About: Bashar al-Assad
Trump leaves Turkey, Russia, Syria ‘to argue it out’
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday (16 October) he did not mind Russia helping Syria in a conflict with NATO ally Turkey and rejected criticism of his withdrawal of US troops from Syria that exposed Kurdish allies, calling it "strategically brilliant."
Russia-backed Syrian army sweeps in to fill US-left vacuum
Russia-backed Syrian forces took rapid advantage of an abrupt US retreat from Syria on Monday (14 October), deploying deep inside Kurdish-held territory south of the Turkish frontier less than 24 hours after Washington announced a full withdrawal.
Russia says US strikes in Syria’s Idlib put ceasefire at risk
Russia's military said the United States had mounted air strikes in Syria's Idlib without forewarning Moscow or Ankara, endangering a ceasefire there, Russian news agencies reported on Sunday (1 September).
Erdogan to meet Putin over Syrian army offensive
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told Russia’s Vladimir Putin on Friday (23 August) that Syrian army attacks in northwest Syria are causing a humanitarian crisis and threaten Turkey’s national security, the Turkish presidency said.
Syrian offensive puts Turkish troops and border plans in peril
Syrian army advances in northwest Syria are putting Turkish troops in the firing line and threaten Ankara's hopes of preventing a new wave of refugees on its southern border.
200,000 displaced Syrians flee towards Turkey
Pressure is mounting on Turkish authorities to open their borders to more than 200,000 refugees from Syria. What prevents the refugees from entering is a 764-km wall Turkey has built along the border, in fear of Kurdish "terrorists".
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.