Bashar Assad

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In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, soldiers and residents salute civilians after they were released by the Army of Islam group that had held them since 2013, in Damascus, Syria, early Monday, April 9, 2018. Syrian state media is reporting that dozens of civilians who had been held for years by a rebel group near the capital Damascus have been freed. (SANA via AP)

The Latest: UN Security Council schedules meeting on Syria

Associated Press

Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., listens as President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with governors and lawmakers in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Thursday, April 12, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Donald Trump to make decision on Syria attack ‘fairly soon’

By Dave Boyer - The Washington Times

Republican Virginia legislator defends Syrian president

Associated Press

FILE - In this file photo taken on Monday, Dec. 11, 2017, Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Syrian President Bashar Assad, right, pose for a photo with Russian military pilots at the Hemeimeem air base in Syria. Just weeks after Russian President Vladimir Putin declared victory in Syria, Russian military outposts in the country have come under rebel attacks that are challenging Moscow's gains. (Mikhail Klimentyev/Pool Photo via AP, File)

Calls mounting for Trump to target Assad in missile strike against Syria

By Dave Boyer - The Washington Times

President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, April 10, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Trump warns Russia: “Get ready” for attack on Syria

By ROBERT BURNS and CATHERINE LUCEY - Associated Press

FILE - EDS NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT - This Sunday, April. 8, 2018 file image released by the Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets, shows a rescue worker carrying a child following an alleged chemical weapons attack in the rebel-held town of Douma, near Damascus, Syria. With the Middle East on edge and many fearing inadvertent triggering of regional war, it is easy to forget that two weeks ago Trump shocked advisers in declaring an intention to withdraw troops from Syria. Now, apparently angered by a suspected chemical attack, Trump is threatening imminent military strikes against the Syrian government forces he blames and rattling a saber at Syria’s patron Russia. (Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets via AP, File)

AP News Guide: Potential for escalation in Syria abounds

By ZEINA KARAM and BASSEM MROUE - Associated Press

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Recognize Israel’s right to Golan

By THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Illustration on Syria's role in middle-east peace by Linas Garsys/The Washington Times

What’s at stake in Syria

By Clifford D. May

FILE - This August 26, 2013, file image taken from amateur video posted online, shows a presumed UN staff member measuring and photographing a canister in the suburb of Moadamiyeh in Damascus, Syria. Chemical weapons have killed hundreds of people since the start of Syria's conflict, with the U.N. blaming four attacks on the Syrian government and a fourth on the Islamic State group. A suspected chemical weapons attack occurred over the weekend in the besieged rebel-held town of Douma that was subjected to a resumed government offensive for three days starting Saturday. (Media Office Of Moadamiyeh via AP, File) TV OUT

Timeline of chemical weapons attacks in Syria

By The Associated Press - Associated Press

President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, April 10, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Donald Trump cancels South America trip in sign Syria military strike imminent

By Dave Boyer - The Washington Times

The United Nations Security Council meet and hear remarks from U.N. Special Envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura via video broadcast, Monday April 9, 2018 at U.N. headquarters. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

The Latest: UN nixes Russian text on Syria gas attack probe

Associated Press

In this Thursday, April 5, 2018 photo, Syrian students run in front of buildings that were destroyed last summer during fighting between U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces fighters and Islamic State militants, in Raqqa, Syria. Six months after IS was driven out, residents of Raqqa feel they have been abandoned as the world moves on. They are trying to rebuild but fear everyone around them: the Kurdish-led militia that administers the majority Arab city; Syrian government forces nearby; gangs who kidnap or rob whoever shows signs of having money; and IS militants who may still be hiding among the people. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Chemical weapons watchdog plans visit to suspected Syria attack site

By David R. Sands - The Washington Times

EDS NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT - This image released early Sunday, April 8, 2018 by the Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets, shows a rescue worker carrying a child following an alleged chemical weapons attack in the rebel-held town of Douma, near Damascus, Syria. Syrian rescuers and medics say a poison gas attack on Douma has killed at least 40 people. The Syrian government denied the allegations, which could not be independently verified. The alleged attack in the town of Douma occurred Saturday night amid a resumed offensive by Syrian government forces after the collapse of a truce. (Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets via AP)

