Iran's foreign minister slammed potential US-led airstrikes against Syria as "illegal" on a visit to Baghdad Sunday, while his Iraqi counterpart warned they would hinder efforts towards a political solution. Mohammad Javed Zarif said military action was barred under the United Nations...

 The White House is making a big push to rally members of Congress and the American public behind President Barack Obama's plan for a U.S. military strike against Syria. His administration says the government of Syrian President Bassar Assad used chemical weapons in an attack last month...

Syrian rebels, including jihadists, have taken control of the historic Christian town of Maalula, north of Damascus, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights watchdog and a resident said on Sunday. "Overnight, Syrian regime troops moved into the village, but rebel forces sent reinforcements...

 Pope Francis on Sunday condemned the use of chemical weapons, but he called for a negotiated settlement of the civil war in Syria, and announced he would lead a worldwide day of fasting and prayer for peace there on Sept. 7. Francis abandoned the traditional religious theme of the...