Rappler's latest stories on bashar al assad
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
Syria's Assad says he does not want Turkey as an 'enemy'
However the Syrian president says that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan himself was an 'enemy' due to policies hostile to Syria
Syria government, opposition open 'historic' constitutional review
The United Nations-brokered constitutional review committee includes 150 delegates – divided equally among President Bashar al-Assad's government, the opposition, and civil society
Kurdish forces start Syria-Turkey border pullback
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces have pulled out of some areas at the eastern end of the border
Russia announces ceasefire in Syria's Idlib
The Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria says the ceasefire aims 'to stabilize the situation' in Idlib and urged anti-government fighters to 'abandon armed provocations and join the peace process'
Assad regime forces mass in northwest Syria – monitor
Russian-backed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces gather north of the key town of Khan Sheikhun in a bid to take more territory from Turkish-backed rebels
Anti-Assad fighters withdraw from key area of northwest Syria
After 8 years of civil war, the Idlib region on the border with Turkey is the last major stronghold of opposition to Assad's Russia-backed government
Regime forces advance towards key town in northwest Syria
President Bashar al-Assad's fighters are just a few kilometers away from Khan Sheikhun, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights
Syria resumes Idlib air strikes after scrapping ceasefire
The northwestern region of some 3 million people is one of the last major centers of resistance to President Bashar al-Assad's regime after 8 years of war
Top Oman diplomat meets Assad in rare Syria visit
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met with Oman's state minister for foreign affairs Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah to discuss bilateral relations and regional security
Erdogan in Moscow for talks with Putin on Syria safe zone
Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he will discuss with Vladimir Putin the creation of a Turkish-controlled 'security zone' in northern Syria, suggested by Donald Trump
Iran deal, Saudi murder: Turbulent year shakes up Middle East
In another turbulent year for the tinderbox region, Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad appear ever more powerful and Washington's promised Israeli-Palestinian peace plan seem ever more elusive
Syria downs Russian plane, Moscow blames Israel
(UPDATED) The incident, which happened late Monday, is the worst case of friendly fire between the two allies since Russia's game-changing military intervention in September 2015
Syria war has killed more than 360,000 – monitor
The toll represents an increase of about 13,000 people in the past 6 months
Trump warns Syria, Russia and Iran against Idlib 'tragedy'
The warning comes as Iran's foreign minister Mohammad Javed Zarif meets with Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad in a surprise visit to Damascus ahead of the looming offensive
Kurds eye decentralized Syria in talks with government
(UPDATED) The Syrian Democratic Forces alliance says it it has agreed with the government to form joint committees and forge a 'roadmap leading to a democratic and decentralized Syria'
Syria state media confirms deal with rebels for Daraa city
Under the deal for opposition-held areas of Daraa city, rebels are to hand over their heavy and medium-sized weapons
Syria's Assad to meet Kim in North Korea – KCNA
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad potentially can become the first head of state to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inside the isolated country
Pentagon warns Syria's Assad against attacking Kurdish-led forces
Lieutenant General Kenneth McKenzie's remarks come after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad told Russian broadcaster RT he would not hesitate to use force to retake the 3rd of the country held by the Syrian Democratic Forces
Putin meets Assad, calls for 'political process' on Syria
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov tells reporters that 'there were detailed discussions' between the two leaders
Chemical inspectors await all-clear to begin work in Syria's Douma
Syrian Ambassador Bashar Jaafari tells a meeting of the UN Security Council that the team of experts will begin work on Wednesday, April 18, once they receive the all-clear from the security detail
U.S. takes aim at Russia over alleged Syria chemical attack
The US State Department says Russia, 'with its unwavering support' for the Syrian regime, would be ultimately responsible
Trump says U.S. withdrawing from Syria 'very soon'
State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert is asked if she was aware of any decision for the US to pull out of Syria. 'I am not, no. No,' she says.
Syria's Assad says Ghouta campaign must go on
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's remarks come as the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said regime air strikes on Eastern Ghouta killed 34 civilians including 11 children on Sunday
Fresh violence mars first day of Syria enclave 'truce'
The first day of a 5-hour daily 'pause' that was ordered by President Vladimir Putin Sunday and kicked off at 9 am local time (0700 GMT) is marred by violence
New strikes hit Syria's Ghouta despite ceasefire call
The bombing campaign on Eastern Ghouta has been one of the heaviest of the seven-year civil war that has pitted President Bashar al-Assad's regime against a range of rebel groups
Nearly 200 dead in Syria enclave as UN warns situation 'out of control'
(UPDATED) At least 194 civilians have been killed, among them 57 children, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says
77 dead as Syria enclave pounded ahead of expected ground assault
(UPDATED) The escalation comes as pro-government forces are also expected to enter the northern Kurdish-controlled enclave of Afrin, to take a stand against a month-old Turkish assault there
Syria regime strikes kill 6 civilians in Ghouta – monitor
President Bashar al-Assad's regime intensifies its bombardment of the besieged region outside Damascus
Turkey says Assad must go 'at some point'
But there needs to be a 'political transition in Syria', leading to a new constitution and elections, says President Erdogan's spokesperson
UN hosts 'critical' Syria peace talks in Vienna
The two days of talks in Vienna come after 8 previous rounds in Geneva, during which the two sides failed to even meet each other
Two Russian servicemen killed in Syria mortar attack
The latest killings raises to 44 the number of Russian military casualties in the Syria campaign
Putin calls for 'pragmatic cooperation' in New Year wishes to Trump
(UPDATED) The Russian president also sends messages to other heads of state, including Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad
On Mideast trip, Putin orders partial withdrawal from Syria
This comes after Vladimir Putin said last month that efforts to end the war are entering a 'new stage' as the focus shifts from military intervention to political reforms
UN restarts Syria peace talks but Assad regime absent
The 8th round of talks is seen as a chance for the UN to revitalize its push to end the 6-year war, which has killed more than 340,000 people and left Syria in ruin
UN aims to restart Syria talks with unified opposition
The UN-brokered talks to end the war that has killed more than 340,000 people since 2011 have achieved little through 7 previous rounds
Putin urges 'compromise' ahead of new Syria peace talks
New talks should happen soon, Putin says after a summit with Iran's President Hassan Rouhani and Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, insisting that they will reinvigorate a hobbled peace process
Putin briefs Trump on Syria after surprise Assad talks
During the phone call with Trump the Kremlin says Putin stressed the 'need to keep Syria's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity intact'
Putin meets Assad ahead of Syria talks with Turkey and Iran
(UPDATED) Russia's president Vladimir Putin met with his embattled Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi, the Kremlin says
UN's De Mistura wants new round of Syria talks in coming weeks
The UN special envoy says he intends to convene an eighth round of talks on the bloody more than 6-year conflict no later than the end of October or early November
Syria at UN says 'victory is now within reach'
'The liberation of Aleppo and Palmyra, the lifting of the seige of Deir Ezzor and the eradication of terrorism from many parts of Syria prove that victory is now within reach,' Syrian foreign minister Walid al-Muallem tells the General Assembly
No relations with Syria for countries backing rebels – Assad
The United States and most European countries shut their embassies in Damascus after the government s bloody crackdown on protests that erupted in March 2011
