Assad’s forces advance north toward rebels backed by U.S., Turkey, Gulf states

Assad’s forces advance north toward rebels backed by U.S., Turkey, Gulf states

by WorldTribune Staff, January 22, 2017 Syrian forces backed by Russia, Iran and Hizbullah seized several villages from Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) on Jan. 22 as they advanced closer to Turkish-backed rebels in the country’s north. President Bashar Assad’s army and its allies captured the villages of Sora, Moran, Surja al-Saghira and […]

U.S. forces bow to Russian response after ISIL seizes anti-aircraft weapons in Palmyra

U.S. forces bow to Russian response after ISIL seizes anti-aircraft weapons in Palmyra

by WorldTribune Staff, December 15, 2016 The U.S.-led coalition will defer to Russia in retaking Palmyra after Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) regained control of the ancient Syrian city on Dec. 11. “If they don’t, we will do what we need to do to defend ourselves and we’ll de-conflict those actions with the […]

10,000 Syrians flee homes in Aleppo as government forces advance

10,000 Syrians flee homes in Aleppo as government forces advance

by WorldTribune Staff, November 28, 2016 Some 10,000 residents of Aleppo fled their homes over the weekend as Syrian President Bashar Assad’s forces, backed by Russian air support, advanced on the besieged city. Assad’s forces regained control of six rebel-held districts in eastern Aleppo amid heavy fighting over the weekend, forcing huge numbers of civilians […]

Russian jets to launch airstrikes in Syria from aircraft carrier

Russian jets to launch airstrikes in Syria from aircraft carrier

by WorldTribune Staff, November 9, 2016 Warplanes from Russia’s lone active aircraft carrier will soon begin airstrikes on the Syrian city of Aleppo, Russia’s Defense Ministry said on Nov. 8. Jets from the Admiral Kuznetsov, which has been deployed to the eastern Mediterranean, will target rebel positions on the outskirts of Aleppo, where the rebels […]

Syria’s Assad: ‘Weaker’ West did nothing to stop ISIL

Syria’s Assad: ‘Weaker’ West did nothing to stop ISIL

by WorldTribune Staff, November 7, 2016 While the “much weaker West” did nothing to stop Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) in Syria it was ultimately Russian firepower that “made the difference,” Syrian President Bashar Assad said. “In the past if I said anything, people would say the Syrian president is disconnected from reality. […]

Syria-bound Russian subs tracked through the English channel

Syria-bound Russian subs tracked through the English channel

by WorldTribune Staff, October 31, 2016 The British Royal Navy and NATO tracked three Russian submarines through the English channel that were en route to the Mediterranean to join forces with an aircraft carrier group. Two nuclear-powered Akula-class subs and a disesel-powered Kilo-class sub entered the North Atlantic from ports around Murmansk last week. The […]

Kerry calls for Russia, Syria war crimes investigation

Kerry calls for Russia, Syria war crimes investigation

by WorldTribune Staff, October 9, 2016 The bombing of hospitals and killing of civilians by Russia and the Syrian regime in Aleppo “beg for an appropriate investigation of war crimes,” U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said. “Russia, and the regime, owe the world more than an explanation about why they keep hitting hospitals and […]

Airstrikes by Russia and Syrian regime kill 58 civilians near ISIL-held Deir Ezzor

Airstrikes by Russia and Syrian regime kill 58 civilians near ISIL-held Deir Ezzor

by WorldTribune Staff, June 26, 2016 Russian and Syrian warplanes pounded an area in eastern Syria held by Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL), killing at least 82 people, including 58 civilians, a monitoring group reported on June 26. “Three Russian and Syrian regime air raids on the region of Al-Quriyah, southeast of Deir […]

Iran suffers worst single-day casualties in Syrian war

Iran suffers worst single-day casualties in Syrian war

Special to WorldTribune.com Iran suffered its biggest daily battlefield loss of the Syrian war on May 6 when 13 troops were killed and another 21 from Iran-backed militias died in fighting near Aleppo. The casualties occurred when Islamist insurgents known as Jaish al-Fatah, which included Al Qaida-linked Nusra Front jihadists, launched an attack on Khan […]

Iran said pitching Israeli invasion in bid to recruit teens for war in Syria

Iran said pitching Israeli invasion in bid to recruit teens for war in Syria

Special to WorldTribune.com Amid heavy casualty figures in Syria, Iran is telling teenage recruits they have the opportunity to defend sacred Shi’ite shrines in Syria and eventually invade Israel. It is the first time Teheran has turned to children volunteers since its war with Iraq in the 1980s, Shahin Godabi, an official with the opposition National Council […]