in the hands of jihdists is suing a car dealership for more than $1 million, the Houston Chronicle reports. At issue: the dealership’s failure to remove a decal bearing the name and phone number of the Texas City man's business,...

Swiss Arrest 2 Syrians on Terror Charges

They're accused of transporting explosives and having jihadist ties

(Newser) - Two people from Syria were arrested on terror charges Friday in Geneva and traces of explosives were found in their vehicle, AFP reports. The arrests come after Swiss authorities received a tip from US intelligence that indicated an ISIS cell was active in Geneva, according to the BBC . ABC News...

ISIS Likely Got Its Hands on Passport-Making Machine

Report says ISIS has probably been able to make passports since last summer

(Newser) - US intelligence has determined that ISIS likely has the ability to produce fake Syrian passports, reports ABC News . The network cites a 17-page Homeland Security Investigations Intelligence Report that states ISIS probably has at its disposal both a passport-printing machine and blank passport books; there's some additional fear that...

House Tightens Controls on Visa-Free Travel to US

The legislation was supported by Republicans and Democrats alike

(Newser) - Driven by the Paris terror attacks, the House voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to tighten controls on travel to the US and require visas for anyone who's been in Iraq or Syria in the previous five years. The legislation takes aim at the "visa waiver" program that allows citizens of...

Airstrikes Pound ISIS in Raqqa
 Airstrikes Pound ISIS in Raqqa 
Dec 6, 2015 1:02 PM CST

Airstrikes Pound ISIS in Raqqa

At least 32 fighters dead; unclear if France, Russia, or US is doing the bombing

(Newser) - Airstrikes hit several positions of the Islamic State group in its de facto capital of Raqqa in northern Syria on Sunday, killing and wounding at least 15 people, opposition activists and social media pages loyal to ISIS said. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 15 blasts shook the...

ISIS Claims Video Shows Beheading of Russian Spy

It claims the execution is retaliation for Russia's bombings in Syria

(Newser) - ISIS released a video Wednesday it claims shows a Russian jihadist beheading a Russian spy, NBC News reports. In the video—titled "You Shall be Disappointed and Humiliated O Russians"—the victim identifies himself as Magomed Khasiyev from the Chechen Republic. According to Arutz Sheva , the 23-year-old admits...

US Special Ops Force Being Sent to Fight ISIS in Iraq, Syria

'We are acting to defeat [ISIS] at its core'

(Newser) - The US will be sending an unspecified number of special operations troops to Iraq to "put even more pressure" on ISIS in both Iraq and Syria, NBC News reports. "These special operators will over time be able to conduct raids, free hostages, gather intelligence, and capture [ISIS] leaders,...

Obama: Climate Change Affects Military, Too

He calls it an 'economic and security imperative'

(Newser) - Why are world leaders gathering near Paris for climate talks when there's a war going on in Syria? "Because this one trend, climate change, affects all trends," President Obama said at a news conference on Tuesday, reports the New York Times . "This is an economic and...

Turkish President Was 'Truly Saddened' By Plane Downing

He says he wishes it hadn't happened

(Newser) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday voiced regret over Turkey's downing of a Russian warplane, saying his country was "truly saddened" by the incident and wished it hadn't occurred. It was the first expression of regret by the strongman leader since Tuesday's incident in which...

Russian Soldier Joins Ranks of 'Unexplained Dead'

Russia won't give official confirmation of where many of its soldiers died

(Newser) - A 27-year-old Russian soldier joined the ranks of what Reuters calls the "unexplained dead"—servicemen killed in secret military engagements both inside Russia and beyond its borders. "I'm away on a work trip." Those were the last words—written in a terse note—Fyodor Zhuravlyov...

Report: Iran General Saved Russian Pilot

He coordinated with Russia, Syrian commandoes

(Newser) - How exactly did a Russian pilot make it out of enemy territory alive after his plane was shot down by Turkish jets? He was helped by the commander of foreign operations for Iran's Revolutionary Guards, according to an Iranian news agency. The Fars New Agency—citing a Russian agency,...

Russian Pilot: 'No Contact at All' Before Plane Shot Down

He also says there's 'no way' they were in Turkish airspace

(Newser) - The Russian pilot rescued after his plane was shot down by Turkish forces on Tuesday says there's "no way" his plane was in Turkey's airspace, the BBC reports. Capt. Konstantin Murakhtin also denies Turkey's claims that he and his fellow pilot were warned at least 10...

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