Tag Archives: Syria

Violent clashes continued across the country despite the presence of 250 UN observers. A group of Lebanese Shia Muslims, kidnapped in Syria, was released three days after the group was abducted by Syrian rebels.

Syrian rebels kidnapped at least 11 Lebanese men in Aleppo province. The leader of Lebanon’s Shiite militant group Hezbollah appealed for calm after protests over the kidnapping broke out in Beirut. The UN Secretary General said Syria was at a “pivotal moment” and that he remained concerned about an all-out civil war.

The US ambassador to NATO said the alliance had no plans for military intervention in Syria. However, NATO, along with its European and Arab partners, is providing assistance to the Syrian opposition, including political and diplomatic support. US President Obama said that Syrian president Assad must leave power.

A powerful car bomb killed nine people in the city of Deir al-Zour. Syrian government forces fired on protesters in Aleppo. Shelling by government forces killed 34 in Hama.

Government forces opened fire on a crowd in the town of Khan Sheikhoun, killing at least 21 people. In Homs, 15 civilians appear to have been summarily executed by government forces. President Assad denounced the opposition as a gang of “criminals” and said countries that “sow chaos” in Syria could suffer from it themselves.

Opposition and government forces fought in the city of Rastan. A jihadist group denied responsibility for two bombs that killed 55 in the city of Damascus last week.

The opposition claimed a military victory in the city of Rastan. The rebel Free Syrian Army said they killed 23 government troops and destroyed several armored vehicles. Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister said the UN-sponsored peace plan was failing.