September 2014 - Syria Special Weapons News

UN: ISIL Advances Could Displace Thousands More in Syria VOA 30 Sep 2014 -- The U.N.'s humanitarian chief warned Tuesday that tens of thousands more people could be forced to flee Syria if Islamic State militants continue to make territorial gains.
U.S., Partners' Airstrikes Hit ISIL in Syria, Iraq AFPS 30 Sep 2014 -- U.S. military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria yesterday and today using a mix of attack, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft to conduct 11 airstrikes.
British Combat Planes No Match for Islamic State Ground Attacks: Reports RIA Novosti 30 Sep 2014 -- Outdated and outnumbered British Royal Air Force (RAF) Tornado GR4 warplanes prove to have little to no effect on Islamic State (IS) militants fighting some 15,000 feet below in Iraq and Syria, the Telegraph reported Tuesday.
Syria army makes more gains against militants near Damascus Iran Press TV 30 Sep 2014 -- The Syrian army has made more gains in its campaign against foreign-backed militants in the countryside of the capital Damascus.
Syrian Ambassador: Bashar Assad Backs International Strikes Against IS Militants RIA Novosti 30 Sep 2014 -- Syrian President Bashar Assad has publicly announced his country's position on its readiness to work with any international efforts within the UN to eradicate Islamic State (IS) militants operating in the region and supports airstrikes against them, Syrian Ambassador to Russia Riad Haddad told RIA Novosti in an interview Tuesday.
Syrian Ambassador: Airstrikes Alone Insufficient in Destroying IS Militants in Syria RIA Novosti 30 Sep 2014 -- Syrian ambassador to Russia Riad Haddad on Tuesday told RIA Novosti that international airstrikes alone are not enough to destroy Islamic State (IS) militants operating in the Middle East and that Syrian ground troops would need to be used in order to completely eradicate them.
UN official urges sustained pressure on parties to Syria conflict to ensure aid access UN News Centre 30 Sep 2014 -- With winter fast approaching and the conflict in Syria showing no signs of abating, the United Nations humanitarian chief today called for sustained pressure on the parties to ensure access to those in need of assistance as well as financial support to maintain vital aid operations.
Military Action Not Enough to Defeat IS: Syrian Opposition Leader RIA Novosti 30 Sep 2014 -- Using military force against the Islamic State (IS) is not enough to destroy the extremist organization, Hadi Bahra, leader of a Syrian opposition group, told CNN on Tuesday.
U.S., Partners Continue Airstrikes Against ISIL in Syria, Iraq AFPS 29 Sep 2014 -- U.S. and partner-nation military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria yesterday and today, using a mix of fighter and remotely piloted aircraft to conduct eight airstrikes, U.S. Central Command officials reported.
Airstrikes Hit Islamic State Targets in Four Syrian Provinces, Iraq VOA 29 Sep 2014 -- U.S. jets and drones, along with Arab-allied planes, hit a staging area near a Syrian grain storage site, officials said Monday, one of 11 targets hit as part of the effort to rollback Islamic State battlefield victories.
Syria Reaffirms Commitment to Stand Against Against Use of Chemical Weapons RIA Novosti 29 Sep 2014 -- Syria is committed to the full implementation of the provisions of the Convention of the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and within the frame of the OPCW, the country's Foreign Minister Walid Moualem said Monday.
Syria Calls for Global Effort to Fight Al Qaeda-Linked Militant Groups RIA Novosti 29 Sep 2014 -- The global community should bring together full international efforts to stand in the face of al-Qaeda-linked militant groups as their terrorist actions will not be limited within the borders of Syria and Iraq, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moualem said Monday.
Obama: ISIL Presents a Hybrid Threat AFPS 29 Sep 2014 -- The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant is a hybrid threat, President Barack Obama said last night on the CBS program "60 Minutes."
US-led jets strike ISIL-held oil sites in Syria Iran Press TV 28 Sep 2014 -- US-led warplanes have reportedly hit oil refinery sites under the control of Takfiri ISIL militants in Syria in a bid to prevent the terrorists from selling oil.
US attacks ISIL in Syrian town near Turkish border Iran Press TV 28 Sep 2014 -- The US Defense Department says American-led airstrikes have targeted the ISIL terrorist group in northern Syria close to the border with Turkey.
US-Led Coalition Planes Hit IS Oil Sites In Syria, Iraq RFE/RL 28 Sep 2014 -- U.S.-led warplanes have hit more oil sites in Syria used by Islamic State (IS) militants as fighting by Iraqi security forces and insurgents also took place in Iraq's western Anbar Province.
