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Egyptian Embassy in Damascus releases seven Egyptians from shelter camps
Egypt recalled its ambassador to Syria in 2012 following beginning of Syrian uprising
IS leaves last pocket of Damascus
For first time in seven years, all of wider Damascus is now under government control
Syrian Army foils opposition attacks in Damascus: embassy
The Syrian army forces managed to destroy two car bombs before their arrival at military targets, says Syrian embassy in Cairo
UN extends new Syria peace talks invitation to Damascus
The Syrian government has confirmed its participation in the latest talks aimed at a political solution to the conflict. A UN official said he spoke with Damascus about the need for a UN-backed transition.
Syria extends ceasefire despite heavy fighting in Aleppo
Damascus has extended a ceasefire for 72 hours, marking the second of its kind since the end of Ramadan. The US’ top diplomat is expected in Moscow as the international community pushes to revive stalled peace talks.
Syrian airstrikes kill 20 civilians near Damascus after pilot execution
The Syrian regime has launched a major aerial operation on a rebel-held town near the capital, effectively ending a local truce. Rebels claim the airstrikes were retaliation for the execution of a government pilot.
Several people killed in Damascus Shiite shrine bombing
Two bombs have exploded in the Syrian capital, killing and injuring dozens of people. The suspected terror attacks took place near the country’s holiest Shiite shrine, the Sayeda Zeinab mosque.
Syria rebels threaten to disrupt truce if Assad’s forces continue fighting
Militant groups in Syria have refused to abide by the truce unless government troops stop the violence within 48 hours. The statement comes after President Assad’s army bombed rebel strongholds around Damascus.
Damascus truce extended in Syria as fighting rages in Aleppo
The Syrian military has extended its ceasefire around the capital although fighting is still going on in the country’s north. Meanwhile,US Secretary of State John Kerry is trying to revive peace talks.
Damascus slams UN envoy over Syrian elections’ remarks
Syria’s foreign minister has criticized the UN envoy’s comments concerning presidential elections in 18 months. The Syrian government and mainstream opposition coalition confirmed they will be attending talks in Geneva.
Talks in Geneva, victims in Damascus
The opposition group will meet Di Mistura Monday after his positive response
Killing of top Syrian rebel may derail negotiations
We will freeze any negotiations with the regime, says member of the Syrian opposition
Damascus: Plan to evacuate militants from Yarmouk put on hold
A plan to evacuate thousands of militants and civilians from rebel-held districts of Syria’s capital has been put on hold. It comes a day after an airstrike killed a Syrian rebel leader in the Damascus suburb of Ghouta.
Retaliatory rockets fired at Russia embassy in Damascus
Two rockets have struck the Russian embassy in Damascus. The attack took place as hundreds of people were gathering for a demonstration in support of Russia’s intervention in Syria.
‘I could no longer live in Syria’
Syrian refugee Alaa Houd left his job and family and hired people smugglers to make his way to the wealthy countries of Western Europe. Hiring people smugglers was his only way of leaving war-torn Syria. DW reporter Diana Hodali spoke with Syrian Alaa Houd and recounted his story for him.
Deadly Syrian government attacks on Damascus suburb: Activists
Several civilians have been killed in air strikes and shelling by Syrian government forces in Douma, a rebel-held suburb of Damascus. The suburb has been under aerial attack for more than a week.
Egypt condemns IS advances on Yarmouk refugee camp
Local militias initially thwarted advance, but monitoring group announced IS is now almost completely in control of Yarmouk
ISIL crucifies 9 men in Syria’s Aleppo: NGO
Also in Aleppo province, a ninth man was executed and crucified in Al-Bab town near the border with Turkey.
Syrians stream to embassies to vote in controversial poll
Of the estimated three million Syrians living abroad, including both refugees and peacetime residents, only around 200,000 were entitled to vote on Wednesday, in 39 embassies abroad
Syria rebels to free 1,500 families for food, prisoners: Report
While the edges of Adra are under government control, the interior of the town, which has Sunni, Alawite and Christian communities, is in rebel hands.
Syria presidential campaign launches despite war
The election is being staged despite a raging civil war, with dozens of people dying across the country every day.
14 die in Damascus shelling, new presidential hopefuls named
AFP- At least 14 people were killed on Monday in a rebel mortar attack on Syria’s capital Damascus, as four new candidates registered to run in next month’s presidential vote. The new candidates bring the number of people hoping to compete in the 3 June election to 11, including incumbent President Bashar Al-Assad. Shortly before …
Mortar fire on Syria schools kills child, hurts 40: Media
AFP – Mortar rounds fired on schools in the Syrian capital on Tuesday killed a child and wounded more than 40 people, among them more children, state media said. Rebels fighting to oust President Bashar Al-Assad hold some territory on the outskirts of Damascus from which they have regularly launched mortar and rocket attacks targeting …
One dead as pro-, anti-Damascus gunmen clash in Beirut
AFP – A firefight between pro- and anti-Damascus factions in Beirut killed one gunman and wounded 13 Sunday, a security official said, in the latest spillover of the conflict in neighbouring Syria. The gun battle raged from 3am to 8.30am (0100 to 0630 GMT) in a poor Sunni Muslim district in the south of the …
Obama urges Lebanon to stick to election timetable
Obama thanked Salam for hosting Syrian refugees, nearly one million of whom have fled to Lebanon.
24 killed as rebels fight to take Syria border post
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the Islamists included the Al-Qaeda affiliated Al-Nusra Front.
Israel bombs Syria army targets after Golan attack
The Syrian army said the air strikes killed one soldier and wounded seven, cautioning that the assault endangered “the security and stability of the region”.
Syria surrenders a third of chemical arsenal: Watchdog
OPCW head Ahmet Uzumcu told the Executive Council meeting that Syria had submitted a revised proposal to complete the removal of all chemicals from Syria before the end of April, after previously saying it could only complete the job by June.
Saudi hits back at Russia criticism on Syria arms
AFP – Saudi Arabia has hit back at Russian criticism of its reported plans to supply shoulder-launched missiles to Syrian rebels, saying it was Moscow’s support for Damascus that was prolonging the conflict. A spokesman told the official SPA news agency late Friday that the foreign ministry had been “astonished by Russian criticism of Saudi …
Chemical arms watchdog split on Syria delays
The US rejected a Damascus request for a 100-day extension to an end-May deadline for it to ship out the totality of its chemical arms