Syria
How the Assads used a civil war to turn Syria into a narco state
As Syria's economy collapsed during its civil war, the country became something of a narco state. The regime of ousted President Bashar al-Assad earned billions by trafficking in the drug Captagon.
Turkey looks set to play an outsize role in shaping the new Syria after Assad
As the world watches Syria grapple with the aftermath of Bashar al-Assad's brutal regime and the formation of a new government, one neighbor has emerged as having great influence over the new Syria.
First public comments attributed to Assad claim he never planned to leave Syria
Former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is believed to have issued his first remarks since opposition forces took over the capital over a week ago in a Telegram post from Moscow.
U.S. has made contact with Syrian rebel group HTS, Blinken says
Comments by Secretary of State Antony Blinken this weekend were the first time a U.S. official has acknowledged contact with the Syrian rebel group that drove Bashar al-Assad from power.
American citizen Travis Timmerman is now with U.S. forces after being found in Syria
Travis Timmerman, a U.S. citizen found wandering barefoot in Damascus after being freed from a Syrian prison following the fall of the Assad regime, was handed over to U.S. forces in Syria on Friday.
Jubilant Syrians gather for Friday prayers for the 1st time since Assad’s ouster
In Damascus, people stood shoulder to shoulder at one of Syria's holiest sites, the Umayyad Mosque, in the first Friday prayers since Bashar al-Assad was overthrown less than a week ago.
What Syria means for Hezbollah’s efforts to rebuild Lebanon
With a ceasefire in place, Hezbollah wants to rebuild Lebanon. But its supply chains across Syria have been weakened by Israeli airstrikes, rebel fighting and the ouster of its ally Bashar al-Assad.
Missing American Travis Timmerman found wandering barefoot outside Damascus
The 29-year-old had last been seen in Budapest, Hungary. He said he was detained earlier this year after crossing into Syria on foot from Lebanon and held in prison until the fall of the Assad regime.
Some Syrian refugees in Berlin ponder returning post-Assad, others call Germany home
Germany hosts almost a million Syrians who fled war and dictatorship. The toppling of the Assad regime has raised questions for exiles about their next step.
5 things to watch as Syria confronts a new future
The sudden collapse of President Bashar al-Assad has come as welcome news to many, but there are jitters both inside and outside the country about what will follow.
In Lebanon, villagers on the border watch Syria’s revolution with unease
While Syrian refugees in Lebanon return home, many Lebanese remain on edge. Years of conflict have left the Syria-Lebanon borderlands scarred, and fears grow that instability could spill over again.
How Syria’s revolution could reshape the Middle East
The swift downfall of Bashar al-Assad is reverberating throughout the Middle East. Countries are urgently reassessing how to deal with a nation seeking to rebuild itself after years of civil war.
Syrians ransack Assad’s private residence in Damascus after the regime’s downfall
The private residence of deposed Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad was ransacked after rebels took over the capital, forcing him to flee the country.
Syrian opposition activists say insurgents have reached the suburbs of Damascus
Syrian insurgents have reached the suburbs of Damascus as part of a offensive that has seen them take over some of Syria's largest cities, opposition activists and a rebel commander said Saturday.
Syrian opposition forces enter the strategic city of Hama
Syrian rebels have entered another major city, in a further blow to President Bashar Assad after they took over Aleppo days earlier.
Who are the rebels who have seized control of Aleppo, Syria?
Syrian rebels have swept through parts of the country at lightning pace, taking control of the the second-largest city, Aleppo. But who are they and what are their aims?
In a shock offensive, insurgents breach Aleppo, Syria’s largest city
Insurgents breached Syria's largest city Friday and clashed with government forces for the first time since 2016, in a surprise attack that sent residents fleeing.
Alabama woman who joined IS hopes to return from Syria camp
Hoda Muthana was born in New Jersey to Yemeni immigrants and was raised in a conservative Muslim household in Hoover, Alabama, just outside Birmingham. In 2014, she flew to Turkey and crossed into Syria.
Judge Dismisses Alabama’s Suit Against U.S. Over Refugees
A federal judge has dismissed Alabama’s lawsuit against the U.S. over potential Syrian refugee resettlement.
Alabama Sues Federal Government Over Refugee Resettlement Program
Alabama has become the second state to sue the U.S. government over refugee resettlement, accusing the Obama administration of failing to consult with states on placement of those who have fled their home countries.
Birmingham Residents Rally to Show Support for Syrian Refugees
A about four dozen people gathered Saturday morning in Birmingham's Railroad Park downtown to take a picture showing that some Alabamians would like to accept Syrian refugees.
Fear Shouldn’t Define Us After Terror Attacks
Alabama Governor Robert Bentley is standing by his opposition to Syrian refugees settling in the state following last week's terror attacks in Paris. Authorities say one of the suspects in those attacks may have entered Europe with refugees feeling Syria. More than half of governors, mostly Republicans, have made similar moves to Bentley. But it's also prompted plenty of criticism. We talk about it with Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald.
Kyle Whitmire: Gov. Bentley and Syrian Refugees
Governor Robert Bentley orders state agencies to turn away Syrian refugees in Alabama, but does he have the authority to do this? WBHM’s Esther Ciammachilli talks with Kyle Whitmire, state political colmnist for the The Birmingham News and AL.com.
