Report: Several nations providing ‘semi-covert’ assist to Syrian revolution

Report: Several nations providing  ‘semi-covert’ assist to Syrian revolution

Special to WorldTribune.com LONDON — Arab and Western countries have been providing help to the Sunni revolt in Syria, a report said. Chatam House, a leading British think tank, said a range of countries were quietly intervening in the war against the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad. In a report, Chatam cited both NATO […]

Assad’s brother, Maher, ‘struggling to survive’ after July 18 bombing in Damascus

Assad’s brother, Maher, ‘struggling to survive’ after July 18 bombing in Damascus

Special to WorldTribune.com LONDON — The brother of President Bashar Assad, the architect of the regime’s drive to destroy the Sunni revolt, is said to have been severely injured in the bombing of Syrian intelligence headquarters in July. Arab sources said Maher Assad, commander of the Syrian Army’s 4th Division, was badly injured in the […]

CIA relying on other nations, lacks own intelligence assets in Syria

CIA relying on other nations, lacks own intelligence assets in Syria

Special to WorldTribune.com Geostrategy-Direct.com WASHINGTON — The United States has failed to develop sufficient intelligence assets in Syria. Officials said the U.S. intelligence community has been slow to build intelligence assets during the Sunni revolt in Syria. They said such agencies as the CIA and the Defense Intelligence Agency have relied on foreign liaisons, particularly […]

Syria crisis marks ‘turning point’ in Jordan-U.S. relationship

Syria crisis marks ‘turning point’ in Jordan-U.S. relationship

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The United States has described its defense relationship with Jordan as reaching unprecedented proportions. Officials said the U.S. military and Defense Department significantly enhanced the relationship with the Hashemite kingdom in 2012. They cited heightened intelligence exchange, increased exercises and cooperation on border security, particularly along the frontier with Syria. […]

Pentagon sees Syrian rebels improving unity, Assad forces showing weakness

Pentagon sees Syrian rebels improving unity, Assad forces showing weakness

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The United States has determined that the Syrian rebel movement has enhanced cooperation. The Defense Department, in a rare open assessment of the Sunni rebel movement, said Sunni rebel networks throughout Syria were coordinating. Officials said this has resulted in a significant enhancement in attacks on the regime of President […]

Syrian opposition reports Assad regime using gas bombs against Sunnis

Syrian opposition reports Assad regime using gas bombs against Sunnis

Special to WorldTribune.com ABU DHABI — For the first time, Syrians have asserted that President Bashar Assad was using gas bombs in attacks on Sunni rebels. The Syrian opposition said Assad forces bombed several Sunni cities with shells that contained an unknown chemical agent. The opposition said Sunni civilians suffocated or underwent nausea from the […]

Opposition: Assad militia ‘assigned’ to avenge troop killings, target civilians

Opposition: Assad militia ‘assigned’ to avenge troop killings, target civilians

Special to WorldTribune.com NICOSIA — An Alawite militia sponsored by the regime of President Bashar Assad has been given a free hand in efforts to quell the Sunni revolt in Syria. Opposition sources and Western diplomats asserted that the Assad regime has removed all restrictions on the Shabiha militia in central and eastern Syria. The […]

New Russian arms shipment arrives in Syria

New Russian arms shipment arrives in Syria

Special to WorldTribune.com ABU DHABI — Russia has sent additional weapons to the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad. Diplomatic sources said a Russian ship filled with weapons was ready to dock in Syria. They said the weapons were believed to include surface-to-surface rockets. “Russia wants to build Syrian forces to counter any attack from […]