Syria

Iran exploits quake relief mission to fly weapons to Syria -sources

Sources: Military equipment disguised as relief supplies Syria is a conflict zone for Israel and Iran Israel mounts swift campaign against Iranians By Suleiman Al-Khalidi, James Mackenzie and Parisa Hafezi…

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Israel says it downs aircraft that appeared to come from Syria

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The Israeli army said it downed an unidentified aircraft on Sunday that appeared to have crossed into its territory from Syria, as tensions simmer between the two…

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Scientists say recycling rubble can help rebuild Syria faster

Concrete rubble from destroyed buildings in Syria can be safely recycled into new concrete, scientists have shown, which will make the rebuilding of the war-hit country faster, cheaper and greener.…

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Saudi Arabia to invite Syria’s Assad to Arab leaders summit

RIYADH/BEIRUT, April 2 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia is planning to invite Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to an Arab League summit that Riyadh is hosting in May, three sources familiar with…

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U.S. extends carrier deployment after Syria attack

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) - The United States has decided to extend the deployment of the George H.W. Bush carrier strike group to provide options to policymakers after last week's deadly attacks…

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Syria says Israel hits Homs outposts, sources say air bases bombed

By Suleiman Al-Khalidi AMMAN, April 2 (Reuters) - Israel targeted outposts in Syria's Homs province in a raid early on Sunday, the Syrian defence ministry said, while Western intelligence sources…

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Israel conducts air strike in Syria

DAMASCUS, March 31 (Reuters) - Israel carried out an air strike near the Syrian capital early Friday, Syrian state media reported, the second attack near Damascus in the last two…

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Israel launched missiles at targets near Damascus

DAMASCUS, March 30 (Reuters) - Israel launched a number of missiles from the Golan Heights targeting the vicinity of Syria's capital Damascus that left two soldiers wounded and "some material…

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US will not back off Syria mission despite deadly attacks -White House

The United States will not back away from its nearly eight-year-old deployment to Syria, where it is battling the remnants of Islamic State, despite attacks on U.S. forces there last…

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Biden warns Iran after tit-for-tat strikes in Syria

White House: no U.S. casualties in latest attack in Syria Washington blamed Iranian-backed forces for previous attack U.S. contractor killed and five U.S. troops wounded Thursday U.S. retaliatory strike killed…

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After Iran, Saudi Arabia to re-establish ties with Syria

Saudi Arabia, Syria cut ties more than a decade ago Agreement on reopening embassies follows Saudi-Iran deal BEIRUT/RIYADH, (Reuters) - Syria and Saudi Arabia have agreed to reopen their embassies…

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UPDATED: US strikes in Syria aimed at protecting personnel, combatting Islamic State -White House

WASHINGTON, March 24 (Reuters) - U.S. strikes in Syria were aimed at protecting American personnel in the country, where Islamic State and Iran-backed militant groups remain a threat, White House…

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US sees spike in unprofessional Russian Air Force behavior over Syria

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military has seen a significant spike in unprofessional behaviour by Russia's air force in Syria since March 1, the top U.S commander for the region…

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Syria’s Assad arrives in United Arab Emirates in official visit

DUBAI, March 19 (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al Assad arrived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday for an official visit, accompanied by his wife Asma al Assad,…

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Denmark deems Syrian province safe for returning refugees, worrying UNHCR

By Johannes Birkebaek and Nikolaj Skydsgaard COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - The Danish Refugee Appeals Board deemed it safe for Syrian refugees to return to Latakia province in the western part of…

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UPDATED: Syria’s Assad says would welcome more Russian troops

Assad courts more Russian support Assad would welcome more Russian troops Assad suggests Russian bases should be permanent Syria supports Putin's war in Ukraine - Assad By Guy Faulconbridge and…

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UN, Syrian government implicated in Syria aid failures after quake – commission

GENEVA, March 13 (Reuters) - The United Nations, the Syrian government and other actors are responsible for delays in getting emergency aid to Syrians after last month's earthquake, a U.N.-appointed…

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Syria says Israeli strike puts Aleppo airport out of service

An Israeli air strike knocked Aleppo airport out of service on Tuesday and forced the Syrian authorities to reroute flights carrying aid for people affected by last month's earthquake, Syrian state…

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Panic as Turkey, Syria rocked again by 6.3M earthquake

ANTAKYA, Turkey Feb 20 (Reuters) - A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck southern Turkey near the Syrian border late on Monday, setting off panic and further damaging buildings two weeks after the country's worst earthquake in…

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Turkey clears away rubble from earthquake, rescue efforts wind down

