Bashar Assad

Latest Stories

FILE - In this May 18, 2017 file photo, a Syrian National flag hangs out of a damaged building at the mountain resort town of Zabadani in the Damascus countryside, Syria. The Syrian government on Tuesday, June 27, 2017 dismissed White House allegations that it was preparing a new chemical weapons attack, as activists reported an airstrike on an Islamic State-run jail in eastern Syria that they said killed more than 40 prisoners. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File)

The Latest: US warns Syria against chemical attack

Associated Press

FILE -In this fie picture taken on Tuesday April 4, 2017, Abdul-Hamid Alyousef, 29, holds his twin babies who were killed during a suspected chemical weapons attack, in Khan Sheikhoun in the northern province of Idlib, Syria. The Syrian government on Tuesday, June 27, 2017 dismissed White House allegations that it was preparing a new chemical weapons attack, as activists reported an airstrike on an Islamic State-run jail in eastern Syria that they said killed more than 40 prisoners. (Alaa Alyousef via AP, File)

Kremlin dismisses US warning of chemical attack in Syria

Associated Press

U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley smiles while testifying on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, June 27, 2017, before the House State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs subcommittee budget hearing on the United Nations and International Organizations. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Haley says warning to Syria also aimed at Russia and Iran

By RICHARD LARDNER - Associated Press

FILE - In this file photo taken on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2016, soldiers from the Syrian army carry a rocket to fire at Islamic State group positions in the province of Raqqa, Syria. Syrian government and allied troops have inserted themselves into the battle against Islamic State militants by capturing key areas on the flanks of the coalition-led battle to seize Raqqa. They have positioned themselves as indispensable possibly spoilers in the fight to uproot the militants from Syria. (Alexander Kots/Komsomolskaya Pravda via AP, File)

Syria troops position themselves at heart of war on IS

By SARAH EL DEEB - Associated Press

Russia angrily announced Monday that it was shutting down a hotline designed to avoid unintentional clashes between American and Russian fighters operating in the skies above Syria and would even target U.S. and allied planes if they strayed from their zone. (Associated Press/File)

U.S. tries to defuse Russia tensions after shooting down Syrian fighter jet

By Carlo Muñoz - The Washington Times

Russia angrily announced Monday that it was shutting down a hotline designed to avoid unintentional clashes between American and Russian fighters operating in the skies above Syria and would even target U.S. and allied planes if they strayed from their zone. (Associated Press/File)

Key moments in Russia’s campaign, involvement in Syrian war

By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV - Associated Press

FILE - In this Sunday, April 30, 2017, file photo, provided by the Syria Democratic Forces (SDF), shows a fighter from the SDF carrying weapons as he looks toward the northern town of Tabqa, Syria. A U.S. military official says the offensive against the Islamic State group's de facto capital, Raqqa &quot;will be long and difficult.&quot; Lt. Gen. Steve Townsend, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, says the assault by the Syrian Democratic Forces will deliver a decisive blow to the idea of IS &quot;as a physical caliphate.&quot; The Kurdish-led force launched an offensive to capture Raqqa on Tuesday.(Syrian Democratic Forces, via AP, File)

Q&A: Offensive against IS-held Raqqa has been long in coming

By PHILIP ISSA - Associated Press

In this Tuesday, May 9, 2017, file photo, smoke rises during heavy fighting between Islamic State militants and Iraqi special forces in the industrial area of west Mosul, Iraq. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo, File)

In shadow of Mosul fight, Iran establishes Nineveh foothold

By SUSANNAH GEORGE and QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA - Associated Press

This image provided by the State Department and DigitalGlobe, taken Jan. 15, 2015, a satellite image of what the State Department described as a building in a prison complex in Syria that was modified to support a crematorium. The Trump administration accused the Syrian government of carrying out mass killings of thousands of prisoners and burning the dead bodies in a large crematorium outside the capital. It also stepped up criticism of Iran and Russia for supporting the Syrian government. (State Department/DigitalGlobe via AP)

U.S.: Syria is burning bodies to hide proof of mass killings

By Matthew Lee and Vivian Salama - Associated Press

UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura informs the media one day before the resumption of the negotiations between the Syrian government and the opposition, at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, May 15, 2017. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)

Syrian activists: Airstrikes on IS-held areas kill dozens

By PHILIP ISSA and JAMEY KEATEN - Associated Press

In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syrian President Bashar Assad speaks during an interview with Yahoo News in Damascus, Syria, Friday, Feb. 10, 2017. (SANA via AP)

Assad blasts Trump’s foreign policy after airstrike on Syria suggests about-face

By Andrew Blake - The Washington Times

This frame grab from video provided by the Syrian anti-government activist group Ghouta Media Center, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows flames rising after an explosion near an airport west of Damascus, Syria, Thursday, April 27, 2017. Syria's state media reported Thursday that Israel has attacked a military installation near the Damascus International Airport. SANA says Israel fired several missiles from inside the occupied Golan Heights south of the capital at a military installation near the capital's main airport, triggering several explosions and causing damage. (Ghouta Media Center via AP)

The Latest: Russia criticizes French report on Syria attack

Associated Press

This frame grab from video provided by the Syrian anti-government activist group Ghouta Media Center, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows flames rising after an explosion near an airport west of Damascus, Syria, Thursday, April 27, 2017. Syria's state media reported Thursday that Israel has attacked a military installation near the Damascus International Airport. SANA says Israel fired several missiles from inside the occupied Golan Heights south of the capital at a military installation near the capital's main airport, triggering several explosions and causing damage. (Ghouta Media Center via AP)

Israeli strikes inside Syria pick up tempo in proxy war

By PHILIP ISSA and ZEINA KARAM - Associated Press

Illustration on the Boeing/Iran airbus deal by Linas Garsys/The Washington Times

Defense contractor Iran deals should be stopped

By Clifford D. May

Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin said President Trump will make an announcement on tax reform this week and that his plan "will be the most significant change to the tax code since Reagan." (Associated Press/File)

U.S. hits Syria with new sanctions

By S.A. Miller - The Washington Times

The author of a study calls the Free Syrian Army "the cornerstone of Syria's moderate opposition component." (Associated Press/File)

Bashar Assad’s Free Syrian Army gains hope after Trump’s missile strikes

By Jacob Wirtschafter and Gilgamesh Nabeel - Special to The Washington Times

Trump administration to issue new Syria sanctions

By VIVIAN SALAMA and MATTHEW LEE - Associated Press

The Latest: US sanctions 271 in Syrian chemical attack

Associated Press

In this Tuesday, April 4, 2017 photo, victims of the suspected chemical weapons attack lie on the ground in Khan Sheikhoun in the northern province of Idlib, Syria. Israeli defense officials say Syrian President Bashar Assad still has up to three tons of chemical weapons. The officials delivered the assessment on Wednesday, April 19, 2017, weeks after a chemical attack in Syria killed at least 90 people. (Alaa Alyousef via AP, File)

Israeli defense officials: Assad still has chemical weapons

By JOSEF FEDERMAN - Associated Press

Illustration on the Syrian conundrum by Nancy Ohanian/Tribune Content Agency

U.S. backing anti-Assad forces will not lead to Syria peace

By William Layer