Syria - Page 4

Corpses could provide vital clues for US technicians trying to establish which chemicals were used in the deadly bombing

With the US and Russia engaged in a public row over the consequences of a possible American attack against Syria, the capabilities that Moscow has to respond to it are a major question.

"We hope the Trump administration thinks twice before deciding to attack Syria," the ruling Chinese Communist Party's newspaper said.

Defense Secretary James Mattis told reporters Wednesday: "We stand ready to provide military options if they're appropriate as the president determined," according to The New York Times.

Donald Trump warned Russia to "get ready" after Moscow vowed to shoot any missiles fired at Syria down. "They will be coming, nice and new and smart," Trump tweeted.

The Russian military reserves the right to shoot down missiles and destroy launch sites in the event of US aggression against Syria, Moscow's envoy to Lebanon Alexander Zasypkin has warned.

The US will act against the Syrian government with or without a UN blessing, US envoy Nikki Haley told the Security Council, blaming Russian “obstructionism” for allowing the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria and beyond.

Two Israeli F-15 fighters targeted Syria’s T-4 airbase in Homs province, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday. The jets fired eight guided missiles, but five of them were shot down before they hit the airfield.

US President Donald Trump has lashed out at Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his allies Russia and Iran over a suspected chemical attack, saying there will be a "big price to pay".

US officials say President Trump has been persuaded not to pull the military out of Syria immediately, despite his declaration last week that the US would "be coming out of Syria very soon".

Syrian rebels and their families are being evacuated from a key town in the besieged Eastern Ghouta region as part of an agreement with the government.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Sunday his forces must push on with their campaign to retake the besieged enclave of Eastern Ghouta from rebels, despite mounting international calls to end the bloodshed.

This week Trump’s administration may revoke temporary protected status for thousands and send them back to dangerous conditions

The Syrian government warned Turkey against launching a bombing campaign in the Syrian province of Afrin, saying its air defenses may be used. Ankara had threatened airstrikes against Afrin-based Kurdish militias.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad accused France of supporting bloodshed in his country, making it unfit to talk about a peace settlement, comments that were rebuffed on Tuesday by French President Emmanuel Macron, who called them “unacceptable”.

In mid-October, IS was driven out of Raqqa as the remaining families fled the battle.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says the “reign of the Assad family” in Syria is coming to an end, and the “only issue is how that can be brought about.”

IT WAS once a place of peace and prosperity. But over the years, it’s turned very, very dark. WARNING: Graphic

The United States and Russia have reached agreement on a cease-fire in southwest Syria, three US officials said as President Donald Trump held his first meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

A US jet has shot down an Iranian-made drone operated by forces backing the Syrian government in the south of the country, American officials say.