Rescue work winds down in Turkey Pregnant women need help Turkey death toll rises By Henriette Chacar and Ali Kucukgocmen ANTAKYA, Turkey, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Turkey stepped up work…

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Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) aid convoy enters northwestern Syria

PARIS, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Paris-founded medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said that a convoy of 14 MSF trucks had entered northwestern Syria on Feb. 19 from a nearby…

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Arab states need new approach towards Syria, says Saudi foreign minister

DUBAI, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said consensus was building in the Arab world that isolating Syria was not working and that dialogue with Damascus was needed…

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Survivors dug out of rubble in Turkey, but many families pray to find a body to mourn

Survivors dug out of rubble 12 days after quake Many families just want a funeral and grave to mourn Death toll more than 46,000 Some 26 million people need aid,…

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Israeli missile strikes building in central Damascus, five dead

By Suleiman Al-Khalidi AMMAN, Feb 19 (Reuters) - An Israeli rocket strike early on Sunday hit a building in central Damascus's Kafr Sousa neighbourhood near a large, heavily guarded security…

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World Food Programme boss criticises northwestern Syrian authorities for slowing quake aid

By John Irish MUNICH, Feb 18 (Reuters) - The head of the World Food Programme (WFP) on Saturday pressured authorities in northwestern Syria to stop blocking access to the area as it…

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UPDATED: Teenager rescued from rubble in Turkey 10 days after quake

Death toll in Turkey and Syria surpasses 42,000 Authorities have yet to announce numbers still missing Concerns for rebel-held northwest Syria By Suhaib Salem and Ali Kucukgocmen KAHRAMANMARAS/ANTAKYA, Turkey, Feb…

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Death toll in Turkey, Syria quake tops 33,000 as Turkey starts legal action

Rescuers pulled more survivors from the rubble on Sunday six days after one of the worst earthquakes to hit Turkey and Syria, as Turkish authorities sought to maintain order across the…

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Earthquake piles misery on war-ravaged Syrians in wintry north

JANDARIS, Syria (Reuters) - Wailing children, flattened buildings and hospitals full of bodies - a devastating earthquake on Monday looked painfully familiar for Syrian families and rescuers worn down by…

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UN aid chief says earthquake is region’s ‘worst event in 100 years’

Feb 11 (Reuters) - UN aid chief Martin Griffiths described on Saturday the devastating earthquake that hit southern Turkey and northwestern Syria as the "worst event in 100 years in…

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Cyprus probes washed up dead whales, earthquake link possible

NICOSIA (Reuters) - A number of whales have washed up dead on the northern shores of Cyprus, authorities said, possibly affected by the massive earthquakes in neighbouring Turkey and Syria…

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UPDATED: Two women survive for days in earthquake rubble as death toll tops 24,150

Death toll 20,665 in Turkey, more than 3,500 in Syria Hundreds of thousands homeless in the middle of winter First U.N. aid convoy enters northwest Syria from Turkey Children pulled…

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World Food Programme warns of stock shortage in quake-hit northwest Syria

GENEVA, Feb 10 (Reuters) - The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said that 14 trucks carrying humanitarian aid had crossed into northern Syria from Turkey on Friday. "These convoys are…

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UPDATED: After 104 hours buried by Turkey earthquake, woman brought out alive

Death toll is over 17,000 in Turkey, more than 3,000 in Syria Hundreds of thousands homeless in the middle of winter First U.N. aid convoy enters northwest Syria from Turkey…

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First U.N. quake aid convoy reaches Syria as envoy says needs immense

GENEVA, Feb 9 (Reuters) - The first United Nations convoy carrying aid to Syrians stricken three days ago by a deadly earthquake crossed from Turkey on Thursday, witnesses and a…

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UPDATED: Earthquake death toll rises over 14,000 in Turkey; Hopes fade for finding more Turkey-Syria quake survivors

ANKARA, Feb 9 (Reuters) - The death toll in Turkey from this week's powerful earthquakes has risen to 14,014, with more than 63,000 injured, President Tayyip Erdogan told reporters on…

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UPDATED: Erdogan visits earthquake-hit south as anger grows over rescue effort

Anger in Turkey and Syria over government response Combined death toll tops 11,000 International aid gathers pace By Mehmet Caliskan, Huseyin Hayatsever and Ece Toksabay KAHRAMANMARAS/ANTAKYA, Turkey, Feb 8 (Reuters)…

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Why was the Turkey-Syria earthquake so powerful?

