assad popularity and assad trends

According to a new U.N. atomic agency report, Iran is expanding its nuclear program by accelerating the installment of advanced uranium enrichment equipment at Natanz, a nuclear facility. Iran has installed 700 advanced IR2m centrifuges, an increase from 180 in February, although the new centrifuges are not yet operating. The report said there hasn't been a significant...

Assad likely to reject or ignore 16-point peace plan proposed by Moaz Alkhatib, former head of opposition National Coalition.

Elf europäische und arabische Staaten sowie die USA drohen Syriens Präsident Assad. Sie wollen die oppositionellen Truppen stärken, sollte sich der Machthaber weiter einer diplomatischen Lösung verweigern. Die Reaktion der libanesischen Hisbollah-Miliz lässt nicht lange auf sich warten: Sie kündigt an, weitere Kämpfer in das Land zu schicken.    

BEIRUT (Reuters) - A Syrian opposition leader urged President Bashar al-Assad on Thursday to hand power to his deputy or his prime minister and then go abroad with 500 members of his entourage, without immunity from prosecution.

Schwere Kämpfe haben die libanesische Hafenstadt Tripoli erschüttert. Dort lieferten sich Anhänger des Assad-Regimes und Unterstützer der syrischen Revolution heftige Gefechte. Fünf Menschen wurden getötet, Dutzende verletzt.

Die internationale Gemeinschaft will den Bürgerkrieg in Syrien beenden, und doch halten ihn Teile von ihr am Leben: Während Russland das Assad-Regime mit Waffen beliefert und Iran sogar Kämpfer nach Syrien schickt, unterstützen westliche und einige arabische Länder die Opposition. Wer was will. Eine interaktive Grafik gibt Überblick.     

US Secretary of State John Kerry called on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Wednesday to commit to peace, but said support for the opposition will continue if he rejects talks.

Non-violent Syrian opposition network now backs call for military support    

In Jordanien haben sich internationale Gegner von Syriens Staatschef Assad getroffen. Sie wollen bei einer Friedenskonferenz die Konfliktparteien an einen Tisch kommen lassen. In ihrer Abschlusserklärung betonten sie, bei einem Scheitern die Opposition zu stärken.

US Secretary of State John Kerry called on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Wednesday to commit to peace, but said support for the opposition will continue if he rejects talks.

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room 1:31 P.M. EDT   MR. CARNEY: Hello, everyone.  Welcome to the White House.  Thanks for being here.  Before I take your questions I wanted to mention something that I think is breaking now, as Wolf Blitzer would say, and that is that on Sunday, May 26th, the President will travel to the Oklahoma City area to see firsthand the response...

Eine Friedenskonferenz soll den Krieg in Syrien beenden, Machthaber Assad und die Opposition sollen in Genf endlich verhandeln. Die USA drohen nun mit Waffenlieferungen an die Rebellen, doch ein Erfolg ist ungewiss. Strategisch ist der Diktator derzeit in einer komfortablen Lage.

AMMAN, Jordan (AP) -- The U.S. and several key allies looked again Wednesday for a strategy to end Syria's civil war, their united efforts unable at the moment to stem the Assad regime's military gains and Washington still unwilling to join those providing the rebels with lethal military aid....

AMMAN/BEIRUT (Reuters) - Washington threatened on Wednesday to increase support for Syria's rebels if President Bashar al-Assad refuses to discuss a political end to a civil war that is spreading across borders.

Maj.-Gen. Eshel says S-300 missile defense system "on the way" to Syria from Russia; hints that advanced platform could embolden Assad; Gantz: The IDF is facing a substantial threat of a multi-arena conflict.

British foreign secretary says Assad regime upping dependency on "external support"; vows to support int'l conference to end conflict.

The nuclear question and Iran's role in Syria could remain unresolved and unclear even after the polls next monthThe field of 700 candidates has been winnowed down to eight men acceptable to the guardians of the revolution in Tehran, and those men must now compete for an office that was stripped years ago of the power to make strategic foreign policy decisions.Yet the...

