May 27, 2015
9:07 pm

Members of Lebanon's Shiite movement Hezbollah mourn during the funeral of a comrade who was killed in combat alongside Syrian government forces in the Qalamun region, on May 26, 2015, in the southern Lebanese village of Ghaziyeh . (AFP PHOTO / MAHMOUD ZAYYAT)

Saudi Arabia sanctions alleged Hezbollah leaders

Riyadh says two suspected members of terror group aided Assad regime in Syria, ‘interfered’ in Yemen

By AFP

May 26, 2015
11:14 pm

Palestinian refugees from Syria's Yarmouk refugee camp sit on mattresses inside a school as they prepare for their official exams for the 9th grade in the capital Damascus, on May 20, 2015. (AFP/Youssef Karwashan)

Jihadists, Palestinians battle in Syria’s Yarmouk

Palestinian official reports ‘intermittent’ fighting, says IS trying to retake center of camp

By AFP

May 26, 2015
3:15 pm

ILLUSTRATIVE: An Islamic State fighter holds his AK-47 machine gun as he stands guard on the bank of the Euphrates River in Raqqa, Syria. (Militant website via AP)

Getting married, Islamic State-style

Abu Bilal al-Homsi and his Tunisian bride passed the days dining on grilled meats, strolling along the Euphrates and eating ice cream, paid for with the $1,500 he received from IS to get started on a new home, a family — and a honeymoon

By Sarah El Deeb

May 25, 2015
6:11 pm

In this April 23, 2015 file photo, Iraqi security forces and tribal fighters regain control of the northern neighborhoods, after overnight heavy clashes with Islamic State group militants, in Ramadi, 70 miles (115 kilometers) west of Baghdad, Iraq. (AP Photo, File)

In endless Sunni-Shiite battles, blood keeps flowing as the pendulum swings

The Sunnis’ great patron is Saudi Arabia, while Iran sponsors almost every known Shiite group in the region. Riyadh vs. Tehran is the name of the game, and Islamic State is only the most extreme player

By Avi Issacharoff

May 25, 2015
1:46 pm

Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi (AP/Hadi Mizban)

Iraq PM rebuts US criticism of security forces

Despite Ramadi debacle, Haider al-Abadi rejects Pentagon chief’s claim that government fighters lack will to engage in combat with Islamic State

By AFP

May 25, 2015
1:24 pm

The Islamic State flag raised on top of Palmyra castle, May 22, 2015. (The website of Islamic State fighters via AP)

Hebrew inscriptions, jewels of Palmyra’s Jewish past, may be lost forever

With Islamic State now in control, fears grow for archaeological gems that point to the ancient city’s resonant Jewish history

By Ilan Ben Zion

May 25, 2015
3:50 am

Fighters from the Islamic State group parade in a commandeered Iraqi security forces armored vehicle down a main road in Mosul, Iraq, on June 23, 2014. (photo credit: AP/File)

UK ex-army chief wants boots on the ground to fight IS

From the web Sir Richard Dannatt says airstrikes are insufficient, calls on parliament to consider deploying up to 5,000 troops, The Guardian reports

May 24, 2015
7:28 pm

This picture released on Thursday, May 21, 2015 by the website of Islamic State fighters, shows the Palmyra castle as seen from the Syrian town of Palmyra (The website of the Islamic State group via AP)

Top Muslim body urges protection of Syria’s Palmyra

Syrian Army prepares counterattack to retake ancient site after hundreds of Assad loyalists killed by jihadist group

By AFP and AP

May 24, 2015
4:23 pm

A Syrian helicopter crashes in rebel-held territory in Idlib province, March 22, 2015. (Idlib Media Center/Facebook)

Islamic State downs Syrian military chopper

At least one crew member killed when helicopter reportedly hit by anti-aircraft missile east of Aleppo

By AFP

May 23, 2015
4:43 pm

A child victim of a suspected chlorine attack in Idlib, Syria, in March 2015 (screen capture: YouTube)

Syrians to build case against Assad in chlorine attacks

Opposition activists seek international pressure to stop assaults they say can only be carried out by government

By Sarah El Deeb

May 23, 2015
3:25 pm

An Iraqi paramilitary fighter holds a weapon in the area surrounding the village of Nukhayb in the embattled Anbar province, west of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, on May 19, 2015. (AFP/Mohammed Sawaf)