Syria hails UN resolution banning support for militants Iran Press TV 28 Sep 2014 -- The Syrian government has welcomed a UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution that prohibits providing support for the foreign-backed militants.
Obama: US Intel Underestimated Militants in Syria VOA 28 Sep 2014 -- U.S. intelligence agencies underestimated Islamic State activity inside Syria, which has become "ground zero" for jihadists worldwide, President Barack Obama said in a CBS television interview broadcast on Sunday.
U.S. Military, Partner Nations Conduct Airstrikes Against ISIL in Iraq and Syria AFPS 27 Sep 2014 -- U.S. and partner nation military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria Friday and today, using fighter and remotely piloted aircraft to conduct seven airstrikes. Separately, U.S. military forces used attack aircraft to conduct three airstrikes against ISIL in Iraq.
Monitoring Group Says New Air Strikes Hit IS In Eastern Syria RFE/RL 27 Sep 2014 -- A monitoring group says air strikes, believed to have been carried out by U.S.-led forces, hit Islamic State and other Islamist groups in eastern Syria on September 27.
More Strikes Pound Islamic State Targets in Syria, Iraq VOA 27 Sep 2014 -- U.S. jets and remotely piloted drones, along with planes from Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, hit Islamic State targets in Syria and Iraq Saturday, U.S. military officials said.
Britain fighter jets start Iraq mission Iran Press TV 27 Sep 2014 -- Britain's Ministry of Defense says the first set of British warplanes have taken off to carry out airstrikes over Iraq following a move by the UK parliament to approve airstrikes targeting ISIL terrorists in the Arab country.
Syria Kurds continue fleeing homes for Turkey Iran Press TV 27 Sep 2014 -- Syrian Kurdish refugees continue to struggle for survival in Turkey after being forced from their homes by the Takfiri ISIL militants in Syria.
Syria army continues mop-up operations in Damascus district Iran Press TV 27 Sep 2014 -- The Syrian army is carrying on with its mop-up operations against the Takfiri militants in the countryside of the capital Damascus.
Department of Defense Press Briefing by Secretary Hagel and Gen. Dempsey in the Pentagon Briefing Room DoD 26 Sep 2014 -- Presenters: Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin E. Dempsey
US Airstrikes Pound Islamic State Targets VOA 26 Sep 2014 -- American fighter jets, drones and other aircraft pounded Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria on Friday as Britain, Denmark and Belgium joined the U.S.-led coalition fighting the group.
Anti-ISIL Campaign Will Take Time, Dempsey Says AFPS 26 Sep 2014 -- The campaign against the ISIL terror group will be persistent and sustained and will take time, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said at a Pentagon news conference this afternoon.
Hagel: Defeating ISIL is Long-term Endeavor AFPS 26 Sep 2014 -- Defeating the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant will require a long-term commitment by the United States and its allies on many fronts and will not be achieved by airstrikes alone, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told reporters today.
Anti-ISIL Airstrikes Continue in Iraq and Syria AFPS 26 Sep 2014 -- U.S. military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Iraq and Syria, using a mix of fighter, attack and remotely piloted aircraft to conduct 10 airstrikes yesterday and today.
Arab Militaries Lead Third Round of Syria Strikes VOA 25 Sep 2014 -- Military teams from two Arab countries led the United States in a third round of airstrikes against the Islamic State Thursday, targeting militant-held oil facilities in northeastern Syria.
Department of Defense Press Briefing by Rear Adm. Kirby in the Pentagon Briefing Room DoD 25 Sep 2014 -- Presenter: Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby
Tanker aircrews help in fight against ISIL AFNS 25 Sep 2014 -- With 16 KC-135 Stratotankers on its installation, Airmen from MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, waste no time when answering the call to defend the nation -- even when there is little to no notice. As these planes can be seen and heard overhead, one has to wonder where in the world they are flying.
Turkey's Kurds Warn Ankara's Syria Policy Threatens Peace Process VOA 25 Sep 2014 -- The head of the military wing of Turkey's Kurdistan Workers' Party has warned the peace process with Ankara is finished due to its policy towards the Syrian-Kurdish enclave. The enclave is on the verge of being over run by Islamic State forces and the Syrian city of Kobani is surrounded.
Syria army retakes strategic town of Adra Iran Press TV 25 Sep 2014 -- The Syrian army has managed to retake control of the strategic town of Adra in the southern part of the country.
