Breaking Assad’s Piggy Bank to Prevent Further Murders
A child receives medical treatment after a sarin gas attack in the town of Douma, Syria on April 08, 2018. According to initial findings over 78 civilians perished in the Continue Reading
Syria’s Assad Defeated his Foes. Now He Targets his Friends.
For nine years, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has waged a brutal civil war against his enemies and allowed his friends to profit from it. Now, he’s squeezing those same allies Continue Reading
Uneasy calm in Syria’s Idlib as Russia-Turkey ceasefire takes effect
Syria’s war-battered Idlib region was quiet but tense on Friday as a ceasefire deal between Moscow and Ankara took effect, with residents and opposition forces describing a lull in air Continue Reading
Turkey strikes Syrian planes and airports, escalating Idlib fight
Turkey shot down two Syrian warplanes over Idlib on Sunday and struck a military airport well beyond its frontlines in a sharp escalation of its military operations following the death Continue Reading
U.N. says it fears ‘bloodbath’ in northwest Syria fighting
The United Nations warned on Friday that fighting in northwest Syria could “end in a bloodbath” and called again for a ceasefire, while Moscow denied reports of a mass flight Continue Reading
‘I Feel Like This Is the End’: A Million Fleeing Syrians Trapped by Assad’s Final Push
Amro Akoush and his family fled their home in northwest Syria with no time to pack a bag and no vehicle to escape the machine-gun fire and falling bombs. Mr. Continue Reading
Iran’s credit line to Syria: A well that never runs dry
At the onset of the Syrian uprising in 2011, Iran started lending its longtime ally, the Bashar al-Assad regime, through a credit line to help it survive the wave of Continue Reading
Turkey Launches Deadly Airstrikes Against Syrian Forces
Turkey deployed F-16 fighter jets against government forces in northwestern Syria on Monday, a sharp escalation of the conflict there after six Turkish soldiers were killed by artillery strikes. President Continue Reading
US, Russian Forces Face Off Near Syria’s Oilfields
U.S. troops blocked on Sunday a Russian military convoy from accessing oilfields in Syria’s northeast, in the fourth such skirmish in eight days, Turkish news outlet Daily Sabah reported . Continue Reading
Erdogan says up to 250,000 Syrians flee toward Turkey as crisis worsens
President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday up to 250,000 migrants were fleeing toward Turkey from Syria’s northwest Idlib region after weeks of renewed bombardment by Russian and Syrian government forces. Continue Reading
Assad Plans To Sue The U.S. Over ‘Stealing’ Syria’s Oil
Syria’s government is considering suing the United States in an international court over what a senior advisor to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad referred to as the ‘stealing’ of Syria’s oil. Continue Reading
Iran militias revive Islamic State oil trade into Syria from Iraq: sources
Highlights Militias also control some Syrian oil fields Illicit oil sales between 4,000 b/d and 10,000 b/d Trade highlights Iran’s entanglement in Iraq London — Iranian proxy militias are thought Continue Reading
Russia Strengthens Its Grip On Syrian Oil
Following the various recent announcements from U.S. President Donald Trump that he wants the country to withdraw from all areas of potential conflict in the Middle East – except Saudi Continue Reading
Israel launches air strikes in Syria, Damascus says two killed
Israel said its aircraft struck dozens of Iranian and Syrian military targets in Syria on Wednesday in retaliation for rockets fired toward Israel a day earlier. Syrian state media reported Continue Reading
Syria’s oil minister says production unit in Banias refinery damaged in explosion
An explosion took place in one of the production units of Syria’s Banias refinery near the Mediterranean coast during maintenance operations, Syria’s oil minister said on Thursday. One worker was Continue Reading
Erdogan says U.S. not fulfilling Syria promises, ahead of Trump talks
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan accused the United States and Russia on Thursday of failing to fulfill their part of a deal for Kurdish militia to leave a Syrian region bordering Continue Reading
Why The U.S. Won’t Back Down From Syrian Oil Fields
The U.S. military near the oil fields in northern Syria has every right to defend against other forces if oil is threatened, according to Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Rath Hoffman. Proceeds Continue Reading
The Next Stage Of Trump’s Plan To “Secure The Oil” In Syria
Turkey’s state-run media is reporting the United States is planning two new military bases in Syria’s oil-rich Deir ez-Zor province, which are currently under construction, after US special forces convoys Continue Reading
Turkey’s Erdogan says Kurdish YPG have not left Syria ‘safe zone’
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday the Kurdish YPG militia had not withdrawn from some areas inside Syria along the Turkish border and that U.S. forces were still carrying Continue Reading
Inside Syria’s teeming ISIS prisons: Broken men, child inmates and orders to break free
They are the remains of the Islamic State, a once sprawling kingdom built by foot soldiers from around the world to terrorize and enslave those they conquered. Hollow-eyed and gaunt, Continue Reading
Is Trump Turning The U.S. Military Into ‘Oil Pirates’?
