Syria

Source : Al Arabiya | 08 Nov 2013

Albania confirmed on Thursday that the United States has demanded to dismantle Syria’s chemical arsenal on its soil, amid protests in the capital rejecting any plans of such.

“We were contacted by the United States, but no decision has been made yet,” Agence France-Presse quoted parliamentary speaker Ilir Meta as saying late Thursday in an interview with Top Channel television.

“Any decision will be made transparently and will take into account the interest of the country,” Meta said.

Source : Al Arabiya | 20 Jul 2013

Syrian confectioners are preparing traditional Ramadan pancakes, bringing the spirit of the holy month to the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan, pan-Arab entertainment website Albawaba reported on Friday.

One of the confectioners, Daraa-born Ali Hariri, said he didn’t want his fellow Syrians to forget the Ramadan atmosphere, despite being in the camp.

“All confectioners in the camp wanted to provide their fellow Syrians with the same experience they used to have in Syria,” he told The Jordan Times.

By Thalif Deen | IPS | 14 May 2013

UNITED NATIONS - Israel, which has launched three air strikes inside Syria since January this year, has escaped scrutiny or condemnation by a Security Council which remains sharply divided.

The continued air attacks have escalated tensions in the region and threatened a wider regional conflagration, according to reports from the Middle East.

By Jon Queally | Agencies | 06 May 2013

In the second such incident this year, the Israeli government on Saturday confirmed it launched an airstrike inside Syria the day before.

The Associated Press reports:

By Jacob Chamberlain | Agencies | 19 Mar 2013

An anonymous Israeli official has told the Guardian that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to use time during President Obama's upcoming Israel visit to gain U.S. support for possible military strikes against Syria.

Source : Agencies | 14 Dec 2012

The U.S. will send two batteries of Patriot missiles and 400 troops to Turkey as part of a NATO force meant to protect Turkish territory from potential Syrian missile attack, the Pentagon said Friday.

The order was signed shortly before Panetta arrived on an unannounced visit to Turkey to meet American troops stationed at the Incirlik Air Base, the last stop on a week-long trip that took him to Afghanistan and Kuwait.

Source : Agencies | 04 Dec 2012

Syrian foreign ministry spokesman Jihad Makdissi has defected and has left Beirut to settle in London, diplomatic sources said on Monday.

“He defected. All I can say is that he is out of Syria,” the source, who did not want to be named, told Reuters.

Lebanon's al-Manar Television said on Monday earlier reported that Makdissi has been sacked for making statements which did not reflect official government positions.

Makdissi’s mobile telephone was switched off on Monday evening and there was no immediate comment on Syrian state media.

By Reuters | 28 Nov 2012

Source : Agencies | 09 Nov 2012

Turkish President Abdullah Gul confirmed on Thursday that Ankara was in talks with NATO about deploying a defence system on its soil to counter a potential missile threat from Syria.

NATO-member Turkey has already bolstered its own military presence along the 910-km (560-mile) border and has been responding in kind to mortar shells hitting its territory as a result of fighting between Syrian government forces and rebels.

By : Ali Bluwi | 22 Oct 2012

Under the direction of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, the Saudi government is giving preferential treatment to Syrian refugees wishing to perform Haj.