Tag: Syrian

Canada to Repatriate Six Women, 13 Children From Syrian Detention, Lawyer Says

The lawyer for six Canadian women and 13 children being held in Syrian camps says the federal government has agreed to help bring them home. Lawyer Lawrence Greenspon says a “mutually acceptable” agreement was reached today with Ottawa to repatriate the 19 Canadians. The Canadians are among the many foreign nationals in Syrian camps run…


Deadly Bus Attack Kills at Least 18 Syrian Soldiers in Damascus Countryside: Media

DAMASCUS—At least 18 soldiers were killed and 20 wounded on Thursday when an explosive device detonated on a military bus in the Damascus countryside, local outlet Sham FM said. It represents one of the deadliest attacks in months against Syrian government troops not on an active front line. Bus attacks in particular have been on…


American Journalist Austin Tice Still Missing in Syria After 10 Years, Biden Blames Assad Government

President Joe Biden has said that the United States knows “with certainty” that an American journalist who has been missing for a decade is being held by the Syrian government and has called on leaders in Damascus to release him. Biden made the comments in a statement on Aug. 1o marking the 10-year anniversary of journalist Austin Tice’s captivity. Tice, who…


Polish Police Find Body of Young Syrian Near Belarus Border

WARSAW, Poland—Polish police said Saturday that the body of a young Syrian man was found in the woods near the border with Belarus, the latest victim in a political standoff at the European Union’s eastern border. The regime in Minsk has for months been encouraging illegal migration across its border into the EU nations of…


Danish Women Evacuated From Syrian Camps Charged With Terrorism Links

COPENHAGEN—Denmark said on Thursday three Danish women, who were evacuated from Syrian detention camps along with their 14 children, had been charged with aiding terrorist activities and illegally travelling to and residing in conflict zones. Danish authorities decided in May to evacuate the women, who were being held in northeastern Syria due to their association…


US Imposes Sanctions on Syrian Prisons, Officials

WASHINGTON—The United States on Wednesday said it imposed sanctions on eight prisons run by Syria’s intelligence apparatus, some of which featured in graphic images by a former Syrian military photographer codenamed “Caesar” that show brutal torture. The Treasury Department also slapped sanctions on five Syrian officials who directed the prisons, Syrian armed rebel group Ahrar…


Syrian President Sworn in for Fourth Term in War-Torn Country

DAMASCUS, Syria—Syrian President Bashar Assad was sworn in Saturday for a fourth seven-year term in the war-torn country. The May elections were described by the West and Assad’s opposition as illegitimate and a sham. The swearing-in ceremony was held at the presidential palace and attended by clergymen, members of parliament, political figures, and army officers….


Dutch Court: Syrian Guilty of War Crime in Prisoner Shooting

THE HAGUE, Netherlands—A Dutch court convicted a Syrian man Friday of committing a war crime in his country for his role in the 2012 summary execution of a prisoner. The court sentenced the man to 20 years in prison. The case marked the first time a Dutch court has dealt with allegations of war crimes…


Crewman of Ship Flees Quarantine at Aussie Port as 12 More Claim Asylum

The Polaris 3 livestock ship has sailed away from the Port of Townsville on Monday, leaving behind 12 crew members who claimed asylum in Australia as one other crewman fled quarantine, prompting an urgent manhunt. The crew were quarantined on board the ship when one crewman of Pakistani heritage made his dash away and into…


US-Backed Syrian Forces Raid Camp of ISIS Families, Arrest 9

BEIRUT—Thousands of Kurdish-led forces, with assistance from the U.S.-led coalition, launched a military operation Sunday at a sprawling camp in northeast Syria, in a new effort to identify and arrest ISIS terrorists and tamp down escalating killings and violence in the camp. The security sweep at the al-Hol camp will continue over time and is being…