West offers words, only, as Syria killing rages

Syrian government artillery barrages killed dozens of civilians in Homs on Thursday, activists said, as President Bashar al-Assad, bolstered by Russian support, ignored appeals from world leaders to halt the carnage.

The United Nations secretary-general condemned the “appalling brutality” (more…)

Assad’s Downfall and the Regional Balance of Power

The remaining advocates of Bashar Assad are working overtime to portray a vision of a completely chaotic Middle East if and when the Alawite regime finally collapses.

UN outraged as Syrian security forces brutally bomb Homs

Syrian forces bombarded opposition-held neighborhoods of the city of Homs with rocket and mortar fire on Thursday, activists said, as divided world powers struggled to find a way to end the violence.

The United Nations chief condemned the ferocity of the government assault on Homs, (more…)

Iranian Revolutionary Guard relocating from Syria to Lebanon

Al Arabiya TV reported that the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari, instructed elements (of the Revolutionary Guard) who are in Syria to continue to provide support in intelligence and security to the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, but to get out of Syria and relocate to the Bekaa region in eastern Lebanon. (more…)

U.N. chief says Arab League to revive Syria mission

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Wednesday the Arab League chief told him he intends to revive an Arab League monitoring mission in Syria, which has collapsed amid continuing violence there.

Nabil Elaraby asked for U.N. help with the project during a telephone conversation on Tuesday, Ban told reporters after briefing the U.N. Security Council on a visit he just paid to the Middle East. (more…)

Turkey seeks world action as Syria’s Homs bleeds

Syria’s army pounded the rebel city of Homs on Wednesday as Turkey sought international action to protect civilians from former ally President Bashar al-Assad, a move that risks the wrath of Russia and China. (more…)

18 premature babies die in Syrian hospital

Eighteen premature babies in incubators were said to have died after their hospital was hit by electricity cuts in turbulent Syrian city of Homs, the BBC reported on Wednesday.

State TV, however, denied the reports and said Homs hospitals were operating normally.

According to some local residents, Homs city came under renewed bombardment, the heaviest so far (more…)

Syrian opposition reject Assad’s call for dialogue

Syrian opposition leaders have rejected assurances from President Bashar al-Assad that he will cease his regime’s violent crackdown against demonstrators following talks with the Russian foreign minister.

During an emergency visit to Damascus, Sergei Lavrov received a promise from Assad (more…)

Syrian regime gets bloody nose from resistance

One fateful consequence of President Bashar al-Assad’s ferocious crackdown on Syrian protesters is the emergence of the domestic armed resistance, the Free Syrian Army.

Forged in neighboring Turkey over the summer by military defectors, the FSA has become a major factor in the opposition to the regime. (more…)

U.S. searches for strategy to end Syria violence

The United States appears to be out of answers on what to do with Syria.

The Obama administration says it is not considering invading Syria or arming its rebels to remove President Bashar Assad from power. Diplomatic efforts at the U.N. have collapsed. A new, much-touted option of humanitarian assistance for Syria’s beleaguered population is a longshot (more…)