U.S., Partner Nations Conduct 13 Strikes Against ISIL in Syria AFPS 24 Sep 2014 -- U.S. military forces and partner nations, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, attacked Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria today, using a mix of fighter and remotely piloted aircraft to conduct 13 airstrikes against 12 ISIL-controlled modular oil refineries in remote areas of eastern Syria near Mayadin, Hasakah, and Abu Kamal and an ISIL vehicle near Dayr az Zawr, also in eastern Syria, U.S. Central Command officials reported.
Britain Edges Closer to Military Action Against IS VOA 24 Sep 2014 -- British Prime Minister David Cameron has recalled parliament so lawmakers can debate taking military action against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria. Despite being Washington's closest ally in Afghanistan and Iraq, Britain has stopped short of joining the coalition of countries carrying out airstrikes, led by the United States. British lawmakers will debate the issue Friday.
Netherlands to Contribute 6 Fighter Jets to Mission Against IS in Iraq RIA Novosti 24 Sep 2014 -- The Dutch government has decided to send six F-16 fighter jets to Iraq to help the US-led international coalition in the fight against the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group, Deputy Prime Minister Lodewijk Asscher said Wednesday.
US Using Stealth Aircraft in Syria to Avoid Detection by Country's Air Defense RIA Novosti 24 Sep 2014 -- The use of fifth generation US stealth F-22 Raptor fighters against the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization in Syria could be explained by the United States' fear of Syrian air defense forces, military experts told RIA Novosti on Wednesday.
Australian Air Force Jets, Personnel Arrive in UAE, Preparing Anti-IS Operations RIA Novosti 24 Sep 2014 -- Royal Australian Air Force fighter jets and personnel have arrived to the United Arab Emirates to take part in operations against the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization, Australian Associated Press reported Wednesday.
IS Fighters Advance in Syria Despite US Strikes VOA 24 Sep 2014 -- U.S. planes pounded Islamic State (IS) positions in Syria for a second day on Wednesday, but the strikes did not seem to slow the militants' advance in a Kurdish area where fleeing refugees told of villages burnt and captives beheaded.
Mid-east, Gulf leaders strive for international response to terrorism in Syria UN News Centre 24 Sep 2014 -- Taking the podium today at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, leaders from the Gulf and Middle East regions called for a collective strategy to contain and address extremists in Iraq, Syria and other parts of the world, while also calling for international efforts to reconstruct Gaza.
FACT SHEET: Comprehensive U.S. Government Approach to Foreign Terrorist Fighters in Syria and the Broader Region The White House 24 Sep 2014
Airstrikes Continue Against ISIL in Iraq, Syria AFPS 24 Sep 2014 -- U.S. military forces have continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Iraq and Syria, using a mix of attack aircraft, bombers, fighters and remotely piloted aircraft to conduct eight airstrikes Sept. 22 through today, U.S. Central Command officials reported.
Warplanes flying from Turkey bomb ISIL positions in Syria: Reports Iran Press TV 24 Sep 2014 -- Military aircraft flying from Turkey have launched a series of aerial strikes against the strongholds of Takfiri ISIL militants in northern Syria.
US-led coalition bombs ISIL near Syrian Kurdish town Iran Press TV 24 Sep 2014 -- The United States and its Arab allies have reportedly carried out fresh airstrikes against the Takfiri ISIL terrorists near a Kurdish town in Syria.
US Launches 2nd Round of Syria Airstikes VOA 24 Sep 2014 -- A U.S.-led coalition bombed Islamic State targets in Syria for a second day on Wednesday, targeting the militants' transportation capabilities.
Syrian army makes gains around Damascus Iran Press TV 24 Sep 2014 -- The Syrian army has made fresh gains in its fight against the foreign-backed militants around the capital Damascus, Press TV reports.
Transcript: Department of Defense Press Briefing on Operations in Syria by Lt. Gen. Mayville in the Pentagon Briefing Room DoD 23 Sep 2014 -- Presenters: Lieutenant General William Mayville, director of Operations J3 and Press Secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby
Background Conference Call on Airstrikes in Syria The White House 23 Sep 2014
DoD Official: Successful Syrian Strikes Only the Beginning AFPS 23 Sep 2014 -- Successful U.S. military and partner nation strikes last night against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, or ISIL, were only the beginning of the fight to degrade and defeat the brutal terrorist group, Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Adm. John Kirby said today.
