Syrian agents suspected in bombing of Iraq-Turkey pipeline

Special to WorldTribune.com ANKARA — An Iraqi crude oil pipeline to Turkey has been bombed. Officials said the Kirkuk-Yumurtalik oil pipeline was struck by at least three explosions in Turkey’s southeastern province of Sirnak. They said the explosions on early April 5 sparked fires around the facility in what appeared to be sabotage. “We are […]

Fatah: Syria plotting to assassinate Palestinian leader Abbas

Fatah: Syria plotting to assassinate Palestinian leader Abbas

Special to WorldTribune.com RAMALLAH — Syria has been accused of using its proxies to attack the Palestinian Authority. The ruling Fatah movement asserted that a Syrian-sponsored militia planned to kill PA leaders, particularly chairman Mahmoud Abbas. Fatah said the main Syrian proxy was the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command, led by Syrian […]

Gulf states give millions to arm Syrian rebels; U.S. supplies communications tech

Gulf states give millions to arm Syrian rebels; U.S. supplies communications tech

Special to WorldTribune.com ANKARA — The Gulf Cooperation Council intends to form a war chest for the Sunni revolt in Syria. GCC states have agreed to invest hundreds of millions of dollars to arm, train and pay Sunni fighters sworn to oust Syrian President Bashar Assad. Diplomats said the GCC effort would be led by […]

Opposition: Syria using Russian-made copters against rebels

Opposition: Syria using Russian-made copters against rebels

Special to WorldTribune.com LONDON — Opposition sources and witnesses have reported the use of Russian combat helicopters for operations by Syrian President Bashar Assad’s military against the rebels and opposition in several parts of Syria. The sources said the Syrian Air Force flew the Mi-24 attack helicopter against suspected rebel strongholds around such cities as […]

Top Assad intelligence official said killed in rebel ambush

Top Assad intelligence official said killed in rebel ambush

Special to WorldTribune.com LONDON — The Syrian opposition has reported the death of a leading intelligence officer in the regime of President Bashar Assad. Opposition sources said Col. Iyad Mando was killed in an ambush by Sunni rebels on March 26 near Damascus International Airport. They said Mando, identified as commander of a key unit […]

Syria WMD report: ‘Country is a chemical powder keg ready to explode’

Syria WMD report: ‘Country is a chemical powder keg ready to explode’

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — President Bashar Assad could order weapons of mass destruction attacks to save his regime, a report said. The James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies asserted that Assad could employ Syria’s massive WMD arsenal against any rising Sunni revolt. In a report, the center warned that the Damascus regime could also […]

Al Qaida tactics seen in bombings of Syrian security buildings

Al Qaida tactics seen in bombings of Syrian security buildings

Special to WorldTribune.com NICOSIA — Rebels have blown up Syrian security and intelligence government buildings in Damascus. At least 27 people were killed and 140 injured in a series of coordinated suicide bombings in Damascus attributed to Syrian rebels. On March 17, the rebels were said to have targeted government and other facilities in Damascus […]

Moscow rattled: Syrian rebels ‘trained in Libya’ by militants tied to Al Qaida

Moscow rattled: Syrian rebels ‘trained in Libya’ by militants tied to Al Qaida

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — Libya is said to have been training Syrian rebels sworn to oust President Bashar Assad. Diplomats said Libya was believed to be hosting a camp for the training of Syrian rebels linked to the Muslim Brotherhood. They said the camp as well as equipment and training was being financed by […]

Obama administration continues military aid to Hizbullah-controlled Lebanon

Obama administration continues military aid to Hizbullah-controlled Lebanon

Special to WorldTribune.com NICOSIA — The United States has continued training of the Lebanese military despite the fact its government is dominated by Iran-sponsored Hizbullah. U.S. Central Command has been examining training programs with the Lebanese military in 2012. On Feb. 13, Maj. Gen. Benjamin Bartlett, director of exercises at Centcom, met Lebanese commanders and […]

Teheran sends IRGC, Hizbullah to counter Sunni rebels in Syria

Teheran sends IRGC, Hizbullah to counter Sunni rebels in Syria

Special to WorldTribune.com NICOSIA — Iran, concerned over abductions, has banned land travel in Syria. The Teheran regime has stopped Iranians from traveling to Syria amid a rash of abductions by Sunni rebels. The regime said Iranians could only reach Syrian cities by aircraft. “Due to the terrorist acts against Iranian pilgrims who are taking […]