The United Nations hopes for "serious negotiation" between the government and a still-to-be-formed unified Syrian opposition in October or November this year, the U.N. Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura said on Thursday. "Regarding the [Syrian] government, we are counting very much on Russia,...

Syria's war has entered a new phase as President Bashar al-Assad extends his grip in areas being captured from Islamic State, using firepower freed by Russian-backed truces in western Syria. Backed by Russia and Iran, the government hopes to steal a march on U.S.-backed militias in the...

Lebanese and Syrian ministers pledged to boost economic ties on Wednesday, part of a visit that has challenged the Lebanese state's policy of neutrality toward Syria's war. Government ministers from Lebanon's Hezbollah and the Shi'ite Amal party arrived in Syria for a trade fair, a trip that...

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) plans to carry out urgent repairs to Tabqa Dam near the Syrian city of Raqqa in an area recaptured from Islamic State, a spokeswoman said on Wednesday. The aid agency was able to enter Raqqa and Hassakeh provinces in late July for the first...