Backed by Russia, Syria reclaims strategic Palmyra, ‘Pearl of the Desert’

Backed by Russia, Syria reclaims strategic Palmyra, ‘Pearl of the Desert’

Special to WorldTribune.com Syrian forces, backed by Russian airstrikes, claimed a major victory on March 27 as they drove Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) from the historic ancient city of Palmyra. “After heavy fighting during the night, the army is in full control of Palmyra – both the ancient site and the residential […]

Showdown in Palmyra: ISIL loudspeakers tell civilians to flee

Showdown in Palmyra: ISIL loudspeakers tell civilians to flee

Special to WorldTribune.com Using loudspeakers, Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) jihadists on March 24 called on the 15,000 civilians who remain in Palmyra to flee as Syrian forces advance on the ancient city. “The vast majority had already fled – only those too poor to flee stayed behind,” said Rami Abdel Rahman, director of the […]

Russian-backed Syrian troops advance on Palmyra

Russian-backed Syrian troops advance on Palmyra

Special to WorldTribune.com Syrian forces, backed by Russian airstrikes, took key high ground on the outskirts of Palmyra and positioned themselves for an advance on Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) forces in the historic ancient city. “God willing, within few hours we will enter and secure the town,” one officer told the Syrian […]

Report: Israel strikes Syrian army outposts near Damascus

Report: Israel strikes Syrian army outposts near Damascus

Special to WorldTribune.com Israeli rockets struck Syrian army outposts near Damascus on Feb. 17, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. According to the Observatory and a report by Reuters, the outposts south of Damascus were hit by three Israeli rockets. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said recently that Israel “is active from time […]

ISIL abducts 400 Sunni civilians, killed 300 in eastern Syria attack

ISIL abducts 400 Sunni civilians, killed 300 in eastern Syria attack

Special to WorldTribune.com Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) massacred 300 Sunni civilians and took 400 more hostage in a Jan. 16 attack on the eastern Syrian city of Deir Ezzor. “After their attack on Deir Ezzor, ISIL abducted at least 400 civilians from the residents of the Al-Baghaliyeh suburb it captured and adjacent […]

Alawites flee Syrian rebel offensive near Mediterranean: ‘Tremendous fear of atrocities’

Alawites flee Syrian rebel offensive near Mediterranean: ‘Tremendous fear of atrocities’

Special to WorldTribune.com NICOSIA — Syria’s ruling Alawite minority has been evacuating villages amid a Sunni rebel offensive along the Mediterranean coast. Opposition sources said thousands of Alawites fled their communities along the Mediterranean Sea in August. The sources said the Alawites have flooded cities protected by the regime of President Bashar Assad, particularly the […]

Syria launches air attack on rebel strongholds

Syria launches air attack on rebel strongholds

Special to WorldTribune.com NICOSIA — The regime of President Bashar Assad has launched another counter-offensive against Sunni rebels in Syria. Officials said the Assad regime has directed the Syrian Army and Air Force to intensify attacks on rebel strongholds around Damascus and other major cities. They said the latest regime campaign was meant to roll […]

In Aleppo, Syria’s business elites are voting with their money

In Aleppo, Syria’s business elites are voting with their money

Special to WorldTribune.com LONDON — The powerful business elite in Syria is said to be steadily withdrawing from the regime of President Bashar Assad. Western diplomats and opposition sources said leading Syrian industrialists and investors were quietly transferring their funds out of the country. They said the most powerful element of the elite, based in […]