Hizbullah commander on FBI’s most-wanted list killed by Syrian rebels

Hizbullah commander on FBI’s most-wanted list killed by Syrian rebels

Special to WorldTribune.com NICOSIA — A Hizbullah commander wanted by the United States has been killed in the Sunni revolt in Syria. Islamist sources said Fawzi Ayoub was killed in a battle with Sunni rebels on May 26. Ayoub was said to have lived in Canada and was on the FBI’s most-wanted list in the […]

Report: CIA blocked U.S. group’s effort to arm Syrian rebels

Report: CIA blocked U.S. group’s effort to arm Syrian rebels

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The CIA is said to have blocked a plan to supply Western-backed Syrian rebels with up to 70,000 assault rifles for the war against President Bashar Assad. The Wall Street Journal said a plan by a private U.S. group to provide Russian-made light weapons and millions of rounds of ammunition […]

Syrian rebels scorn UK’s offer, demand heavy weapons, missiles

Syrian rebels scorn UK’s offer, demand heavy weapons, missiles

Special to WorldTribune.com LONDON — Britain has decided to resume aid to the Sunni revolt in Syria. Officials said the government of Prime Minister David Cameron was planning to deliver non-lethal assistance to Western-aligned rebels in Syria. The officials said the aid to the Free Syrian Army would consist of communications, vehicles, generators and medical […]

Syrian rebels dismiss U.S. role: ‘There is no unity of purpose or even coherent strategy’

Syrian rebels dismiss U.S. role: ‘There is no unity of purpose or even coherent strategy’

Special to WorldTribune.com NICOSIA — Opposition sources said the CIA has been working with Jordan and Saudi Arabia to train and equip 10,000 Syrians to join the Sunni revolt against the regime of President Bashar Assad. “These fighters were trained by specialists from the Central Intelligence Agency in camps inside Jordan territory,” Najib Al Ghadban, […]

Assad forces advance on rebel stronghold in Golan Heights

Assad forces advance on rebel stronghold in Golan Heights

Special to WorldTribune.com NICOSIA — Forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad have advanced along the rebel-held Golan Heights. Officials and opposition sources said the Syrian Army and a government-sponsored militia have captured areas of the Golan Heights near the border with Syria. The officials cited Rasm Al Hur and Rasm Al Sad, south of […]

CIA-trained Syrian rebel force ambushed by Islamists near Jordan border

CIA-trained Syrian rebel force ambushed by Islamists near Jordan border

Special to WorldTribune.com AMMAN — Another U.S.-led operation against the regime of President Bashar Assad has failed. Western intelligence sources said a CIA-trained Sunni rebel force financed by Saudi Arabia was ambushed in southern Syria on Feb. 15. The sources said the rebels, linked to the Free Syrian Army, came under heavy fire from Islamist […]

Ceasefire between warring rebel groups in Syria seen as win for Al Qaida, loss for Saudis

Ceasefire between warring rebel groups in Syria seen as win for Al Qaida, loss for Saudis

Special to WorldTribune.com NICOSIA — The Saudi-sponsored campaign against Al Qaida in Syria faces collapse. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant has signed a ceasefire agreement with a major rebel group sponsored by Saudi Arabia. The ceasefire with the Suqr Al Sham could remove a major militia from participating in the Saudi-sponsored war […]

Assad forces seen massing for ‘final push’ into Aleppo

Assad forces seen massing for ‘final push’ into Aleppo

Special to WorldTribune.com NICOSIA — Syrian President Bashar Assad has been preparing a major offensive against the rebel presence in Aleppo. Opposition sources said the Syrian Army has been reinforcing forces around the northern city of Aleppo. The sources said thousands of troops as well as main battle tanks and armored personnel vehicles arrived in […]

Rebels flush with Western arms take battle to Assad’s forces in southern Syria

Rebels flush with Western arms take battle to Assad’s forces in southern Syria

Special to WorldTribune.com NICOSIA — Western-backed rebels have resumed fighting in southern Syria. The Free Syrian Army has reported an offensive in the southern Syrian province of Dera. FSA said its forces captured checkpoints of the Syrian Army and destroyed several Russian-origin main battle tanks. “It is an expression of support for the Syrian opposition […]

Al Qaida’s ISIL takes back Raqa, only Syrian city still outside of Assad’s control

Al Qaida’s ISIL takes back Raqa, only Syrian city still outside of Assad’s control

Special to WorldTribune.com NICOSIA — Al Qaida has regained most of its strongholds amid the Saudi-sponsored rebel offensive in Syria. Opposition sources said Al Qaida’s Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant has rebounded from an offensive by a Saudi-sponsored campaign, which began on Jan. 3. They said ISIL has regained many of the strongholds […]