Syrian government
Syria and Iran sign 'strategic' economic agreement
The agreements covered a range of fields including economy, culture, education, infrastructure, investment and housing, the official Sana news agency reported.
Israel has signalled openness to eventual ties with Assad, a tacit acknowledgement that he is re-consolidating power as he routs Syria’s rebels.
Damascus has denied mounting any such attack and said the rebels in Douma, who are massively outgunned, were collapsing and spreading false news.
Troops have splintered Ghouta into three besieged zones in one of the bloodiest offensives of the seven-year war, with rebels facing their worst defeat since the battle of Aleppo in 2016.
Turkish forces and allied Syrian militias are targeting Afrin in an offensive against the Kurdish YPG militia in north-western Syria.
Rebels, who accuse the government of “scorched earth” tactics, said they were deploying more guerrilla-style ambushes in lost territory, trying to stop further advances.
Hundreds have died in 11 days of bombing of the eastern Ghouta, a swathe of towns and farms outside Damascus that is the last major rebel-held area near the capital.
The Syrian government says what the US administration has done comes in the context of its destructive policy in the region to fragment countries and impede any solutions to the crises.
Islamic State has captured Palmyra, whose ancient ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, twice during Syria’s six-year conflict.
The ceasefire marks the biggest bet yet by Washington that it can work with Moscow to end the war.
It's understood the militants won back three villages south of the besieged city in a surprise assault.
The week’s three big offensives are some of the most aggressive campaigns against Islamic State.
The government said the vote was held to comply with the constitution, a view echoed by its Russian allies.
President Bashar al-Assad has vowed to continue to fight terrorism while talks took place.
Officials said the seizure of the Tishrin dam helps isolate the militants’ strongholds in northern Aleppo.
Julie M Norman says the Syrian war did not begin as a sectarian conflict, but it quickly became one.
A number of rebel groups vetted by states opposed to Assad have been supplied with weapons via Turkey.
Residents said ambulances rushed wounded people to hospital in Talbiseh, north of the city of Homs.
The Syrian military has recently started using new types of air and ground weapons.