Backed by Russia, Syria reclaims strategic Palmyra, ‘Pearl of the Desert’

Backed by Russia, Syria reclaims strategic Palmyra, ‘Pearl of the Desert’

Special to WorldTribune.com Syrian forces, backed by Russian airstrikes, claimed a major victory on March 27 as they drove Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) from the historic ancient city of Palmyra. “After heavy fighting during the night, the army is in full control of Palmyra – both the ancient site and the residential […]

The long, global thread of jihadi terror extends to Brussels

The long, global thread of jihadi terror extends to Brussels

Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — The tide of hate has come to Brussels with three terrorist attacks in the Belgian capital. Islamic State (ISIL) jihadi militants carried out coordinated bombings on the Brussels Airport as well as the Metro killing at least 31 people and wounding hundreds of civilians. Coincidentally […]

How the U.S. handles the baddest of bad actors: ISIL, Cuba and North Korea

How the U.S. handles the baddest of bad actors: ISIL, Cuba and North Korea

Special to WorldTribune.com By Donald Kirk, EastAsiaIntel.com WASHINGTON – The hype surrounding President Obama’s visit to Cuba quickly gave way to fear and loathing as the world absorbed the news of the slaughter perpetrated in Brussels, for which ISIL, the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant, immediately claimed “credit.” No sooner were we treated to […]

Showdown in Palmyra: ISIL loudspeakers tell civilians to flee

Showdown in Palmyra: ISIL loudspeakers tell civilians to flee

Special to WorldTribune.com Using loudspeakers, Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) jihadists on March 24 called on the 15,000 civilians who remain in Palmyra to flee as Syrian forces advance on the ancient city. “The vast majority had already fled – only those too poor to flee stayed behind,” said Rami Abdel Rahman, director of the […]

Russian-backed Syrian troops advance on Palmyra

Russian-backed Syrian troops advance on Palmyra

Special to WorldTribune.com Syrian forces, backed by Russian airstrikes, took key high ground on the outskirts of Palmyra and positioned themselves for an advance on Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) forces in the historic ancient city. “God willing, within few hours we will enter and secure the town,” one officer told the Syrian […]

Kurds declare federal region in Syria, sparking multilateral backlash

Kurds declare federal region in Syria, sparking multilateral backlash

Special to WorldTribune.com Syria’s Kurds on March 17 declared areas under their control a federal region, sparking an immediate backlash from Syria’s government, Turkey and the United States. More than 150 delegates from Kurdish, Arab, Assyrian and other parties meeting in Syria agreed to create a “federal system” unifying territory run by Kurds across several northern Syrian provinces. […]

Why Russia’s Syria pullout is not what it seems

Why Russia’s Syria pullout is not what it seems

Special to WorldTribune.com Russia’s withdrawal from Syria “should not be taken at face value,” a former senior Israeli military official said. While President Valdimir Putin announced the pullout earlier this week, Moscow has decided to maintain major combat platforms in Syria, including the S-400 air and missile defense system. “We should remember the difference between […]

Red line: Israel tells Putin it won’t allow Iran on Israel-Syria border

Red line: Israel tells Putin it won’t allow Iran on Israel-Syria border

Special to WorldTribune.com Israeli President Reuven Rivlin told Russian counterpart Valdimir Putin that Israel will not allow Iran and Hizbullah to operate on the Israel-Syria border. The two met in Moscow on March 16 after Putin announced Russia’s withdrawal from Syria. Rivlin laid out Israel’s “red lines” in Syria, telling Putin the presence of any […]

Human rights crisis in Iran, Syria overlooked; Christians facing extinction

Human rights crisis in Iran, Syria overlooked; Christians facing extinction

Special to WorldTribune.com The world should not turn a blind eye to the plight of Christians in Syria and the increasing number of human rights violations in Iran, rights groups and religious leaders in the region say. Chaldean Catholic Bishop Antoine Audo of Aleppo, said on March 16 that two-thirds of Syria’s Christians have left […]

Syrian linked by video to brutal killing is arrested in Sweden

Syrian linked by video to brutal killing is arrested in Sweden

Special to WorldTribune.com A Syrian rebel who was shown on video participating in the brutal execution of captured Assad regime soldiers has been arrested in Sweden. Haisam Omar Sakhanh was arrested on March 11 in the town of Karlskoga. Swedish authorities charged him with a crime against international law. Details of the mass execution of […]

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