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Image: SANA/dpa/picture alliance
Image: SANA/dpa/picture alliance
Bashar Assad
Born on September 11, 1965, Bashar Assad took control of Syria after his father died in 2000.
Skip next section All Content on this topic
All Content on this topic
Regime fights for Damascus
Fierce fighting has taken hold in the Syrian capital, Damascus. The violence is the result of a major push by President Bashar Assad to reclaim lost territory, as doubts over the future of his regime mount.
Russia admits rebels could win
Russia, a staunch ally of Syria, has said for the first time that President Bashar Assad's regime could face defeat against the rebels. Meanwhile, bomb attacks outside Damascus have killed at least 24 people.
Obama backs Syrian opposition
The US has now given its backing to the Syrian Opposition Coalition. President Barack Obama said that Washington was satisfied that the body was truly inclusive and representative of the Syrian people.
Germany boots out Syrian staff
Germany has told a handful of staff at the Syrian embassy to leave. The gesture comes as EU ministers meet to discuss measures that could be taken to help the Syrian opposition and crack down on the Assad regime.
Political fix 'still possible'
Senior diplomats from the US and Russia have said it is not too late to find a political solution to the conflict in Syria. Their talks came as fighting raged on between government troops and rebels.
Fears about chemical weapons
There are growing concerns that Syrian President Bashar Assad could resort to the use of chemical weapons in the country's civil conflict. Both the UN and the US have issued fresh warnings against their use.
UN to pull staff out of Syria
The United Nations has announced it is withdrawing nonessential staff out of Syria owing to the worsening security situation. Meanwhile, Syria's Foreign Ministry spokesman has defected and left the country.
Death toll rises in Syria
A car bomb in Syria's western city of Homs has killed 15 people and wounded dozens more. Meanwhile, the Syrian army hammered rebel positions around Damascus in a strategic assault aimed at securing the capital.
Internet returns to Syria
Internet and telephone services are back up and running in Syria's capital, Damascus, after a two-day blackout. President Bashar Assad's regime has denied accusations it was behind the latest communications cut.
Syrian web blackout
Internet traffic in Syria has slowed to an effective standstill, according to a pair of US technology companies monitoring web traffic. Rebel fighters, meanwhile, have reported clashes for control of Damascus airport.
Bombs jolt Syrian town
Car bombs have killed at least 54 people near Damascus in the Syrian town of Jaramana. The bombings occurred as Syria's new opposition holds further talks in Cairo.
Japan bans Assad regime
Japan has expanded its sanctions against the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad. Damascus has demanded that Japan call off a Tokyo meeting of powers backing Syria's opposition due next Friday.
Syria's cities rage
Fighting in Syrian cities and towns has continued to rage this weekend, causing dozens of fatalities. Meanwhile, Iran and Turkey have been engaging in talks about Syria behind closed doors.
Supporting suppression
Kim Jong Un enrages international community by supporting Assad.
Syrian opposition gains support
France has recognized the newly united Syrian opposition as the only representative of the Syrian people. Germany also announced its support while the US stopped short of a complete endorsement.
Israeli forces fire on Syria
The Israeli military has claimed to have fired on Syrian forces, scoring "direct hits." It said was replying to Syrian mortar shelling of the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights.
Syrian opposition 'unites'
Opponents of Syria's Bashar Assad have announced a unity agreement following protracted talks in Qatar. The deal comes as violence continues to rage on the ground in Syria.
SNC chooses its president
The opposition Syrian National Council has elected a retired geography teacher and left-leaning political veteran as its new president. George Sabra, a prominent Syrian dissident for decades, fled the country this year.
Thousands flee Syria to Turkey
Thousands of Syrians have crossed into Turkey in the last 24 hours to flee the violence in their country. A group of Syrian soldiers, along with their families, also defected to Turkey overnight.
Help in Syria
Turkey is hoping for more US engagement in Syria - likely in vain.
Assad vows to stay in Syria
Syrian President Bashar Assad has said he will "live and die" in Syria after a suggestion he could be given safe passage from the country. As the opposition seeks unity, the Red Cross says it can no longer cope.
'Somalia-ization' of Syria
A deadly blast has hit a Damascus district reserved for members of President Bashar Assad's inner circle. At the UN, meanwhile, special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi has warned the country might become another Somalia.
Attack overshadows SNC talks
A human rights organization has reported a suicide attack that has allegedly claimed the lives of 50 soldiers, as the Syrian National Council attempts to consolidate its ranks at a meeting in Qatar.
Syria rebels grapple for unity
Syria's splintered opposition has opened talks aimed at forging a common front and gaining international credibility. The Qatar meeting came as rebels reported they had gained control of an oilfield.
Religion or democracy?
Religion keeps dominating both Iraq's domestic and foreign policy.