After President Trump suggested on Sunday that he would like to make a deal with Exxon Mobil or “one of our great companies” to go into occupied Syria and take Continue Reading
‘Mission creep’: US to block Russian, Syrian forces from vast oil fields
The U.S. mission in Syria has morphed far beyond counterterrorism operations and now puts American forces in a position where they could battle Russian troops for control of Syrian oil. Continue Reading
Russia tells Turkey Kurdish fighters have left NE Syrian border area: Erdogan
Russia has informed Turkey that Syrian Kurdish YPG fighters have withdrawn from a strip of land near the Syrian-Turkish border within a deadline set by Ankara and Moscow, President Tayyip Continue Reading
Russia Releases Damning Evidence Of The U.S. Smuggling Syrian Oil
The Russian Ministry of Defense has published satellite intelligence images, showing American oil smuggling from Syria. (Click to enlarge) Image 1: Situation in the Syrian Arab Republic as of October Continue Reading
Turkey says Kurdish YPG has not fully withdrawn from Syria border area
Kurdish YPG forces have not fully withdrawn from a strip of northeastern Syria under a Russia-brokered accord that is about to expire, Turkey’s foreign minister said on Monday, as Ankara Continue Reading
Syrian Kurdish forces say leaving Turkish border area, Damascus welcomes move
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said on Sunday it had agreed to withdraw more than 30 km (19 miles) from the Turkish border, an announcement welcomed by Damascus which Continue Reading
Trump suggestion of taking Syrian oil draws rebukes
U.S. President Donald Trump’s suggestion on Sunday that Exxon Mobil or another U.S. oil company operate Syrian oil fields drew rebukes from legal and energy experts. “What I intend to Continue Reading
Clashes Break Out in Northern Syria, Testing Turkish Truce
Turkey didn’t comment on the claim, but accused the Kurds of targeting its forces. The Turkish presidency’s press office said five Turkish soldiers were injured Thursday. Related Several players are Continue Reading
Trump Vows To Protect Syrian Oil Fields From ISIS
The United States may leave 500 troops in northeastern Syria and send in battle tanks and other equipment, the Wall Street Journal reports , citing military officials who presented the Continue Reading
The End Of Syria’s “Pipeline War”
Russia-Turkey deal establishes ‘safe zone’ along Turkish border and there will be joint Russia-Turkey military patrols. The negotiations in Sochi were long – over six hours – tense and tough. Continue Reading
Syrian Kurds accuse Turkey of violations, Russia says peace plan on track
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) accused Turkey on Thursday of launching a large land offensive targeting three villages in northeast Syria despite a truce, but Russia said a peace Continue Reading
Pentagon readying plan to contain Islamic State, safeguard oil in Syria: U.S. senator
U.S. military leaders are preparing a plan that could keep Islamic State fighters from regaining a foothold in Syria, while preventing Syrian oil from falling into the hands of Iran Continue Reading
Russia Strikes Syrian Rebel Stronghold, Raising Fears of Assad Regime Offensive
Russian aircraft carried out strikes on the last rebel stronghold in northwestern Syria early Thursday, according to a monitoring group and rescue workers, raising fears of an all-out Syrian regime Continue Reading
U.S. Weighs Leaving More Troops, Sending Battle Tanks to Syria
The White House is considering options for leaving about 500 U.S. troops in northeast Syria and for sending dozens of battle tanks and other equipment, officials said Thursday, the latest Continue Reading
Trump Surrenders 2.5 Billion Barrels Of Oil To Syria
The American president just gifted 2.5 billion barrels of oil to long-time Syrian enemy Bashar Al-Assad and, by default, Iran and Russia. As far as gifts go, it was both Continue Reading
Trump claims he has ‘secured the Oil’ in Syria. Here’s what’s really going on.