The Latest: UN seeks way to address chemical arms in Syria

Associated Press

In this May 16, 2012, file photo, a choir performs a hymn during the memorial service for Marie Colvin, the Sunday Times war correspondent who was killed in Homs, Syria on Feb. 22, at St Martin-in-the-Fields church in central London. Syria President Bashar Assad’s forces targeted Colvin and then celebrated after they learned their rockets had killed her, according to a sworn statement a former Syrian intelligence officer made in a wrongful death suit filed by her relatives. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, File)

Marie Colvin lawsuit: Slain reporter’s family says Syrian forces targeted her

By Deb Riechmann - Associated Press

This image released early Sunday, April 8, 2018 by the Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets, shows a child receiving oxygen through respirators following an alleged poison gas attack in the rebel-held town of Douma, near Damascus, Syria. Syrian rescuers and medics said the attack on Douma killed at least 40 people. The Syrian government denied the allegations, which could not be independently verified. The alleged attack in Douma occurred Saturday night amid a resumed offensive by Syrian government forces after the collapse of a truce. (Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets via AP)

Donald Trump condemns Syria for ‘atrocious’ chemical weapons attack

By Dave Boyer - The Washington Times

This image released early Sunday, April 8, 2018 by the Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets, shows a child receiving oxygen through respirators following an alleged poison gas attack in the rebel-held town of Douma, near Damascus, Syria. Syrian rescuers and medics said the attack on Douma killed at least 40 people. The Syrian government denied the allegations, which could not be independently verified. The alleged attack in Douma occurred Saturday night amid a resumed offensive by Syrian government forces after the collapse of a truce. (Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets via AP)

Tensions rachet up as Israel blamed for Syria missile strike

By ZEINA KARAM and BASSEM MROUE - Associated Press

This photo released by the Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows smoke rising after Syrian government airstrikes hit in the town of Douma, in eastern Ghouta region east of Damascus, Syria, Saturday, April. 7, 2018. Syrian government forces pressed their offensive against the last rebel-held town in eastern Ghouta near the capital Damascus on Saturday under the cover of airstrikes as shelling of civilian areas on both sides claimed more lives, state media and opposition activists said. (Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets via AP)

Syrian news reports missile attack; US denies it fired them

By PHILIP ISSA - Associated Press

This image made from video released by the Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows medical workers treating toddlers following an alleged poison gas attack in the opposition-held town of Douma, in eastern Ghouta, near Damascus, Syria, Sunday, April. 8, 2018. The Civil Defense said patients were having difficulty breathing and burning in their eyes. Syrian opposition activists and rescuers said Sunday that a poison gas attack on a rebel-held town near the capital. The Syrian government denied the allegations, which could not be independently verified. (Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets via AP)

The Latest: Syrian news agency reports missile attack

Associated Press

This image released early Sunday, April 8, 2018 by the Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets, shows a child receiving oxygen through respirators following an alleged poison gas attack in the rebel-held town of Douma, near Damascus, Syria. Syrian rescuers and medics said the attack on Douma killed at least 40 people. The Syrian government denied the allegations, which could not be independently verified. The alleged attack in Douma occurred Saturday night amid a resumed offensive by Syrian government forces after the collapse of a truce. (Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets via AP)

Trump warns Assad: ‘Big price to pay’ for fatal Syria attack

By JONATHAN LEMIRE - Associated Press

This frame grab from video provided Nov. 24, 2017, by the Syrian insurgent group Failaq al-Rahman, shows fighters with Failaq al-Rahman firing their weapons during clashes with government forces in the suburbs of the Syrian capital Damascus. Many of the fighters entrenched in the Damascus suburb of eastern Ghouta are originally from the area and move around using an elaborate network of underground tunnels, giving them an advantage against President Bashar Assad's forces and their allies. (Failaq al-Rahman, via AP)

Thousands of well-armed rebel fighters are in Syria’s Ghouta

By BASSEM MROUE - Associated Press