US secretary of state calls on Syrian president to commit to ending war that has claimed tens of thousands of lives.

AMMAN (Reuters) - British Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Wednesday Iran and its militant Shi'ite Lebanese ally Hezbollah were "propping up" Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and giving him increasing support.

IDF release video of cross-border fire in Golan Heights; IDF vehicle damaged, Israel returns fire killing 3 Syrian forces.

Syriens Militär ist so stark wie seit Langem nicht, urteilt der Bundesnachrichtendienst. Vor einem Jahr hatte der Dienst noch die Niederlage des Diktators vorausgesagt.

The head of Israel's armed forces warned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday of "consequences" if fire continues from Syrian territory against Israeli troops in the occupied Golan Heights.

Der deutsche Auslandsgeheimdienst revidiert seine Einschätzung der Lage in Syrien radikal. Noch 2012 hatte der BND ein schnelles Ende des Assad-Regimes prognostiziert. Die neue Analyse: Das staatliche Militär ist stabiler denn je, die Rebellenbewegung hingegen zerfasert.

The stepped-up support President Bashar al-Assad of Syria has received from Iran and Hezbollah appears to have fortified his belief that he can hang on to power and prevail militarily.    

Elitekämpfer der Hisbollah drängen vom Libanon aus nach Syrien, um das Assad-Regime zu unterstützen. So erfasst der Konflikt endgültig die gesamte Region. Von M. Gehlen

Syrian and Israeli forces exchanged fire over the Golan Heights on Tuesday and the Lebanese militant group Hizbollah sent more reinforcements to help the Assad regime attack a key border town as the conflict spilled further to the country's neighbours.    

IDF chief of staff makes one of the most explicit warnings yet to the Syrian leader by an Israeli public official after a chain of incidents

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syria's opposition and the government of President Bashar al-Assad seem to be preparing to take part in an international peace conference against a background of some of the worst fighting this year.

Israeli soldiers returned fire into Syria on Tuesday in response to shots that reportedly damaged a military vehicle in the third cross-border shooting this week in the Israeli occupied Golan Heights. There were no injuries reported. An Israeli spokesperson said, the shots "most likely were stray bullets, we don't know if it was intentional." However, soon after, the...

IDF release video of Syria troops, IDF exchanging fire for third time this week; for first time Syrian army post destroyed by cross-border fire as Chief of staff unleashes most explicit warning to date against Assad.

Schusswechsel an der syrisch-israelischen Grenze: Auf den Golanhöhen zu einem neuen Zwischenfall gekommen, bei dem ein israelisches Armeefahrzeug getroffen wurde. Die Armee von Syriens Präsident Assad stellt das Scharmützel als Abwehrmaßnahme dar.    

Spain hosts talks seeking to unify diverse opposition against Assad and forge a common position on Syria's conflict.

About 30 Lebanese Hezbollah fighters and 20 Syrian soldiers and militiamen loyal to President Bashar al-Assad have been killed in the fiercest fighting this year in the rebel stronghold of Qusair, Syrian activists said on Monday.

VIDEOS.  Des vents d'une rare violence ont semé la désolation dans la banlieue d'Oklahoma City, dans le sud du pays. Les autorités s'attendent à ce que la tempête continue à se développer.Articles en rapportCahuzac ne sera pas candidat à la législative partielleSyrie : Assad ne croit pas au succès d'une conférence internationaleAffrontements entre policiers...

About 30 Lebanese Hezbollah fighters and 20 Syrian soldiers and militiamen loyal to President Bashar al-Assad have been killed in the fiercest fighting this year in the rebel stronghold of Qusair, Syrian activists said on Monday.

Bei der Offensive auf die syrische Stadt Al Kussair an der Grenze zum Libanon wurden die Assad-Truppen offenbar von Hisbollah-Kämpfern unterstützt. Die USA verurteilten die Einmischung der libanesischen Schiiten-Miliz als "direkte Intervention".