If you ask President Trump, the United States is simultaneously bringing its troops home from Syria and securing “ the Oil ” (his capitalization) there. In fact, the United States Continue Reading
Is ISIS Back?
The American political leadership may not have been able to connect the dots on a withdrawal in Syria, but it’s really quite simple: 1) Americans step aside 2) Turks swarm Continue Reading
Trump Claims To Have Taken Control Of Middle East Oil
“We’ve taken control of the oil in the Middle East,” President Trump claimed on Friday afternoon, in response to criticism over his handling of US troop movements out of Syria. Continue Reading
Kurds Reported to Be Pulling Out of Syria ‘Safe Zone’ as Fighting Eases
Kurdish forces began pulling out of a 20-mile buffer zone in northern Syria as fighting eased on Friday, Turkish and American officials said, signaling that a cease-fire announced a day Continue Reading
Turkey agrees with U.S. to pause Syria assault while Kurds withdraw
Turkey agreed on Thursday to pause its offensive in Syria for five days to let Kurdish forces withdraw from a “safe zone” Ankara had sought to capture, in a deal Continue Reading
Turkey Agrees to Pause Fighting, but Not to Withdraw Forces From Northern Syria
Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday said Turkey had agreed to suspend its military operations in northeast Syria for five days while Syrian Kurdish fighters left the area, immediately raising Continue Reading
Russia Troops Patrol Between Turkish and Syrian Forces, Filling an American Void
Russia asserted itself in a long-contested part of Syria on Tuesday after the United States pulled out, giving Moscow a new opportunity to press for Syrian army gains and project Continue Reading
Fears of Islamic State Resurgence Grow in Turkey’s Invasion of Kurdish-Held Syria
The Turkish invasion of Kurdish-held territory in northern Syria raised new fears of a resurgence of the Islamic State on Friday, as five militants escaped from a Kurdish-run prison and Continue Reading
Trump to authorize sanctions against Turkey if incursion into Syria destabilizes region
Smoke rises from the Syrian town of Ras al-Ain, in a picture taken from the Turkish side of the border in Ceylanpinar on Friday, the third day of Turkey’s military Continue Reading
Fears of Islamic State Resurgence Grow in Turkey’s Invasion of Kurdish-Held Syria
The Turkish invasion of Kurdish-held territory in northern Syria raised new fears of a resurgence of the Islamic State on Friday, as five militants escaped from a Kurdish-run prison and Continue Reading
Trump Throws Middle East Policy Into Turmoil Over Syria
President Trump threw Middle East policy into turmoil on Monday with a series of conflicting signals after his vow to withdraw American forces from the region touched off an uprising Continue Reading
Syrian Gas Pipeline Out Of Service After Militant Attack
A natural gas pipeline in central Syria, which is under government control, went out of service on Sunday after militants attacked it, Syria’s state news agency SANA reported . The Continue Reading
Assad hits a wall in Syrian war as front lines harden
President Bashar al-Assad’s assault in the northwest has been met with a painful rebel counterpunch that underlines Turkish resolve to keep the area out of his hands and shows why Continue Reading
Assad hits a wall in Syrian war as front lines harden
President Bashar al-Assad’s assault in the northwest has been met with a painful rebel counterpunch that underlines Turkish resolve to keep the area out of his hands and shows why Continue Reading
Syria says sabotage damaged underwater oil pipelines
Five underwater pipelines have been damaged and put out of order after a sabotage attack off the coastal town of Banias, Syria’s oil ministry said Sunday. The damage was discovered Continue Reading