Israel: Syrian tanks in Golan
Three Syrian tanks have entered the disputed Golan Heights, Israel claims. Tel Aviv says the presence of such vehicles in the demilitarized zone violates a long-standing ceasefire agreement between the two countries.
Syrian air base under attack
Rebels have started a major assault on an important military air base in Syria's northwest. The fighting comes as Washington pushes for an overhaul of Syria's opposition.
Syrian opposition regrouping?
The opposition Syrian National Council has accused the US of conniving to replace it, ahead of anti-Assad regime talks starting Sunday in Qatar. Despite a denial from the US, observers say a new grouping could emerge.
'Potential war crime' in Syria
A Syrian opposition group says rebel forces have captured a key town in the north of the country. This comes amid reports of rebels beating and executing captured Syrian government soldiers.
Clashes rage on in Syria
Violence continued in Syria on the third day of what was meant to be a four-day truce for the Eid al-Adha Muslim holiday. Meanwhile, the UN-Arab League peace envoy is planning a new bid to halt the conflict.
Syrian cease-fire dead
Fighting continued across Syria on Saturday after a truce meant to mark the Muslim Eid al-Adha religious holiday disintegrated. Observers say that close to 150 people have died in clashes across the country since Friday.
Car bomb shatters Syria truce
Syrian state television and a rights watchdog say a number of people have been killed following a car bomb attack in Damascus, breaking a temporary cease-fire agreed to by government and rebel forces.
Syria agrees to Eid cease-fire
International peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi has announced that the Syrian government has agreed to a cease-fire during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. Meanwhile, a car bomb hit the capital, Damascus.
Lebanon's army issues warning
Lebanon’s army says it will step in to prevent further bloodshed after the clashes that followed the funeral of the country’s intelligence chief. This comes amid fears that Syria's conflict could spill across the border.
Assad: Stop arming rebels
While a peace envoy met with Syrian President Bashar Assad on Sunday to try and broker a cease-fire between government forces and rebels, a blast in Damascus killed at least 13. Assad said the arming of rebels must stop.
Brahimi urges Syrian cease-fire
UN Arab League envoy, Lakhdar Brahimi met with Syrian President Bashar Assad on Sunday. He used the occassion to reiterate his desire for both sides in the country's conflict to declare a 'unilateral ceasefire'.
Brahimi meets with Assad
UN Arab League envoy, Lakhdar Brahimi has met with Syrian President Bashar Assad on Sunday. He used the occassion to reiterate his desire for both sides in the country's conflict to declare a 'unilateral ceasefire'.
Ceasefire in sight?
UN envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi faces obstacles in the quest for an end to war.
Lebanese protest deadly bombing
Lebanon’s president has declined to accept the prime minister’s resignation following Friday’s bombing in Beirut. The attack killed several people, including a senior security official and led to mass street protests.
Syria-Turkey tensions
There's continued tension at the Turkish-Syrian border, but neither side wants it to escalate.
Brahimi calls for Syria ceasefire
The UN and Arab League envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi has met Syria's foreign minister in Damascus. Brahimi pressed his call for a ceasefire between government forces and rebels during an upcoming religious holiday.
Blame trading in Lebanon
Residents have blocked roads across Lebanon to protest the bombing in Beirut that killed a security chief and at least three other people. Lebanon's fragile cabinet called an emergency meeting as factions trade blame.
Eight killed in Beirut bomb
A top security official is reported to be among the eight people killed after a car bomb blast in Beirut. World leaders have condemned the attack.
Peace envoy visits Syria
Peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi has arrived in Damascus as the fighting shows no sign of abating. Meanwhile, Syrian warplanes have bombed the town of Maaret al-Numan as the regime tries to regain a key supply road.
Holiday cease-fire plea
Syria's Muslim neighbors have backed a cease-fire plan between government and rebel fighters during upcoming religious holidays. However, convincing the warring parties themselves would appear to be a far taller order.
HRW: Syria using cluster bombs
President Bashar Assad's regime has dropped cluster bombs on rebels and population centers, according to Human Rights Watch. The Syrian government has been fighting to recapture a town that links Damascus to Aleppo.
Turkey: 'UN reform needed'
Turkey's prime minister has criticized UN efforts to end Syria's conflict. This comes as the UN-Arab League envoy for Syria and Germany's foreign minister meet with Turkish officials to discuss the conflict.
Sly support
Western spy agencies, including Germany's, are quietly at work supporting the Syrian opposition.
Turkey conflicted
Violence in Syria leaves Turkey needing to show its strength without getting dragged into a war.
Turkish town hit again
Turkey and Syria have again exchanged artillery fire along their tense common border. Inside Syria, government forces have launched a renewed push to purge rebel forces from the city of Homs.
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