
The other night I spoke to Alaa al-Sheikh, the Free Syrian Army’s Khaled Bin Waleed Brigade in Rastan, a city that’s home about 25,000 people and lies on the main Damascus-Aleppo highway in the province of Homs. Over the last several months, Rastan has become the frontline in the war between Syrian rebels and pro-Assad loyalists (more…)

The suspicion of the young Syrian soldier manning a checkpoint north-east of central Damascus was no surprise. But his words came as a shock.
“Free army!” he declared, at this road junction in the Damascus suburb of Irbin, just half an hour’s drive from the seat of power of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. (more…)
Reinforcements are being sent to two Damascus suburbs amid a security sweep and dozens of arrests in the capital. (more…)
Syrian armed forces have arrested several people after demonstrations against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime were held across Damascus, rights activists said on Monday. On Saturday, the military arrested at least 26 people in the Damascus neighborhood of Jawbar, many of whom were returning to their homes, said the Observatory. (more…)
Hezbollah’s Al Manar TV has reported that the only reason Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri is in Damascus today is because of the Saudi – Syrian reconciliation