US sanctions Syria’s biggest bank and mobile phone company

The United States has ratcheted up the pressure on Damascus by slapping a new round of sanctions on Syria’s biggest bank and mobile phone company. At the same time, the UN Security Council has met to discuss the worsening crisis and heard a report on the deaths and disappearances of thousands of protesters, as President Bashar al-Assad’s military expanded its effort to stamp out opposition to his regime.. (more…)

Obama could demand Assad’s departure as early as Thursday

The United States is poised to shift its position on Syria by calling on President Bashar al-Assad to step down because of the violence he has inflicted on his own people and his failure to implement meaningful reforms for the last five months. (more…)

Parliament rejects Aoun’s energy draft bill

March 14 MP Ahmad Fatfat criticized on Wednesday the draft bill proposed by the Change and Reform bloc by saying it was drafted in favor of bloc leader MP Michel Aoun’s interests.

“This is why he was angry that the parliament did not adopt it,” he said, (more…)

Jumblatt returned from a trip to Syria

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt returned on Wednesday to Lebanon from a trip to Damascus, where he was accompanied by Public Works and Transportation Minister Ghazi Aridi, the National News Agency reported. (more…)

Syria to increase fuel oil prices by 53 % to limit smuggling

Syria will increase the retail price of fuel oil by 53 percent starting Sept. 15 to limit smuggling, the state-owned Thawra newspaper said. (more…)

Mufti Jouzo: Hariri killers are killing the Syrian people today

Mufti of Mount Lebanon Sheikh Mohammad Ali Jouzo said on Tuesday during an Iftar that the murderers of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri “are killing the Syrian people today,” National News Agency quoted him Wednesday as saying . (more…)

Three arrested in Lebanon over smuggling arms to Syria

As-Safir newspaper reported that three people were arrested in Lebanon after they were suspected of “smuggling weapons” to Syrian non-state groups. (more…)

Syria’s crackdown hits Hezbollah’s image

As Syria’s crackdown on protesters gets bloodier, it is having repercussions for one of Damascus’ most crucial allies, eroding the reputation of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

At recent protests, Syrians demonstrating against President Bashar Assad have also unleashed their anger at the Shiite Hezbollah over its blunt support for the regime. (more…)

Kuwaitis demand expulsion of Syrian envoy

More than 2,000 Kuwaitis have rallied outside the Syrian embassy in the Gulf state demanding the expulsion of the Syrian envoy and the “freezing” of relations with Damascus. (more…)

Syria’s fired Defense Minister found dead

Until yesterday, General Ali Habib was Syria’s defense minister, helping orchestrate and implement the regime’s brutal crackdown on dissent that has left more than 2,000 civilians dead across the country, Ynetnews.com reports. (more…)