UN ‘peacekeepers’ return to Syrian side of Golan Heights 2 years after fleeing to Israel

UN ‘peacekeepers’ return to Syrian side of Golan Heights 2 years after fleeing to Israel

by WorldTribune Staff, November 15, 2016 A group of UN peacekeepers returned to the Syrian side of the Golan Heights on Nov. 14, two years after Al Qaida-linked Syrian rebels captured dozens of peacekeepers. UN spokesman Farhan Haq said more troops from the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) would return to camp Faouar in Syria […]

American journalist arrested in Turkey after exiting Syria

American journalist arrested in Turkey after exiting Syria

by WorldTribune Staff, September 1, 2016 Turkey has arrested an American journalist for “violating a military zone” after she returned from Syria, a U.S. official said on Aug. 31. Lindsey Snell was detained on Aug. 6, and U.S. consular officials were not able to visit her until Aug. 26, State Department spokesman John Kirby said. […]

U.S. military, European allies uneasy about Obama-Kerry talks with Putin

U.S. military, European allies uneasy about Obama-Kerry talks with Putin

by WorldTribune Staff, July 24, 2016 U.S. President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry are once again naively banking on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s good faith in the U.S.’s latest proposal for cooperation against jihadist groups in Syria, critics said. U.S. military and intelligence officials said Obama and Kerry are being set up […]

Al Qaida’s Nusra Front captures pro-Assad Alawite village

Al Qaida’s Nusra Front captures pro-Assad Alawite village

Special to WorldTribune.com Al Qaida affiliate Nusra Front and its Sunni Islamist allies seized an Alawite village in central Syria on May 12. Nusra Front and Ahrar al-Sham, an ultraconservative Sunni Islamic militant group, launched an assault on the village of Zara, killing more than 30 pro-Assad regime fighters, according to the Local Coordination Committees […]

‘Cubs of the Caliphate’: Survey finds ISIL provides young Syrian males with meaning, sense of purpose, income

‘Cubs of the Caliphate’: Survey finds ISIL provides young Syrian males with meaning, sense of purpose, income

Special to WorldTribune.com Young Syrians who have been left without a school, a job or any meaning in their lives by the country’s devastating civil war are finding that Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) offers “a new meaning to their life in extremism,” a peace activist group’s survey found. “Extremism opens a door […]

Iran said pitching Israeli invasion in bid to recruit teens for war in Syria

Iran said pitching Israeli invasion in bid to recruit teens for war in Syria

Special to WorldTribune.com Amid heavy casualty figures in Syria, Iran is telling teenage recruits they have the opportunity to defend sacred Shi’ite shrines in Syria and eventually invade Israel. It is the first time Teheran has turned to children volunteers since its war with Iraq in the 1980s, Shahin Godabi, an official with the opposition National Council […]

Report: Iran special forces suffering heavy losses in Syria

Report: Iran special forces suffering heavy losses in Syria

Special to WorldTribune.com More than 30 soldiers from an elite brigade of Iranian commandos were killed in battle in Syria just days after being deployed, reports say. Senior commanders from Iran’s special forces Brigade 65 were among those killed, according to unofficial Syrian reports. On April 12, Al Qaida affiliate Nusra Front released a video […]

ISIL seizes control of major Palestinian camp from Al Qaida

ISIL seizes control of major Palestinian camp from Al Qaida

Special to WorldTribune.com Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) has taken control of most of a Palestinian refugee camp in Damascus that was held by Al Qaida’s Syria affiliate. ISIL on April 12 attacked Nusra Front positions “and took control of 60 percent of the (Yarmouk) camp,” Anwar Abdel Hadi, the Palestine Liberation Organization […]

ISIL recaptures key supply town on Turkey border, executes Christians

ISIL recaptures key supply town on Turkey border, executes Christians

Special to WorldTribune.com Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) has taken back a key supply town at the Syria-Turkey border after losing the town last week to a rebel alliance that includes Al Qaida’s Syria affiliate. ISIL jihadists on April 11 recaptured Al-Rai from rebel forces who are allied with Al Qaida affiliate Nusra […]

Syrian jihadists’ morale ‘sky high’ as Russia withdraws

Syrian jihadists’ morale ‘sky high’ as Russia withdraws

Special to WorldTribune.com Anti-Assad regime rebels, jihadists and activists received a huge morale boost with the surprise withdrawal of Russian forces from Syria. Moscow’s move is also seen by the opposition as a major blow for the Damascus regime. “Our morale is sky high. The regime will not be able to survive alone,” said Raed al-Elewi, […]