Rappler's latest stories on Syria
U.N. to vote on reduced extension of cross-border aid to Syria
Saturday's vote will be on a new draft text submitted by Germany and Belgium, which would provide for a single aid access point into Syria
Syria condemned at toxic arms watchdog over sarin attacks
Only Russia, China, and Iran vote against the decision at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons' executive council accusing Syria of breaching the Chemical Weapons Convention
Iran, Russia, Turkey agree to work together to ease Syria tensions
The conference comes at a time when Russia-Turkey relations are tense not just over Syria but also Libya, another theater of war where Moscow and Ankara support opposing fighters
Syria devalues currency as new U.S. sanctions hit
The Syrian central bank raises the official exchange rate from around 700 to 1,250 Syrian pounds to the dollar
Vowing new Syria campaign, U.S. sanctions dozens including Assad wife
'We anticipate many more sanctions and we will not stop until Assad and his regime stop their needless, brutal war against the Syrian people,' US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says
Syria central bank warns against currency 'manipulation'
The warning comes as the Syrian pound hits record lows against the dollar
Russia, China boycott U.N. Security Council meeting on Syria
'Regrettably, our Western partners, and their allies, insisted on holding this meeting behind closed doors in an informal setting despite the slogans of openness and transparency of the Security Council,' says Russia's UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia
Syrian fighters upping attacks on civilians during pandemic – UN
There have been reports of targeted killings and bombings in Syria, many of which take place in populated areas
Syria postpones election for second time over virus
The vote will be pushed back to July 19 from the scheduled date of May 20 as 'part of preventive measures' to combat the virus
'Keep going': Syrian refugees use war resilience to confront virus
Four Syrians in France say their past ordeals – like prison and exile – had primed them for coping with the lockdown
Virus 'disaster in the making' in war-torn Syria
Official numbers are low with two deaths and 19 confirmed cases, but only 100 patients are being tested daily, with half of the testing carried out in the capital Damascus
Watchdog blames Syria for chemical weapons attacks
(UPDATED) The findings come in the first report from a new investigative team set up by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to identify the perpetrators of attacks in Syria's ongoing nine-year-long civil war
Syria war records lowest monthly death toll in 9 years
Of the total deaths, some 51 people were killed in shelling and air strikes by the Syrian regime, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says
Syria announces first case of novel coronavirus
Health minister Nizar Yaziji says authorities had recorded 'a first case of the coronavirus in Syria in a person coming from abroad,' without specifying the country
U.N. says nearly 5 million children born into Syria war
UNICEF also says close to 5,000 children were recruited into the fighting
Iranian commander killed near Damascus – monitor
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights calls the death of Farhad Dabirian, a commander in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, an 'assassination'
Rare calm in Syria's Idlib after ceasefire deal
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group and AFP correspondents in Idlib province say the truce that came into force at midnight appears to be holding
Putin, Erdogan agree to ceasefire in Syria's Idlib
(4th UPDATE) 'The object is to avoid the humanitarian crisis getting worse,' Erdogan says, though he adds that Turkey reserves the right to 'retaliate with all its strength against any attack' by Damascus
U.N. probe highlights Russia, Turkey roles in Syria 'war crimes'
'You have children in open air with their families, without a tent, without shelter, without blankets, UN's Syria commission chair says, lamenting that 'children are freezing to death'
Erdogan threatens Europe with 'millions' of migrants
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hopes to reach a deal on a ceasefire in Syria when he meets his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin following intense fighting in the last rebel holdout of Idlib
Turkish drones kill 19 Syrian government soldiers as tensions soar
The report comes hours after Turkey shot down two Syrian warplanes
Turkey says pursuing military operation against Syrian regime
Though Turkey has reported striking targets in Syria since dozens of its troops were killed there, it is the first confirmation of a full and continuing operation
Turkey-Russia tensions soar after deadly Syria strike
Both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan appear keen to scale down the tensions, expressing 'serious concern' about the situation in their telephone talks
33 Turkish soldiers killed in Syria's Idlib
Dozens more soldiers are injured and taken to Turkey for treatment, Rahmi Dogan, governor of Turkish Hatay – bordering Syria – said Friday, February 28.