Spokesman: Airstrikes Intended to Disrupt, Degrade ISIL AFPS 23 Sep 2014 -- Airstrikes conducted overnight were intended to disrupt the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant's ability to lead and control its forces, Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby said today.
US: Syria Won't, Can't Stop Militant Safe Havens VOA 23 Sep 2014 -- President Barack Obama on Tuesday hailed the coalition of Arab states that joined U.S. forces to pound Islamic State targets in Syria, calling it a sign that Middle Eastern people were "standing up for the peace and security that the people of the region and the world deserves."
Mixed Arab World Reaction to US Strikes VOA 23 Sep 2014 -- Arab world reaction to the U.S.-led airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Syria, carried out Tuesday with participation or support from Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, has been mostly positive with some nuances.
US Airstrikes in Syria Draw Praise, Concern in Congress VOA 23 Sep 2014 -- U.S. lawmakers are reacting to the first U.S. airstrikes on Islamic State targets in Syria, with a number of congressional leaders praising the action taken by President Barack Obama. But some members of Congress say the nature of the U.S. mission is shifting, and that Congress needs to debate and vote on authorization of a broader and more sustained military campaign against terrorist groups in Iraq and Syria.
US: Airstrikes not coordinated with Syria Iran Press TV 23 Sep 2014 -- The United States has not coordinated airstrikes against the ISIL terrorist group in Syria with Damascus, the State Department says.
Obama: US won't tolerate safe havens for ISIL Iran Press TV 23 Sep 2014 -- President Barack Obama says the United States will do "what is necessary" to eliminate ISIL following the US-led bombing campaign against the terrorist group in Syria.
50 US-led strikes carried out in Syria Iran Press TV 23 Sep 2014 -- The US and its allies have carried out at least 50 airstrikes against the Takfiri militants operating inside Syria, the so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) says.
Pentagon to send warplanes, airmen to Middle East to fight ISIL Iran Press TV 23 Sep 2014 -- The US military will send a dozen A-10 combat jets and 300 airmen to the Middle East in early October for six months to help the fight against the ISIL terrorist group.
Pentagon Confirms Fifth-Generation Fighter Jets Used in Combat in Syria RIA Novosti 23 Sep 2014 -- The United States used F-22 fighter jets - fifth-generation aircraft - to make airstrikes on Islamic State targets in Syria on Tuesday, Gen. William Mayville, Joint Staff director of operations, said at a Pentagon briefing.
Jordan Admits Participating in Military Operation Against IS: Reports RIA Novosti 23 Sep 2014 -- Jordan took part in a military operation led by the United States against the extremist group Islamic state (IS) in Syria, Sky News Arabia channel reported Tuesday, citing Jordanian government representative Mohammed Mumin.
Syria Informed by the US Before Airstrikes Conducted RIA Novosti 23 Sep 2014 -- The United States briefed the Syrian envoy to the UN before it conducted the most recent airstrikes against the Islamic State in Syria, said the Syrian foreign minister on Tuesday, as reported by the AP.
Israel Downs Syrian Military Jet That Allegedly Violated Border RIA Novosti 23 Sep 2014 -- Israel's air defense forces have downed a Syrian plane that violated the country's airspace, a spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces said Tuesday.
Iran evaluates US air raids in Syria as illegal interference IRNA 23 Sep 2014 -- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson here Tuesday considered air raids of the United States and some other countries in Syria as illegal interference that can further complicate the region's chaotic conditions.
Tehran: US-Led Military Attack on IS in Syria Violates Int'l Law, Sovereignty of State RIA Novosti 23 Sep 2014 -- Tehran has denounced the US airstrikes against IS targets in Syria as an illegal action and violating the Arab country's sovereignty.
Syrian General: 'Moderate Opposition' in Syria Figment of Obama's Imagination RIA Novosti 23 Sep 2014 -- The 'moderate opposition' that US President Barack Obama said Washington would train and equip to address the Islamic State (IS) militant threat in Iraq and Syria does not exist, Maj. Gen. Yahya Suleiman told Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency on Tuesday.
Syrian General: Damascus Has No Objections to US Airstrikes if Coordinated in Advance RIA Novosti 23 Sep 2014 -- Damascus is not fundamentally against the US military action against the Islamic State (IS) if the airstrikes are coordinated with the Syrian authorities in advance, Maj. Gen. Yahya Suleiman told Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency on Tuesday.
