About: Bashar al-Assad
As EU-Arab summit approaches, more headaches than planned
When plans for a summit between the European Union and the Arab League were first hatched last year, it was envisioned as the start of a new friendship across the Mediterranean. What a difference a few months makes.
Allies stunned, Russia delighted at Trump’s decision to withdraw from Syria
US President Donald Trump overrode his top national security aides, blindsided US ground commanders, and stunned lawmakers and allies with his order for US troops to leave Syria, a decision that upends American policy in the Middle East.
US accepts Assad staying in power but won’t give aid
The United States said Monday (17 December) it was no longer seeking to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad but renewed warnings it would not fund reconstruction unless the regime is "fundamentally different."
US representative for Syria: We’re not going to put this country back together
James F. Jeffrey, Special Representative for Syria engagement in the US Department of State, answered on Tuesday (30 October) the questions of a small group of Brussels journalists about the state of play in and around Syria.
Russia, Germany, France and Turkey call for lasting ceasefire, constitutional meeting for Syria
The leaders of Russia, Germany, France and Turkey stressed the importance on Saturday (27 October) of a lasting ceasefire in Syria, and said a committee to create a new constitution should meet by the end of the year.
Macron, Trump confer ahead of Istanbul Syria summit with Putin
French President Emmanuel Macron spoke by phone Thursday (25 October) with US counterpart Donald Trump about strategy ahead of a four-way summit on Syria in Istanbul this weekend, the Élysée palace said.
EU warns of humanitarian disaster in Syrian city of Idlib
Russian and Syrian jets hammered a major rebel stronghold on Tuesday (4 September), days before leaders of Russia, Iran and Turkey meet to discuss an expected Syrian government offensive that could spark a humanitarian disaster.
EU disagrees with Russia that Syrian refugees can go back
The European Union does not believe Syria is safe for refugees to go back, officials in Brussels said of a Russian push to have people return to the war-torn country and the international community to spend money on rebuilding it.
Russian and Syrian authorities set up centre for refugees returning to Syria
Russia's Defence Ministry said yesterday (18 July) that Russian and Syrian authorities had set up a refugee centre in Syria to help refugees return home from abroad.
Assad accuses Erdogan of close ties to Muslim Brotherhood
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was assigned by the US government to interfere in Syria when the terrorists lost control of different areas, Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad told Greek daily Kathimerini in an interview.
Syria donors fall short without US aid, warn of cruel end-game
International donors raised $4.4 billion in emergency aid for Syria and its neighbours this year on Wednesday (25 April), but the total fell well short of the UN target for 2018 after the United States failed to submit a pledge.
Putin predicts global ‘chaos’ if West hits Syria again
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Sunday (15 April) that further Western attacks on Syria would bring chaos to world affairs, as Washington prepared to increase pressure on Russia with new economic sanctions.
EU says ‘evidence points’ to chemical attack by Syria regime
The EU said Sunday that evidence suggested the Syrian regime carried out a chemical attack in Douma and urged Damascus's allies Russia and Iran to help prevent another one.
Turkey says whoever helps Kurd militia in Syria is ‘legitimate target’
Turkey yesterday (21 February) said it would consider a "legitimate target" any group that comes to the aid of Kurdish militia in Afrin in northern Syria.
Friend or foe? Assad quietly aids Syrian Kurds against Turkey
Syria's US-backed Kurds are getting indirect help from an unlikely source in their war against Turkey in the northwestern region of Afrin: President Bashar al-Assad.
Putin must nudge Syria into UN peace deal, mediator says
UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura urged Russia yesterday (13 December) to convince its ally the Syrian government of the need to clinch a peace deal to end the nearly seven-year-old war.
Mogherini, Lavrov agree to disagree on EU-Russia issues
EU diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov yesterday (11 July) said both sides could cooperate on key international issues but traded barbs over Syria at the same time.
Days numbered for Council of Europe leader?
The Council of Europe’s parliamentary assembly has cleared the path for a possible impeachment of its president, Pedro Agramunt, who has courted controversy in the past by visiting Syria and meeting Bashar al-Assad. EURACTIV’s partner Der Tagesspiegel reports.
Syrian refugee in Romania: ISIS banned chemistry and biology
In recent years, the Syrian community in Romania grew due to the ongoing civil war. They say they like Romania. They have their school there. But still, the refugees wish to eventually return home, they told EURACTIV.ro.
Western pressure builds on Russia to break ties with Assad
British Prime Minister Theresa May spoke yesterday (10 April) to US President Donald Trump and agreed that "a window of opportunity" exists to persuade Russia to break ties with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, her office said.
Syria conference: Patience runs out for symbolic politics
Representatives from 70 countries and organisations at the Brussels Syria donor conference called for lessons to be learned from a chemical weapons attack that left scores dead. EURACTIV Germany reports.
France, worried by Trump, promises to defend Iran nuclear deal
France vowed on Monday (30 January) to defend Iran's nuclear deal, which US President Donald Trump has threatened to tear up, but said it was imperative Tehran abide strictly by the conditions of the accord.
Putin and Trump agree to try to rebuild US-Russia ties, cooperate in Syria
Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump agreed to try to rebuild US Russia ties and to cooperate in Syria, the Kremlin said on Saturday (28 January), after the two men spoke for the first time since Trump's inauguration.