After the recapture of opposition-held Yabroud by the Syrian regime in March, Abu Mutassem left the rebel ranks and came back home to Lebanon - only to disappear again. He was among dozens of Lebanese  volunteers believed to have fought with the opposition-aligned...

ANTAKYA, Turkey (Al Jazeera America)— Hala, 22, cuts a diminutive figure in her loose black abaya, a black headscarf framing her large, almond-shaped, pale blue eyes and fair skin. Eight months ago, before she married, the young Syrian woman didn’t even cover her hair. Now, she’s a...

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — The death toll among Palestinians from the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip reached 508 on Monday, Gaza health officials said as the two sides counted their dead following the bloodiest day of fighting so far in the two-week campaign. Diplomatic...

JERUSALEM/GAZA (Reuters) - Israel announced the start of a Gaza ground campaign on Thursday after 10 days of aerial and naval bombardments failed to stop persistent Palestinian rocket attacks, but it signalled the invasion would be limited in scope. A statement from Prime...