By Gloria Dickie (Reuters) - The magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria on Monday is likely to be one of the deadliest this decade, seismologists said, with a…

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Opinion: Turkey-Syria earthquake: how diplomacy can bring warring countries together to save lives

by Ilan Kelman - Professor of Disasters and Health, UCL, via The Conversation The death toll of the massive earthquakes that have rocked the Turkey-Syria border region has now exceeded 5,000…

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Turkey declares emergency as Turkey-Syria quake death toll passes 5,200

ANTAKYA, Turkey, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in 10 provinces devastated by two earthquakes that killed more than 5,200 people and left a…

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Syria’s Red Crescent ready to deliver aid to opposition-held areas

Syria's Red Crescent is ready to deliver relief aid to all the country's regions including opposition-held areas and is urging the United Nation to facilitate this, its head said on…

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WATCH: Death toll from earthquake in Turkey nears 3,000, rescuers search for survivors

Rescue teams worked early on Tuesday to release people trapped in the rubble of buildings in southern Turkey as the death toll in the country from a devastating earthquake a…

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Bad weather hampers efforts to find survivors after huge Turkey quake

A huge earthquake killed more than 2,700 people across a swathe of Turkey and northwest Syria on Monday, with freezing winter weather adding to the plight of the thousands left…

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Huge earthquake kills 2,600 in Turkey and Syria, bad weather worsens plight

By Mert Ozkan and Kinda Makieh KAHRAMANMARAS, Turkey/DAMASCUS, Feb 6 (Reuters) - A huge earthquake killed more than 2,600 people across a swathe of Turkey and northwest Syria on Monday, with freezing…

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UPDATED: Netanyahu says Syria requests quake relief, Israel ready to send it

JERUSALEM, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Israel said on Monday that it had received a Syrian request for assistance with earthquake relief for the Arab state and that it was prepared…

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U.S. military says it captured two Islamic State members in Syria

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - American forces have captured two Islamic State members during an air and ground assault in eastern Syria, the U.S. military's Central Command said in a statement released…

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Dutch authorities arrest alleged Syrian ISIS security chief

The Dutch national prosecutors office on Tuesday announced the arrest of a 37-year old Syrian refugee who is accused of committing war crimes as a security official for Islamic State.…

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Syria weakens official exchange rate

DAMASCUS, Jan 2 (Reuters) - Syria weakened its official exchange rate to 4,522 Syrian pounds to the dollar, a central bank statement said on Monday, while black market rates used…

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UPDATED: Syria says Israel strike puts Damascus airport briefly out of service

By Suleiman Al-Khalidi AMMAN, Jan 2 (Reuters) - The Syrian army said on Monday an Israeli missile strike had briefly put the Damascus International Airport out of service, the latest…

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Syria’s Assad issues conditional amnesty for draft dodgers

(Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad issued an amnesty on Wednesday that pardons draft dodgers and helps them avoid prison if they report to duty within three to four months.…

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Turkish forces nearly ready for a Syria ground operation

ONCUPINAR, Turkey, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Turkey's army needs just a few days to be ready for a ground incursion into northern Syria and such a decision may come at…

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Turkish air strikes destroy 89 Kurdish militant targets in Syria, Iraq – ministry

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey's defence ministry said on Sunday that 89 targets, including shelters and ammunition depots, were destroyed in air strikes on Kurdish militant bases in northern Iraq and…

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Four Syrian soldiers killed in Israeli “air aggression” – state media

DAMASCUS, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Four Syrian soldiers were killed and one wounded in Israeli "air aggression" on some posts in the coastal and central regions of Syria on Saturday…

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Syrian military says Israel strikes air base in central Syria, killing two servicemen

By Suleiman Al-Khalidi AMMAN (Reuters) - Israeli missiles hit a major air base in Syria's Homs province on Sunday, killing two servicemen and injuring three others, the Syrian military said…

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Syrian refugees return home as Lebanese repatriation scheme begins

ARSAL, Lebanon Oct 26 (Reuters) - Hundreds of Syrian refugees living in Lebanon returned home on Wednesday, the first day of repatriations organised by Beirut, amid concerns from rights groups…

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Lebanon, Syria discuss sea border after Beirut’s Israel deal

BEIRUT, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Lebanese President Michel Aoun and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Saturday discussed delineating their countries' shared maritime border, a Lebanese official said. A dispute over…

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Lebanon to begin returning Syrian refugees to Syria next week – presidency

BEIRUT, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Lebanon will start sending Syrian refugees back to their home country at the end of next week, Lebanese President Michel Aoun said on Wednesday, despite…

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UPDATED: After Syria raid, U.S. kills Islamic State militants in air strike

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) - The U.S. military said it carried out an air strike on Thursday in northern Syria that killed two Islamic State members including a leader it named as…

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