syria

72 items, displayed chronologically.

Fearing an Iraq in a Post-Assad Syria

As bad as the Assad government is, could its failure lead to something even worse?

Despite Warnings, U.S. Leans on Syria

The Bush administration has embarked on an effort to build strong international pressure on Syria despite warnings from some Arab lead

G.I.'s and Syrians in Tense Clashes on Iraqi Border

A series of clashes in the last year between American and Syrian troops, including a prolonged firefight this summer that killed several Syrians, has raised the prospect that cross-border military operations may become a dangerous new front in the Iraq war, according to current and former military and government officials.

US 'seeks new Syrian leader' as pressure mounts

As it steps up pressure on Damascus, the US is actively seeking an alternative who would take over from President Bashar al-Assad, according to sources close to the Bush administration. Washington has consulted its allies in an inter-agency search co-ordinated by Stephen Hadley, the president's national security adviser. The US is also said to be considering military strikes on the Syrian border in response to its alleged support for Iraqi insurgents.

US 'aiming at Syria regime change'

Israel predicted yesterday that America would impose fresh sanctions on Syria in an attempt to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad.

U.S. pressures Syria to fall in line on Lebanon, Iraq

The United States is increasing pressure on Syria, using harsher words and pointed diplomacy to get President Bashar Assad's government to stop aiding Iraqi insurgents.

Rice warns Syria over Lebanon, Iraq

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has called on Damascus to stop all meddling in Lebanon and prevent fighters from entering Iraq.

American Envoy Says Syria Assists Training of Terrorists

The United States ambassador to Iraq lashed out at Syria on Monday, saying that its government continued to allow terrorists to operate training camps within Syria that have sent hundreds of insurgents into Iraq.

Along the Syria-Iraq Border, Victory Is Fleeting in an Effort to Rout Out Foreign Fighters

So goes the war in Iraq in this windswept swath of desert along the Syrian border, where marine commanders move their thinly stretched troops from village to village to quash insurgents, only to see them resurface a short time later. The problem is all too familiar. American troops farther north on the Syrian border had to beat back insurgents twice in nine months, after leaving only 500 troops to control thousands of square miles.

U.S. Sees Consensus That Syria Foments Strife in Lebanon and Iraq

Bush administration officials asserted Thursday that an international consensus had emerged that Syria had been stoking the violence in Lebanon and Iraq and against Israelis, and they said they were now certain that Syrian agents had been operating in Lebanon.

Syria Allies Losing Battle For Lebanese Parliament

Pro-Syrian candidates appeared headed for defeat Sunday in Lebanon's first elections in three decades free of Syria's military presence -- a win that would break the longtime domination of the Damascus government in Lebanese political life and its parliament.

Pro-Syrian parties poised to win

Pro-Syrian candidates appear headed for victory in the third phase of four rounds of Lebanon's parliamentary election.

Syria Stops Cooperating With U.S. Forces and C.I.A.

Syria has halted military and intelligence cooperation with the United States, its ambassador to Washington said in an interview, in a sign of growing strains between the two nations over the insurgency in Iraq.

Syria Ending Cooperation With U.S., Envoy Says

Syria's ambassador to the United States said Damascus had "severed all links" because of what he called unjust allegations over the insurgency in Iraq.

Report Finds No Evidence Syria Hid Iraqi Arms

U.S. investigators hunting for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq have found no evidence that such material was moved to Syria for safekeeping before the war, according to a final report of the investigation released yesterday.

Anti-Syria Rally Draws Huge Crowd

Waving flags and chanting "Syria out!" hundreds of thousands of protesters thronged the Lebanese capital Monday in the largest rally since the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri a month ago, which had touched off unprecedented public calls for Syria to end its nearly 30-year occupation.

Syria's exit may mean more power for Hezbollah in Lebanon

If Syrian forces leave Lebanon in the face of growing international and Lebanese pressure, the Islamic militant group Hezbollah - entrenched in this Bekaa Valley hamlet and across much of eastern and southern Lebanon - is ready to fill the military and political vacuum.

U.S. Called Ready to See Hezbollah in Lebanon Role

After years of campaigning against Hezbollah, the radical Shiite Muslim party in Lebanon, as a terrorist pariah, the Bush administration is grudgingly going along with efforts by France and the United Nations to steer the party into the Lebanese political mainstream, administration officials say.

Pro-Syria Premier May Be Reinstated

Following a massive pro-Syria demonstration a day earlier, Damascus' allies here Wednesday nominated Prime Minister Omar Karami to the post he quit under pressure last week, a reversal that appeared likely to ensure Syrian control over Lebanon and served as a setback to opposition groups.

Mass Pro-Syria Rally Shows Lebanese Split

Pouring in from the countryside in a massive show of political force, hundreds of thousands of Hezbollah backers crammed into the Lebanese capital Tuesday to shout "Death to America!" and yell praise for Syria. The swarms of people who answered the group's call to protest pressure from the United States and its allies dwarfed the anti-Damascus crowds that had rallied in Beirut in recent weeks. The heavily Shiite Muslim crowd hoisted portraits of Syrian President Bashar Assad and pumped fists skyward to the crack of drums.

US orders Syrians to get out of Lebanon

The US on Wednesday delivered its strongest message to Syria, ordering Damascus to remove its troops and secret services from Lebanon.

Vote Could Benefit Lebanese Militants, U.S. Official Warns

As President Bush stepped up U.S. demands Wednesday that Syria pull its troops out of Lebanon, a senior administration official was cautioning Congress that the militant party Hezbollah could gain new power in upcoming Lebanese elections. The official, acting Assistant Secretary of State David Satterfield, said the Shiite Muslim group could gain politically in elections after the resignation of the Syrian-backed government in Beirut this week.

U.S.: Terrorists in Syria bombed Tel Aviv

The Bush administration is applying its strongest pressure to date on Syria, insisting on an immediate withdrawal from neighboring Lebanon and blaming terrorists based in Syria for last week's deadly suicide attack in Israel.

Setbacks in Lebanon, Iraq could threaten Syria's Assad

Syrian President Bashar Assad, under mounting pressure from a string of political setbacks over Lebanon and Iraq, is facing tough choices that leave him vulnerable to internal challenges.

Syria hands over Saddam's adviser

The Syrian government, under intense pressure from the US and others in the international community, made its first significant concession yesterday by handing over to the interim Iraqi government Saddam Hussein's half-brother and former head of the Iraqi secret police, Sabawi Ibrahim al-Hassan al-Tikriti.

Iran, Syria 'form common front'

Iran and Syria say they are to form a common front to face challenges and threats from overseas. "We are ready to help Syria on all grounds to confront threats," Iranian Vice-President Mohammad Reza Aref said after meeting Syrian PM Naji al-Otari.

Russia to Sell Advanced Missiles to Syria

Russia said on Wednesday it wanted to supply Syria with advanced missile systems, a move certain to anger the United States which accuses Syria of having links to terrorism.

U.S. Recalls Ambassador to Syria as Suspicions Over Bombing Grow

The U.S. ambassador to Syria was called back to Washington on Tuesday as anger swelled against Damascus after the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

Bush warns Syria and Iran over terror

President George Bush last night issued clear warnings to Syria and Iran that they were next in his sights in his declared mission to spread democracy around the world.

U.S. Intelligence Found No WMD Evidence

Intelligence and congressional officials say they have not seen any information - never "a piece," said one - indicating that WMD or significant amounts of components and equipment were transferred from Iraq to neighboring Syria, Jordan or elsewhere.