Hundreds of thousands of Syrian Kurds live in fear of Islamist extremist violence - UN UN News Centre 23 Sep 2014 -- With 138,000 Syrians having already fled to Turkey from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), United Nations officials today voiced grave concern for hundreds of thousands more who remained, living in fear of the sort of persecution perpetrated by ISIL against religious and ethnic minorities elsewhere.
Obama Hails Joint US-Arab Strikes on Islamic State Targets in Syria VOA 23 Sep 2014 -- President Barack Obama on Tuesday hailed the coalition of Arab states that joined U.S. forces to pound Islamic State targets in Syria, calling it a sign that Middle Eastern people were "standing up for the peace and security that the people of the region and the world deserves."
Statement by the President on Airstrikes in Syria The White House 23 Sep 2014
Obama Says He'll Continue Building Support for Coalition AFPS 23 Sep 2014 -- President Barack Obama said today that he will use the coming days to build additional support for a coalition to confront the 'serious threat to our peace and security' posed by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists.
Obama Vows To Continue Fight Against Islamic State RFE/RL 23 Sep 2014 -- President Barack Obama has pledged to continue the fight against Islamic State militants following the first U.S.-led air strikes targeting the extremist group in Syria.
U.S. Military, Partner Nations Conduct Airstrikes in Syria AFPS 23 Sep 2014 -- U.S. military forces and partner nations, including Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, undertook military action against ISIL terrorists in Syria overnight, according to a U.S. Central Command news release.
US Launches Airstrikes in Syria VOA 22 Sep 2014 -- The United States and a group of Arab countries have carried out airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Syria.
U.S. Begins Airstrikes Against ISIL in Syria AFPS 22 Sep 2014 -- U.S. and partner nation forces have begun airstrikes inside Syria against terrorists from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Adm. John Kirby said in a statement today.
Ban welcomes release of Turkish hostages seized three months ago in Iraq UN News Centre 22 Sep 2014 -- The UN refugee agency today announced that it is boosting efforts to help the Turkish Government assist some 130,000 Syrians who have crossed into Turkey since Friday.
130,000 Syrian Kurds Flee to Turkey as IS Nears Border VOA 22 Sep 2014 -- More than 130,000 refugees have flooded into Turkey from Syria in the past few days, as the jihadist group Islamic State bears down on the Syrian border town of Kobane. Turkish authorities clashed with hundreds of Kurdish protesters, many of whom want to cross into Syria to defend fellow Kurds from the onslaught. The militant group, also known as ISIS, released a statement Monday urging Muslims to kill Westerners whose countries have joined the campaign against it.
New clashes erupt at Syria-Turkey border Iran Press TV 22 Sep 2014 -- Clashes have once again erupted in Turkey's southern region of Morshid-pinar near Syria's border where a massive influx of Syrian Kurds has been fleeing the advancing Takfiri ISIL terrorists.
Kurdish fighters halt ISIL advance in northern Syria Iran Press TV 22 Sep 2014 -- Syrian Kurdish fighters say they have stopped the ISIL Takfiri militants' advance to the east of the town of Ain al-Arab, known as Kobani to the Kurds, in northern Syria.
Ankara Says More Than 130,000 Syrian Kurds Have Fled To Turkey RFE/RL 22 Sep 2014 -- Ankara says more than 130,000 Syrian Kurds have crossed into Turkey over the past two days as they flee an advance by Islamic State (IS) jihadists.
Kurds Battle IS in Syria as Refugee Wave Tops 130,000 VOA 22 Sep 2014 -- Kurdish fighters in northern Syria continue to defend a border town from Islamic State militants as the number of area residents fleeing to neighboring Turkey tops 130,000.
OPCW Report and Ongoing Concerns With Chemical Weapons Use in Syria US Dept. of State 21 Sep 2014
Syria grants amnesty to group of militants Iran Press TV 21 Sep 2014 -- The Syrian government has granted amnesty to a group of Takfiri militants who used to fight against the country's army, Press TV reports.
70k Syrian Kurds flee homes for Turkey in 24 hours: UN Iran Press TV 21 Sep 2014 -- The UN Refugee Agency says around 70,000 Syrian Kurds have moved into Turkey in only 24 hours after being forced from their homes by the ISIL Takfiri threat.
Syria Denies Use of Chlorine Chemicals: Reports RIA Novosti 21 Sep 2014 -- In response to US Secretary of State John Kerry's accusations of using chlorine chemicals, the government of Syria has stated that the country has handed down all the chemical weaponry it possessed and that it complies with international conventions on arms control, AFP reported Sunday referencing Syria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
60,000 Syrian Kurds flee homes to escape ISIL attacks Iran Press TV 20 Sep 2014 -- A senior Turkish official says at least 60,000 Syrian Kurds have fled their homes over the past 24 hours due to the threat posed by ISIL Takfiri terrorists.