Israeli warplanes hit Gaza, Syria after Palestinian rocket barrage
The Israeli military says it had struck 'dozens' of Islamic Jihad targets throughout Gaza
Turkish soldier killed by regime fire in Syria's Idlib
Turkey has 12 observation posts in Idlib as part of a Turkey-Russia deal, but Ankara's forces have come under attack this month from Syrian regime force
Russia warns Turkey, blocks U.N. bid to end Syria bloodshed
Syrian aid workers call urgently for a ceasefire and international help for nearly a million people fleeing the regime onslaught
First civilian flight since 2012 lands in Aleppo
The flight comes days after the government announced it had wrested the entire region around the second city of Aleppo back from jihadists and their rebel allies
Russia warns against Turkey operation in Syria
(UPDATED) President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to launch an operation in Idlib by the end of the month if Damascus fails to withdraw its troops behind Turkish military positions
Trump calls for Russia to stop backing Syrian 'atrocities'
A Russian-backed offensive has triggered the largest wave of displacement in Syria's civil war, with 800,000 people fleeing since December, the United Nations says
Syria parliament recognizes Armenian genocide
The Armenians seek international recognition that the mass killings of their people under the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1917 amounted to genocide. They say 1.5 million died.
Syrian air defense intercepts missile attack – state media
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights blames the attack on Israel, which has not claimed responsibility
Turkey, Russia trade accusations as Syria tensions rise
(UPDATED) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatens to strike Syrian regime forces 'everywhere' if his soldiers come under renewed attack
Syria regime helicopter downed as Ankara threatens Damascus
The advance marks another step in President Bashar al-Assad's campaign to retake Syria's last rebel-held pocket
Idlib displacement worst since start of Syria war – U.N.
'In just 10 weeks, since 1 December, some 690,000 people have been displaced from their homes in Idlib and surrounding areas,' says the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Syrian regime shelling kills 5 Turkish soldiers in Idlib
The barrage also wounds 5 soldiers in the violence-plagued northwest, prompting the Turkish military to respond by 'destroying targets'
Israeli strikes kill 23 Syrian, foreign fighters in Syria
The reported Israeli strikes come as government forces press a blistering offensive against Syria's last major rebel bastion, in the Idlib region in the northwest
Northwest Syria violence displaces 500,000 in 2 months
According to the UN, the vast majority – 80% – are women and children
Rocket fire targets Syria oil facilities – state media
Oil Minister Ali Ghanem says the targeted facilities were the Ebla and south central region gas plants, as well as the Al-Rayyan gas station and a refinery in the central province of Homs
Erdogan urges Russia to 'assume its obligations' in Syria's Idlib
Turkey, which already hosts more than 3.7 million Syrians, fears a further influx of refugees fleeing violence in Idlib
HIGHLIGHTS: Philippines vs Morocco - Dubai International Championship Semifinals
Mighty Sports Philippines vies for a championship berth versus Morocco's AS Sale in Dubai at 11 pm on Friday, January 31
Flawless Mighty Sports crushes Syria's Al Wathba to reach Dubai semis
Mighty Sports gets a balanced scoring production from its veterans and young guns to remain unbeaten in the Dubai International Basketball Championship
HIGHLIGHTS: Philippines vs Syria - Dubai International Championship Quarterfinals
Mighty Sports Philippines targets a Final Four spot versus Syria's Al Wathba Sport Club at 1 am on Friday, January 31
Syria regime forces recapture most of key rebel-held town
Maaret al-Numan is a semi-deserted town of symbolic and strategic importance in Syria's last major rebel-held bastion
Fil-Am Williams erupts in 2nd half as Mighty sweeps Dubai elims
Mighty Sports clinches its 4th straight win to top Group A heading into the knockout quarterfinals
Trump ignores critics, to unveil Israel-Palestinian peace plan
Netanyahu, praising Trump as 'the greatest friend that Israel's had in the White House,' describes the peace plan as 'the deal of the century'
Mighty catches fire in 1st half, survives Syria for 2nd Dubai win
Propped up by Andray Blatche and Renaldo Balkman, Mighty Sports Philippines outlasts Syria for a 2-0 start in Dubai
HIGHLIGHTS: Philippines vs Syria - Dubai International Basketball Championship
After an opening-day escape, Mighty Sports Philippines shoots for a more convincing win versus Syria's Al Ittihad Aleppo on Friday, January 24
Syria says Israel behind aerial attack against military airport
The attack adds to the growing tension in the Middle East after a US drone killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani
King of Jordan warns Islamic State on rise again
Jordan, whose stability is seen as vital for the volatile Middle East, hosts some 1.3 million refugees from neighboring war-torn Syria
