Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem told the United Nations General Assembly that “terrorists from more than 83 countries” are attacking Syrian soldiers and that the “invasion” was similar to the 9/11 attacks on New York.
He also told the BBC that peace talks would not succeed while Turks, Saudis and Qataris are helping the rebels in their battle with the government. Continue reading
Syrian state TV is reporting a major explosion in Damascus has left at least seven people dead and wounded over a dozen others.
The state news agency is claiming the bombing to be a “terrorist” attack. Continue reading
UN chemical weapon inspectors are going to be returning to Syria on Wednesday according to statements from the Russian government.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told news outlets the investigators would focus on chemical weapons attacks at Khan al-Assal, Sheikh Maqsoud and Saraqueb. The locations were the initial destinations of the inspectors until the attack on a Damascus suburb August 21st that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of civilians. Continue reading
A study by a defense consultant is showing that up to 45,000 of the 100,000 estimated fighters in the Syrian insurgency are either hardline Islamists or with groups showing similar sentiments.
The report also says an additional 30,000 fighters belong to moderate groups that have an Islamic nature to their group leaving only a very small portion of the rebels as having purely secular motives for fighting the Assad regime. Continue reading
Author Raymond Ibrahim has reported the Muslim Brotherhood in the Egyptian city of Dalga is forcing Christians to convert to Islam or pay “jizya”, or a tax.
Ibrahim explained “that conquered non-Muslims historically had to pay to their Islamic overlords ‘with willing submission and while feeling themselves subdued’ to safeguard their existence.” Continue reading
The U.N. inspection team has reportedly collected a “wealth” of evidence regarding the use of chemical weapons by the government of Bashir al-Assad…but will not actually make a direct accusation against it.
Three U.N. diplomats connected to the investigation have told Foreign Policy magazine the team will present a very strong circumstantial case pointing strongly in the direction of the Syrian government. Continue reading
Russia’s plan to have Syria surrender all chemical weapons is causing problems at the United Nations as multiple countries demand specific dates for the handoff.
The U.K., U.S. and France are demanding a timetable and consequences for that timetable not being met by Syria. American officials said they will “not fall for stalling tactics.” Continue reading
Russia surprised the international community by announcing Monday they would push for Syria to surrender their chemical weapons to an international group and then quickly dismantle them in an attempt to stave off a U.S. missile strike.
The announcement came hours after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry had said Syrian President Assad could resolve the crisis by surrendering the weapons. Kerry also said he believed Assad “isn’t about to do it.” Continue reading
The United Nations’ refugee agency has reported the total number of Syrians fleeing the country’s civil war has climbed to over 2 million.
The number includes only those who have registered as refugees with U.N. related organizations so the number could be higher. The total has risen more than one million in the last six months. Continue reading
While Great Britain withdraws from action against Syria after a vote in their parliament and President Obama defers a decision on action to Congress, France has come out declaring boldly that the Syrian government is behind the chemical weapons attack that led to hundreds of deaths.
France is pushing for military action to punish the Assad regime for killing civilians with chemical weapons. Continue reading
