Syria

As Polio Spreads In Syria, Politics Thwarts Vaccination Efforts

9:31am December 05, 2013

by Deborah Amos

The polio outbreak in Syria has spread to four cities, and new cases are suspected each day. But U.N. agencies responsible for combating the outbreak can work only with the Syrian government. This limitation has hobbled vaccination efforts in rebel-held regions, where the virus was first detected.

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A Syrian fighter from the Islamist rebel group Jabhat al-Nusra inspects a resident's identification papers at a checkpoint in Aleppo on Oct. 26. Syria's Islamist fighters are generally better funded than their more moderate counterparts.

World News

Syria's Moderate Rebels Fight A Battle On Two Fronts

5:28pm November 04, 2013

by Michele Kelemen

On one side, they are battling forces loyal to the Assad regime; on the other, Islamist rebels from among their own ranks. But while the Islamists and the regime are both well-funded, the moderate rebels are looking to the U.S. for aid — and getting little in return.

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Children play at the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan, where more than 120,000 Syrian refugees live. Roughly two-thirds are kids, many of whom have been traumatized by the violence in their homeland.

World News

Syria's Grinding War Takes Toll On Children

2:19pm October 22, 2013

Two million Syrian children have been displaced by the war. Many have witnessed violence and experienced trauma that could have life-long consequences. One of the biggest challenges for international aid agencies is healing the invisible scars of the youngest victims.

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Secretary of State John Kerry flies over Afghanistan on Oct. 11. He met with President Hamid Karzai to work out an agreement on U.S. presence in the country.

Kerry Says He Hopes Syria's Chemical Weapons Are Shipped Out Of Region

2:11pm October 17, 2013

by Dana Farrington

Weapons inspectors are still in Syria assessing the country's stockpile and how to destroy it. It's unclear where the weapons would go if they were sent abroad, but there are signs that such a move is under consideration.

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Syrian youths line up for food distribution in the Maiber al-Salam refugee camp in northern Syria, near the border with Turkey. The U.S. government has provided more than $1.5 billion in aid to Syrians since the uprising began in 2011.

World News

Do You Know What The U.S. Government Is Up To In Syria?

9:47am October 08, 2013

by Deborah Amos

The U.S. has provided more than $1.5 billion to Syria since the war began more than two years ago. Virtually all of it is has been spent on humanitarian aid and social programs, though that gets much less attention than the relatively small amount that goes to the Syrian rebels.

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U.N. Ambassador: U.S. Got What It Sought With Syria Resolution

8:31pm September 27, 2013

by Eyder Peralta

Samantha Power said the resolution imposes a "pretty distinct form of accountability," in that it strips Syria of its chemical weapons. In the case of non-compliance, she said, the U.S. would have the "the force of global opinion on our side."

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Politics & Government

Triad Residents React to Possible Military Strike on Syria

6:49pm September 09, 2013

by Keri Brown

The Obama Administration is launching a final push to win congressional support for a U.S. military strike against Syria. President Obama will lay out his case to the American public Tuesday night to support his proposal for intervention in Syria.

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At the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan, many families struggle to get clean water, food and health services.

Humanitarian Aid Agencies Brace For Fallout From Syrian Strikes

11:04am September 09, 2013

by Jason Beaubien

Millions of Syrians have poured into refugee camps, where food, water and health services are scarce. As the U.S. prepares for possible military action, aid agencies are preparing for thousands more people to flee and worsen the humanitarian crisis.

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Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., met with President Obama on Sunday at the White House.

World News

McCain Says Right Strikes Can Hurt Assad's Capabilities

1:18pm September 03, 2013

by Mark Memmott

The Republican senator supports military action that makes it harder for Syrian President Bashar Assad to wage war against his people. The Senate on Tuesday starts debating the president's request for authorization to strike Syria in response to its alleged use of chemical weapons.

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At the White House, President Obama and his advisers continue to work to build support in Congress and among allies for striking Syria.

Striking Syria Still Seems A Question Of When, Not Whether

1:54pm August 30, 2013

by Mark Memmott

The White House is expected to soon release more of the evidence it says it has to support the case that the Assad regime used chemical weapons against its own people. Despite the news that Britain won't be joining in any military action, the Obama administration seems determined to go ahead.

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