Iraqi forces fight back on Anbar frontline

Islamic State breaks into museum in ancient Palmyra, though artifacts have reportedly been moved to safety

By AFP and AP

May 22, 2015
4:38 am

In this image made from a video posted on YouTube on April 3, 2015, a militant hammers away at a face on a wall in Hatra, a large fortified Iraqi city recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (AP, File)

From Nineveh to Mosul, the wrecked relics under IS control

As the exquisite Palmyra falls to jihadists, a look at the group’s sordid history of destroying history

By AP

May 22, 2015
1:21 am

Partial view of the ancient oasis city of Palmyra in Syria, March 14, 2014 (AFP/Joseph Eid, File)

After Palmyra, Islamic State said to control half of Syria

Jihadists seize last Syrian-regime held border crossing to Iraq; US admits coalition airstrike killed two children

By AFP and Times of Israel staff

May 21, 2015
5:30 pm

Hezbollah fighters attack Syrian rebels in Qalamoun. (screen capture: YouTube)

On Syrian border, Hezbollah faces its ‘hardest’ battle

Shiite group says it is fighting to secure the mountainous Qalamoun area ‘to protect Lebanon’ from jihadists

By Sara Hussein

May 21, 2015
3:08 pm

‘Birthplace of civilization’ faces final ruin by jihadists

Destruction of Palmyra, once fortified by Solomon, would be ‘enormous loss to humanity,’ UNESCO chief warns as Islamic State overruns town

By AFP

Topic: Syria

Saudi Arabia sanctions alleged Hezbollah leaders

Riyadh says two suspected members of terror group aided Assad regime in Syria, ‘interfered’ in Yemen

Jihadists, Palestinians battle in Syria’s Yarmouk

Palestinian official reports ‘intermittent’ fighting, says IS trying to retake center of camp

Getting married, Islamic State-style

Abu Bilal al-Homsi and his Tunisian bride passed the days dining on grilled meats, strolling along the Euphrates and eating ice cream, paid for with the $1,500 he received from IS to get started on a new home, a family — and a honeymoon

In endless Sunni-Shiite battles, blood keeps flowing as the pendulum swings

The Sunnis’ great patron is Saudi Arabia, while Iran sponsors almost every known Shiite group in the region. Riyadh vs. Tehran is the name of the game, and Islamic State is only the most extreme player

Iraq PM rebuts US criticism of security forces

Despite Ramadi debacle, Haider al-Abadi rejects Pentagon chief’s claim that government fighters lack will to engage in combat with Islamic State

Hebrew inscriptions, jewels of Palmyra’s Jewish past, may be lost forever

With Islamic State now in control, fears grow for archaeological gems that point to the ancient city’s resonant Jewish history

UK ex-army chief wants boots on the ground to fight IS

From the web Sir Richard Dannatt says airstrikes are insufficient, calls on parliament to consider deploying up to 5,000 troops, The Guardian reports

Top Muslim body urges protection of Syria’s Palmyra

Syrian Army prepares counterattack to retake ancient site after hundreds of Assad loyalists killed by jihadist group

Islamic State downs Syrian military chopper

At least one crew member killed when helicopter reportedly hit by anti-aircraft missile east of Aleppo

Syrians to build case against Assad in chlorine attacks

Opposition activists seek international pressure to stop assaults they say can only be carried out by government

Iraqi forces fight back on Anbar frontline

Islamic State breaks into museum in ancient Palmyra, though artifacts have reportedly been moved to safety

From Nineveh to Mosul, the wrecked relics under IS control

As the exquisite Palmyra falls to jihadists, a look at the group’s sordid history of destroying history

After Palmyra, Islamic State said to control half of Syria

Jihadists seize last Syrian-regime held border crossing to Iraq; US admits coalition airstrike killed two children

On Syrian border, Hezbollah faces its ‘hardest’ battle

Shiite group says it is fighting to secure the mountainous Qalamoun area ‘to protect Lebanon’ from jihadists

‘Birthplace of civilization’ faces final ruin by jihadists

Destruction of Palmyra, once fortified by Solomon, would be ‘enormous loss to humanity,’ UNESCO chief warns as Islamic State overruns town

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