Alawites flee Syrian rebel offensive near Mediterranean: ‘Tremendous fear of atrocities’

Alawites flee Syrian rebel offensive near Mediterranean: ‘Tremendous fear of atrocities’

Special to WorldTribune.com NICOSIA — Syria’s ruling Alawite minority has been evacuating villages amid a Sunni rebel offensive along the Mediterranean coast. Opposition sources said thousands of Alawites fled their communities along the Mediterranean Sea in August. The sources said the Alawites have flooded cities protected by the regime of President Bashar Assad, particularly the […]

Report: U.S. officials say Israeli air strike hit Syrian arms depot on July 5

Report: U.S. officials say Israeli air strike hit Syrian arms depot on July 5

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — Israel was said to have again attacked Syria. The United States determined that the Israel Air Force struck a Syrian military depot in the port of Latakia on July 5. Three U.S. officials told CNN that the attack targeted the P-800 Yakhont coastal defense system procured by the regime of […]

From ‘Arab Spring’ to ‘Arab Nightmare’ as the ‘civilized’ world stands by

From ‘Arab Spring’ to ‘Arab Nightmare’ as the ‘civilized’ world stands by

Special to WorldTribune.com By Norman Bailey It has become commonplace to say that the grotesquely over-hyped “Arab Spring” has turned into the “Arab Fall” or even the “Arab Winter”. Nothing of the kind. To go from spring to fall or winter is simply the fate of most revolutionary movements, as in the “French Spring” of […]

Syrian endgame: Diplomacy, for once, may be the only option

Syrian endgame: Diplomacy, for once, may be the only option

John J. Metzler PARIS — Spiraling sectarian violence, expanding regional destabilization, and the looming danger of proxy conflict between the United States and Russia, are among the dangers in the widening Syrian civil conflict which has taken over 93,000 lives. Equally an escalating humanitarian disaster continues to engulf a country where now approximately a third […]

Putin’s chess move in Syria, with an eye on the region at large

Putin’s chess move in Syria, with an eye on the region at large

Special to WorldTribune.com By Brian M Downing Shortly after Vladimir Putin and Secretary of State John Kerry agreed to seek a negotiated settlement to the Syrian civil war, the Russian president bolstered his support for the embattled Assad government. Putin announced an impending transfer of anti-ship and surface-to-air missiles to the Syrian military. It was […]

Russian Pacific Fleet enters the Mediterranean in challenge to West

Russian Pacific Fleet enters the Mediterranean in challenge to West

Special to WorldTribune.com Compiled by Miles Yu, Geostrategy-Direct.com For the first time in a decade, a large combat fleet from Russia’s Pacific Fleet based in Vladivostok in the Russian Far East is joining other Russian warships in the Mediterranean on a combat patrol. The mission was apparently prompted by Russia’s determined desire to sustain the […]

Creative diplomacy needed as conflict in Syria threatens its neighbors

Creative diplomacy needed as conflict in Syria threatens its neighbors

John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — Decrying a rising death toll and an escalation of violence, the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly called yet again for progress towards a political transition to defuse Syria’s civil war, now in its third year. Though the resolution strongly condemns the Syrian government of Bashar Assad for its increased use […]

Syria launches air attack on rebel strongholds

Syria launches air attack on rebel strongholds

Special to WorldTribune.com NICOSIA — The regime of President Bashar Assad has launched another counter-offensive against Sunni rebels in Syria. Officials said the Assad regime has directed the Syrian Army and Air Force to intensify attacks on rebel strongholds around Damascus and other major cities. They said the latest regime campaign was meant to roll […]

After Arab Spring, Easter hope but mainly fear

After Arab Spring, Easter hope but mainly fear

John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — The winds of change continue to swirl throughout the Middle East as the region enters the third year of the socio/political phenomenon optimistically dubbed as the Arab Spring. While political scientists debate the ebb and flow of freedoms and anarchy in the region ranging from Egypt to Libya and […]

Syria’s future: Israel favors fragmentation while Saudis want reliable counter to Iran

Syria’s future: Israel favors fragmentation while Saudis want reliable counter to Iran

Special to WorldTribune.com By Brian M Downing The Syrian rebellion is bringing new security concerns to many countries, especially Israel. Under the Assads, Syria had been cowed by Israeli military superiority. Syria’s future, its intentions and capabilities, are in doubt. Israel cannot determine the outcome of events there – no state or group of states […]