Explosion in Lebanon destroys Hizbullah facility said to contain missiles

Special to WorldTribune.com NICOSIA — A major munitions warehouse of the Iranian-sponsored Hizbullah has been destroyed. Lebanese security sources said a Hizbullah arsenal outside the southern port city of Tyre was blown up on Nov. 23. The sources said the facility was believed to contain hundreds of missiles and rockets for the Hizbullah military. “Given […]

Israeli civil defense exercise to simulate biological weapons attack

Israeli civil defense exercise to simulate biological weapons attack

Special to WorldTribune.com TEL AVIV — Israel has completed plans for a major civil defense exercise. The Defense Ministry has approved an exercise in northern Israel meant to defend against a biological or chemical weapons attack from Lebanon or Syria. The two-day exercise, called Orange Flame-6, would seek to coordinate between military and civilian authorities. […]

Syrian rebels attack Baath Party building in Damascus

Syrian rebels attack Baath Party building in Damascus

Special to WorldTribune.com NICOSIA — For the first time, rebels have struck the heart of the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad. Opposition sources said rebel fighters launched a rocket attack on the ruling Baath Party in Damascus. They said the pre-dawn attack on Nov. 20 consisted of the firing of rocket-propelled grenades toward the […]

Turkey warns Syria’s Assad playing ‘dangerous game’ with Kurds

Turkey warns Syria’s Assad playing ‘dangerous game’ with Kurds

Special to WorldTribune.com ANKARA — Turkey has expressed concern that Syria is forging an alliance with the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK). Officials said Turkey’s military and intelligence community were closely monitoring signs for an alliance between Syrian President Bashar Assad and the PKK. They said Assad is believed to have been sending Kurdish insurgents to […]

Rebels begin military operations against Assad forces with attacks in Damascus suburbs

Rebels begin military operations against Assad forces with attacks in Damascus suburbs

Special to WorldTribune.com NICOSIA — The rebel movement sworn to oust President Bashar Assad has expanded operations against the Syrian regime. The Free Syrian Army said deserters from Assad’s military and security forces conducted several attacks on regime facilities near Damascus. FSA, with a haven in Turkey, said the targets struck on Nov. 16 consisted […]

Defectors use lethal force to protect Sunni cities against Assad’s forces

Defectors use lethal force to protect Sunni cities against Assad’s forces

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — Deserters from the Syrian military have sought to protect Sunni cities from attacks by the regime of President Bashar Assad, a report said. Human Rights Watch asserted that the estimated 15,000 deserters from Assad’s military and security forces were responding to regime operations against strongholds of the Sunni revolt. In […]

Administration backing Paris-based opposition group against Assad

Administration backing Paris-based opposition group against Assad

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The United States has been working with a former Syrian vice president to help overthrow the regime of President Bashar Assad. Officials said the administration of President Barack Obama has been consulting with former Syrian Vice President Abdul Halim Khaddam, based in France and an opposition figure for the last […]

Syria called on laying mines along border with Lebanon

Syria called on laying mines along border with Lebanon

Special to WorldTribune.com LONDON — Syria has been urged to stop laying anti-personnel mines along the border with Lebanon. The organization that monitors the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention called on the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad to end the laying of mines along its 200 kilometer border with Lebanon. Several people have already been […]

Under mounting pressure, Assad offers amnesty to soldiers who defected

Under mounting pressure, Assad offers amnesty to soldiers who defected

Special to WorldTribune.com NICOSIA — President Bashar Assad has offered amnesty to the thousands of Sunni soldiers who joined the rebels. Assad issued a general amnesty for all who failed to report to military duty. The beleaguered president, fighting a revolt since March, gave defectors until January 2012 to return to their units. “President Bashar […]

Sanctions have sharply curtailed Syrian crude oil output

Special to WorldTribune.com NICOSIA — Syria has reported a significant drop in crude oil production amid Western sanctions. Syrian Oil Minister Sufian Alaw reported oil production at no more than 270,000 barrels per day, down from 380,000 barrels in early 2011. Alaw attributed the sharp decline to sanctions imposed by the European Union and the […]