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 […]

‘More militant and Islamized’ Syrian rebels shifting to guerrilla ops

‘More militant and Islamized’ Syrian rebels shifting to guerrilla ops

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The Syrian opposition, defeated several times by President Bashar Assad’s military, intends to reorganize in what is expected to result in new leadership. The opposition was to reassess policy and its leadership at a meeting in Turkey on March 22. Joshua Landis, a U.S. professor and director of SyriaComment, said […]

Syrian Islamist group — backed by U.S., Saudis, Turkey — to expedite weapons flow to rebels

Syrian Islamist group — backed by U.S., Saudis, Turkey — to expedite weapons flow to rebels

Special to WorldTribune.com LONDON — The Muslim Brotherhood-aligned opposition has decided to open a military wing in an effort to oust Syrian President Bashar Assad. The Syrian National Council said it would open a military office to ensure the flow of weapons and equipment to the revolt against the Assad regime. SNC said its new bureau, […]

Opposition strategy: Amnesty deal for Alawites who desert Assad regime

Opposition strategy: Amnesty deal for Alawites who desert Assad regime

Special to WorldTribune.com NICOSIA — The Syrian opposition has been examining the feasibility of offering amnesty to Alawite members of the regime of President Bashar Assad. Opposition sources said the Syrian National Council and the Free Syrian Army have been discussing a strategy to bring about the collapse of the Assad regime over the next […]

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 […]

Assad ramps up counter-offensive as senior Russians arrive in Damascus

Assad ramps up counter-offensive as senior Russians arrive in Damascus

Special to WorldTribune.com NICOSIA — President Bashar Assad has launched what the opposition termed a sustained counter-insurgency campaign to quell the revolt throughout Syria. Meanwhile, defectors reported exhaustion within the Assad regime which, on Feb. 7, was scheduled to conduct high-level consultations with the Kremlin. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he and Foreign Intelligence […]

Secularist Syrian rebel forces pressed by Turkey to yield to Islamists

Secularist Syrian rebel forces pressed by Turkey to yield to Islamists

Special to WorldTribune.com Geostrategy-Direct.com WASHINGTON — The Syrian opposition continues to be divided between the rebel army and Islamists supported by Qatar. Opposition sources said the Free Syrian Army and the Syrian National Council have failed in efforts to cooperate. They said the secular-oriented rebel army and the Islamist group reflected conflicting interests and ambitions, […]

Jordan weighs safe haven for fleeing Syrian civilians, soldiers

Jordan weighs safe haven for fleeing Syrian civilians, soldiers

Special to WorldTribune.com CAIRO — Jordan has been urged to establish a buffer zone along the kingdom’s border with Syria. Syrian opposition sources said the Hashemite kingdom has been considering a series of moves to help the revolt against President Bashar Assad. They said the most feasible proposal was for a safe haven zone for […]

Turkey sets terms for backing Free Syrian Army: Bow to Muslim Brotherhood group

Turkey sets terms for backing Free Syrian Army: Bow to Muslim Brotherhood group

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — Turkey, aligned to the Muslim Brotherhood, has cracked down on the rebel army in Syria. Opposition sources said the government of Prime Minister Recep Erdogan has frozen Free Syrian Army bank accounts in an effort to pressure the rebels to recognize the authority of the Brotherhood-aligned Syrian National Council. “The […]