Dozens of Lebanese Hizbollah fighters have been killed during an all-out offensive on the strategic border town of Qusair in Syria, a development that reveals the militia's unmitigated support for President Bashar al-Assad.    

Syria faces a military stalemate leading to a final collapse of the state and disintegration of the country if the Assad regime and rebels do not agree a peace deal, William Hague, the foreign secretary, said on Monday.    

President Obama and President Sleiman spoke by phone today to discuss their shared commitment to preserving Lebanon’s stability, sovereignty, and security, particularly in relation to the ongoing conflict in Syria.  President Obama expressed his appreciation to President Sleiman and the Lebanese people for keeping Lebanon’s borders open and hosting refugees from Syria,...

British foreign secretary warns of regional 'catastrophe' as al-Qaida and Hezbollah clash in battle for QusairBritain is seeking to amend the EU arms embargo on Syria to press Bashar al-Assad into holding peace talks with the rebels because the escalating conflict is threatening a regional "catastrophe", William Hague warned on Monday.Speaking as combat raged around the...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama told his Lebanese counterpart on Monday he was concerned about Lebanese Hezbollah militants fighting in Syria to support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the White House said.

A series of car bombings have hit the Iraqi cities of Baghdad and Basra on Monday, killing an estimated 48 people. No group has taken responsibility for the attacks which targeted several Shiite districts of the Iraqi capital as well as the oil-rich predominantly Shiite city of Basra, in southeastern Iraq. Bombs exploded at a restaurant and bus stop in Basra, and were...

Le réalisateur avait expliqué il y a quelques semaines à la télévision que le juge de l'affaire Burgaud était «quelqu'un qu'on avait envie d'exécuter».Articles en rapportSeize blessés lors d'une bagarre entre supporteurs lyonnais et marseillaisUn déséquilibré blesse plusieurs personnes dans l'EssonneCahuzac ne sera pas candidat à la législative partielleSyrie...

Battle for Qusair believed to be edging in favour of loyalist forces, and role of Hezbollah marks new escalation in crisisSyrian and Hezbollah troops have pushed deep into the strategic border town of Qusair after a ferocious artillery and mortar blitz that is thought to have killed more than 50 residents and laid bare the Lebanese militia's direct support for the Assad...

Fighting in Qusayr, described as a turning point in Syria’s ongoing civil war, saw increasing casualties for the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah as it joined its biggest battle yet in support of President Bashar al-Assad.    

With the regime scoring gains on the battlefield, the U.S. and Russia could face an even tougher task persuading Assad and his opponents to attend talks on ending Syria's 26-month-old conflict.

AMMAN (Reuters) - About 30 fighters from the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and 20 Syrian soldiers and militiamen loyal to President Bashar al-Assad were killed in heavy fighting with rebels in the town of Qusair, Syrian activists said on Monday.

Netherlands intelligence estimates some 124 nationals have already travelled to the Syrian conflict    

BEIRUT (AP) -- Syrian troops pushed into a rebel-held town near the Lebanese border on Sunday, fighting house-to-house and bombing from the air as President Bashar Assad tried to strengthen his grip on a strategic strip of land running from the capital to the Mediterranean coast....

In a rare interview conducted in the library of the presidential palace in Damascus, he warned America and Russia that peace talks were no nearer the negotiating table.

Le président syrien nie l'utilisation d'armes chimiques par ses forces, et exclut de démissionner dans une interview accordée à deux médias argentins.

À Kairouan et dans la banlieue de Tunis, les salafistes ont protesté contre l'interdiction du rassemblement annuel de leur organisation, Ansar Ashariaa. Onze policiers et trois manifestants ont été blessés.Articles en rapportIntempéries dans le sud-est : le match Nice-Lyon reporté à demainSeize blessés lors d'une bagarre entre supporteurs lyonnais et marseillaisUn...

Syrian troops backed by fighters from Lebanon's Hezbollah attacked and entered the strategic rebel stronghold of Qusayr on Sunday, a day after President Bashar al-Assad insisted he would not quit.    

