Iran denies having forces in Syria to support Assad

Iran, the strongest supporter of the Syrian regime, denied on Friday that it had forces in war-torn Syria supporting embattled President Bashar al-Assad.

Iran’s statement came a day after nations gathering (more…)

Assad’s Not-So-Secret Weapon: Loyal Syrian Businessmen

When Syrian businessman Mohammed Jaber held a dinner at a luxury hotel here for his associates recently, there was little doubt where they stood on the country’s embattled president, Bashar al-Assad.

“Bashar, we are your soldiers in the millions, no matter what,” (more…)

With Hezbollah coffins, Syria now exporting conflict

On a country road in Lebanon’s northeast, traffic is heavy; ambulances screech by, sirens blaring, and cars packed with mourners follow coffins as Hezbollah brings wounded fighters home from Syria, and its dead. (more…)

Friends of Syria demands withdrawal of Hezbollah, Iran

Nations gathering at the Friends of Syria meeting called for an immediate withdrawal of fighters belonging to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and Iran from Syria, the bloc said in a statement after a conference in Amman. (more…)

U.S. moves to tighten sanctions on Iran

A U.S. House of Representatives committee approved legislation on Wednesday seeking to impose tighter sanctions on Iran, the latest congressional effort to slow development of the Islamic Republic’s disputed nuclear program.

The “Nuclear Iran Prevention Act of 2013″ passed the House Foreign Affairs Committee (more…)

Kerry: Lebanon “at risk” of being swept up in Syrian civil war

Secretary of State John Kerry said Wednesday that the United States was increasingly concerned that the escalating fighting in Syria might slip across the border withLebanon and destabilize that country. (more…)

Hezbollah may be hurting itself, report

NEW pennants hailing the “martyred” men of Hezbollah, Lebanon’s main Shia party-cum-militia, fly in abundance in its stronghold in the Bekaa valley in eastern Lebanon. By some tallies more than 30 of its fighters have perished since May 19th (more…)

Syria opposition urges rebels to join Qusayr battle

Syria’s opposition urged fighters across the country Wednesday to “rush to the rescue” of rebel stronghold Qusayr, while appealing to the international community to set up a humanitarian corridor to the embattled town.

Syria’s acting National Coalition opposition chief George Sabra issued the call for rebel reinforcements to the town as Syrian troops backed by fighters from Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement battled for control of Qusayr. (more…)

Jalili is now frontrunner after poll barring of Rafsanjani

Iran’s smiling but immovable top nuclear negotiator, a revolutionary and wounded war veteran with a decades-old suspicion of the United States, has become a frontrunner in Iran’s presidential race.

Saeed Jalili’s shock of white hair, rimless eyeglasses and crisp white shirt buttoned up to his trim salt-and-pepper beard make him one of Iran’s most recognizable figures in the West, (more…)

Iran’s Ahmadinejad to contest poll barring of his ally

Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says he will contest the disqualification of his ally Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei from next month’s presidential poll. (more…)