Turkey Says 45,000 Syrian Kurds Enter Fleeing Islamic State RFE/RL 20 Sep 2014 -- Ankara says tens of thousands of Syrian Kurds have crossed into Turkey over the past day, fleeing clashes with Islamic State militants.
Deputy Prime Minister: 45,000 Syrian Kurds Fleeing IS Cross Border Into Turkey RIA Novosti 20 Sep 2014 -- Some 45,000 Syrian Kurds fleeing an advanced by the Islamic State (IS) have crossed over the border into Turkey a day after Ankara opened up its border, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said on Saturday.
Syria: Ban urges immediate end to violence as thousands flee militant offensive in northern town UN News Centre 20 Sep 2014 -- Alarmed by reports that thousands of civilians in northern Syria have been forced from their homes by the latest Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) offensive in the area, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has demanded an immediate end to the violence.
In presidential statement, Security Council condemns attacks against UN Golan force UN News Centre 19 Sep 2014 -- Condemning recent hostile acts against United Nations peacekeepers in the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) area of operations, the Security Council today demanded that all groups other than UNDOF must abandon all Force positions and the Quneitra crossing point, and return the peacekeepers' vehicles, weapons and other equipment.
Hagel Welcomes Congressional Action on Aid to Syrian Opposition AFPS 19 Sep 2014 -- Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel expressed his gratitude to Congress last night for its "swift action" to give the Defense Department the authority to begin training and equipping the moderate Syrian opposition.
Press Secretary Gives Details of Syrian Training Effort AFPS 19 Sep 2014 -- The training effort for Syrian moderates will stress three things: defending their communities, going after the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists, and taking on the Assad regime, the Pentagon press secretary said today.
UN Peacekeeping Forces to Return to Syrian Side of Golan Heights: Security Council RIA Novosti 19 Sep 2014 -- The United Nations' Security Council on Thursday unanimously agreed to a Presidential Statement, condemning the attacks on UN peacekeepers in the Golan Heights and reaffirming its support for the UN Disengagement Observer Force mission (UNDOF).
Hagel Says ISIL Threats Real, Must Be Dealt With AFPS 18 Sep 2014 -- The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant poses a real threat to the countries of the Middle East and perhaps to Europe and the United States, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told the House Armed Services Committee today.
Life-saving food aid in jeopardy for millions of Syrians, warns UN agency UN News Centre 18 Sep 2014 -- The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today warned that it is running out of funds to provide food for almost 6 million Syrians receiving its life-saving assistance.
CIA deeply skeptical about Obama's Syria new strategy Iran Press TV 18 Sep 2014 -- The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is deeply skeptical about the Obama administration's new strategy to confront the ISIL terrorist organization in Syria, according to a report.
ISIL overruns several Kurdish villages in Syria Iran Press TV 18 Sep 2014 -- Latest reports say the ISIL Takfiri militants have seized control of at least five more Kurdish villages in the troubled northern Syria, increasing the number of captured villages there to 21.
IS Fighters Besiege Kurdish City as Drone Reportedly Belonging to US Spotted Over Syria RIA Novosti 18 Sep 2014 -- Islamic State (IS) militants have besieged a Kurdish city and captured several villages in northern Syria on Thursday at the same time as the first drone, reportedly belonging to the United States, was spotted over the Syrian governorate of Aleppo, the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation reported.
In Major Assault, IS Fighters Seize Kurdish Villages in Syria VOA 18 Sep 2014 -- Islamic State fighters backed by tanks have captured during the past 24 hours, 16 Kurdish villages in Northern Iraq near the Turkish border.
Obama Tells Central Command Troops America Will Lead AFPS 17 Sep 2014 -- In the fight against the Islamic State in Syria and the Levant, America will lead the right way, President Barack Obama told service members at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida,.
Remarks by the President at MacDill Air Force Base The White House 17 Sep 2014
Iraqi Deputy PM: West Unlikely to Cooperate With Syrian Government in Fight Against IS RIA Novosti 17 Sep 2014 -- Western countries are unlikely to cooperate with the Syrian government in the fight against the Islamic State (IS), Iraq's newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister told Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency.