Syriens Präsident will keinen Dialog mit Terroristen.     

Reports say deadly attack on strategic town is aided by Hezbollah fighters despite denial by Assad of foreign help.

Syrian leader says opposition is too fragmented to negotiate an agreement    

'The Sunday Times' reports reconnaissance satellites reveal preparations made by the Syrian army to deploy surface-to-surface Tishreen missiles ready to fire at Israel should J'lem conduct another airstrike on the Assad regime.

Nach Jahren des Bürgerkrieges herrschen in Syrien nach wie vor Chaos und Bluvergießen - nun droht auch noch die Situation zwischen dem kriegsgebeutelten Staat und Nachbar Israel endgültig zu eskalieren. Das Assad-Regime hat einem Zeitungsbericht zufolge seine modernsten Raketen gegen Israel in Stellung gebracht. Die syrische Armee habe Anweisung, die Boden-Boden-Raketen...

Erstmals seit Wochen hat Syriens Diktator Baschar al-Assad eines seiner seltenen Interviews gegeben. Er stellte sich den Fragen argentinischer Journalisten. Dabei wies er den Vorwurf energisch zurück, Chemiewaffen eingesetzt zu haben. Von der jüngsten Friedensinitiative hält er gar nichts.

Syriens Machthaber Baschar al-Assad schließt einen Rücktritt kategorisch aus. In einem Interview mit argentinischen Medien kritisierte er den Westen scharf: Die Vorwürfe, sein Militär setze Chemiewaffen ein, sollten lediglich "als Vorspiel für einen Krieg gegen unser Land dienen". An einen Erfolg der geplanten Syrien-Konferenz glaube er nicht. Einem Bericht zufolge...

Assad expresses serious doubts regarding US, Russian mediated peace talks; says politics won't stop terrorism.

Syriens Präsident Assad räumt der Initiative der USA und Russlands zur Lösung des Bürgerkriegs in seinem Land keine Chance ein. In einem Interview verbat er sich eine Einmischung der USA und bezweifelte die Verhandlungsfähigkeit der Regierungsgegner.

In a rare interview with a foreign newspaper, the Syrian president appeared to dismiss the possibility of serious progress arising from next month’s planned peace talks

Proposed peace talks for Syria would not curb "terrorism" in the country and it is unrealistic to think they would succeed, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said in an interview published in an Argentine newspaper on Saturday.    

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad insisted he will not resign before the end of his mandate in 2014 as a car bomb exploded in the capital Damascus on Saturday killing at least three people.    

From the early stages of the conflict Assad has relied on his praetorian units.

Al-Qaeda's Syrian wing is helping to finance its activities by selling the product of oilfields that once helped to prop up the regime of Bashar al-Assad.    

Bashar al-Assad dismissed an international push to forge a peace agreement in Syria, also declaring that he was determined stand for re-election next year.    

President Bashar al-Assad backed away from earlier statements by Syrian officials that the government was willing to negotiate with its armed opponents.    

BEIRUT (AP) -- Syrian President Bashar Assad said in a newspaper interview Saturday he won't step down before elections and that the United States has no right to interfere in his country's politics, raising new doubts about a U.S-Russian effort to get Assad and his opponents to negotiate an end to the country's civil war....

LIMA (Reuters) - Proposed peace talks for Syria would not curb "terrorism" in the country and it is unrealistic to think they would succeed, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said in an interview published in an Argentine newspaper on Saturday.

Die USA haben Russland vorgeworfen, es behindere die Friedensbemühungen im Syrien-Konflikt durch Waffenlieferungen. Israel dürfte das kaum stören. Man habe lieber einen bekannten Teufel als unbekannte Dämonen, heißt es.

The website of Britain's Financial Times appeared to have been hacked on Friday by the Syrian Electronic Army, a mysterious group seemingly aligned with the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

Report claims weapons used in Damascus and another town.

Israeli intelligence officer tells 'Times of London' that Israel prefers a "devil it knows than demons it can only imagine"; another source said Assad's staying power had been underestimated.