Messy, factional strife in Syria — taking place as al-Qaeda emerges once more in Iraq — is playing into the hands of Syrian President Bashar Assad
Syria
First Shipment of Chemical Weapons Leaves Syria
Dangerous chemicals shipped out as Assad’s government indicate he will run for re-election.
UN To Stop Updating Syria Death Toll
Information harder to verify as bloody civil war drags on
Al-Qaeda Group Executes Media and Relief Workers in Aleppo: Report
Islamic State of Iraq and Syria slays prisoners in their custody, according to activists
Iran Won’t Take Part in Syria Summit
Tehran snubs U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s suggestion that it participate from the ‘sidelines’
Vatican Will Host Summit to Brainstorm Solution in Syria
Former British prime minister Tony Blair and Egyptian Nobel laureate Mohamed ElBaradei among invitees
Syria Misses First Deadline To Remove Chemical Weapons
The group overseeing the process says it will still meet mid-2014 deadline of removing entire arsenal
Lebanon Fires on Syrian Aircraft
After Syrian forces bombed near the Lebanese border
Saudi Arabia Pledges $3 billion for Lebanese Army
Huge fund for “fighting terrorism” announced after the funeral of Mohamad Chatah, a senior Sunni politician killed in Beirut on Friday
Vatican: Assad Sent Private Message to Pope
The pontiff has taken a personal interest in resolving the Syrian conflict
Watchdog: Syrian Chemical Weapons Disposal Will Miss Deadline
Bad weather, shifting front lines and a hazardous overland journey are all contributing factors
After a Long Delay, Lebanon Finally Says Yes to Ikea Housing for Syrian Refugees
The housewares giant has teamed up with the U.N. to build better shelters for refugees, but authorities in Beirut fear hundreds of thousands of Syrians now living as refugees in Lebanon may get too comfortable
Rare Snow Dazzles Cairo Area Residents
Many took to Twitter to post pics of the wintery surprise