VOA Special Report: IS Militants Draw Millions from Vast Sources VOA 16 Sep 2014 -- In terms of financing, the Islamic State militant group is more than a very well-oiled machine.
US to regret military action in Syria: IRGC chief ISNA 16 Sep 2014 -- The chief of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said the US and its allies will regret any military operation in Syria.
UN: Atrocities in Syria Escalate, Victims' Voices Go Unheard VOA 16 Sep 2014 -- U.N. investigators say there is evidence of brutal crimes being committed in Syria by all warring factions. In its latest report to the U.N. Human Rights Council, the U.N. Commission of Inquiry on Syria documents gross violations and mass atrocities perpetrated by the militant Islamic State, other armed groups and government forces against civilians.
Iran calls for strengthening Iraq, Syria to fight ISIL ISNA 15 Sep 2014 -- Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Countries Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said improving Syrian and Iraqi states is the best way to fight a terrorist group known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
West Trades Accusations Over Hostage Ransoms VOA 15 Sep 2014 -- As world leaders meet in Paris to try to forge a common response to the threat posed by Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria, there is simmering tension over differing policies on paying ransoms. In the past month, the group has beheaded two Americans and one Briton. Both countries refuse to pay ransom money. There is uncertainty in the approach of some other European nations.
Syria army troops inflict heavy blows on militants Iran Press TV 15 Sep 2014 -- The foreign-sponsored militants operating in Syria have suffered major losses as Syrian Army troops continue to gain more ground in their fight against the armed groups in Syria.
US will not coordinate airstrikes on ISIL with Syria: Kerry Iran Press TV 14 Sep 2014 -- The United States says it will not coordinate future airstrikes on ISIL terrorists inside Syria despite warnings by Damascus that any unauthorized strike on its soil is an act of aggression.
Saudi Arabia Joined US in Training 5,000 Syrian Rebels: Pentagon RIA Novosti 14 Sep 2014 -- The US government has declared that it is planning to provide training for 5000 Syrian opposition fighters annually in order to battle IS militants, Washington Times reports.
US Touts Coalition to Fight Islamic State VOA 14 Sep 2014 -- The Obama administration is expressing confidence in the formation of an international coalition to combat Islamic State radicals who control swaths of territory in Iraq and Syria. But congressional action in support of the effort is a matter of growing debate.
Around 100 French nationals involved with ISIL: Minister Iran Press TV 14 Sep 2014 -- French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve says around 930 French citizens are either fighting for the ISIL terrorist group in Iraq and Syria or planning to join the terrorists.
Syria militants 'reach truce' with ISIL Iran Press TV 13 Sep 2014 -- The so-called moderate armed opposition groups in Syria have reportedly signed a mutual non-aggression pact with the ISIL Takfiri terrorists.
Wide Array Of Countries Expected To Join Coalition Against Islamic State Militants RFE/RL 13 Sep 2014 -- As Washington vows to put together a broad coalition to fight Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria, the outlines of the new alliance are beginning to take shape.
US Announces $500Mln Aid Package for Syrians Caught in Conflict RIA Novosti 12 Sep 2014 -- US Secretary of State John Kerry has announced nearly $500 million in new humanitarian aid for victims of the conflict in Syria, after meeting with Turkish officials to promote the idea of building an international coalition to combat the Islamic State militant group, Voice of America reported Friday.
Syrian Refugees Express High Hopes for Obama's IS Plan VOA 11 Sep 2014 -- Expectations are high among refugees fleeing the Islamic State in Syria after U.S. President Barack Obama laid out a plan to destroy the militants that have taken over large swaths of Iraq and Syria. Families say life in Islamic State-controlled territories in Syria is terrifying, though some analysts say Obama's plan is likely to be more successful in Iraq than in Syria.
CIA: As Many as 31,000 Islamic State Fighters in Iraq, Syria VOA 11 Sep 2014 -- U.S. intelligence says the Islamic State militant group has between 20,000 and 31,500 fighters on the ground in Iraq and Syria.
UN: Detained Fijian peacekeepers in Golan released in good condition UN News Centre 11 Sep 2014 -- The United Nations announced today that the 45 Fijian peacekeepers who had been detained in the Golan have been released and are in good condition.
Syria, Russia oppose unilateral US strikes against ISIL Iran Press TV 11 Sep 2014 -- Damascus and Moscow have denounced possible unilateral US air raids against ISIL terrorists in Syria, saying the attacks without a UN mandate would constitute an act of aggression.
America's European Allies Wary About Airstrikes in Syria VOA 11 Sep 2014 -- President Barack Obama's announcement Wednesday of his strategy for defeating the Islamic State militant group in Iraq and Syria is being supported by Western allies and some Middle Eastern governments.
45 Fijian Peacekeepers Freed in Syria VOA 11 Sep 2014 -- The United Nations and Al Jazeera television said 45 Fijian peacekeepers, held captive by an al-Qaida-backed group, were released on Thursday in Syria's Golan Heights.
OPCW Fact Finding Mission: "Compelling Confirmation" That Chlorine Gas Used as Weapon in Syria OPCW 10 Sep 2014 -- The fact-finding mission (FFM) appointed by the OPCW Director-General to examine alleged uses of chlorine gas as a weapon in Syria has found information constituting "compelling confirmation" that a toxic chemical was used "systematically and repeatedly" as a weapon in villages in northern Syria earlier this year.
White House: Islamic State Strategy Includes Support for Syria Opposition, Iraq VOA 10 Sep 2014 -- President Barack Obama will lay out his strategy to defeat the Islamic State group, also known as ISIL, which controls parts of Iraq and Syria, during a televised address to the nation at 9:00 p.m. EDT Wednesday (0100 GMT Thursday).
43 killed in clashes between Syria forces, militants Iran Press TV 07 Sep 2014 -- At least 43 people have been killed in clashes between Syrian government forces and al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front militants in the Golan Heights.
Syria, US Strikes Target Islamic State Group VOA 06 Sep 2014 -- The U.S. military has launched more airstrikes against Islamic State militants in northern Iraq, targeting fighters and military hardware near the northern town of Irbil.
Ninety-six percent of Syria's declared chemical weapons destroyed – UN-OPCW mission chief UN News Centre 04 Sep 2014 -- The Special Coordinator for the Joint Mission of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the United Nations (OPCW-UN) told the Security Council today that 96 percent of Syria's declared stockpile, including the most dangerous chemicals, had been destroyed and preparation were underway to destroy the remaining 12 production facilities.
Obama, Cameron: Countries Will Not be Intimidated by Militants VOA 04 Sep 2014 -- President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron say their countries will not be intimidated by 'barbaric killers.' Their comments come after Islamic State militants killed two American journalists.
US Looking for Broader Coalition to Combat Islamic State VOA 03 Sep 2014 -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is leading diplomatic efforts to build an international coalition against Islamic State militants responsible for killing civilians across Syria and Iraq.
US Not Intimidated by Beheadings, Obama Says VOA 03 Sep 2014 -- President Barack Obama says the United States will not be intimidated by the beheading of a second American journalist, and vowed to build a coalition to 'degrade and destroy' the Islamic State extremist group.
Israel Concerned Over Syrian Rebels in Golan VOA 02 Sep 2014 -- Israeli officials are following with concern the recent fighting between Syrian rebels and government forces near the contested Golan Heights.
ISIL preparing for offensive on air base in eastern Syria Iran Press TV 02 Sep 2014 -- The ISIL Takfiri terrorists are reportedly preparing for a major attack in the eastern Syrian province of Dayr al-Zawr to take control of an air base.
Syria: UN relief operation delivers food assistance to record number of people UN News Centre 02 Sep 2014 -- The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) dispatched food to a record-breaking 4.1 million people inside war-ravaged Syria in August.
Seizing militant passports problem for UK: Deputy PM Iran Press TV 02 Sep 2014 -- British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has acknowledged that seizing the passports of suspected ISIL militants returning from Iraq and Syria could be in violation of international law.
Nusra Front Demands Removal from UN Terror List VOA 02 Sep 2014 -- Fiji's military commander said al-Qaida-linked militants in Syria have made a set of demands they want fulfilled before they release a group of 45 Fijian U.N. peacekeepers.
Ireland Mulls Peacekeeper Withdrawal from Golan Heights VOA 01 Sep 2014 -- Ireland's defense minister says his country needs safety reassurances from the United Nations before it sends more peacekeepers to the Israel-Syria border next month.
UN chief demands immediate release of seized Fijian peacekeepers UN News Centre 01 Sep 2014 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday again called for the release of 44 Fijian peacekeepers seized in the Golan.
UK Considers Temporary Ban on British-Born Jihadists Returning Home RIA Novosti 01 Sep 2014 -- The decision regarding a temporary ban preventing British jihadists from re-entering the United Kingdom will be announced by Prime Minister David Cameron.

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Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

September 2014 - Syria Special Weapons News