Syria Crisis: Latest Developments

Syria says it accepted Russian weapons proposal

Syria says it has accepted Russia's proposal to place its chemical weapons under international control for subsequent dismantling.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said Tuesday after meeting with Russian parliament speaker that his government quickly agreed to the Russian initiative to "derail the U.S. aggression."

Meanwhile, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Russia is now working with Syria to prepare a detailed plan of action, which will be presented shortly. Keep reading

Also see
Syria 'Welcomed' Russian Proposal to Destroy Its Chemical Weapons

Leaked Iranian letter warned US that Syrian rebels have chemical weapons

Syrian President Assad's strongest international backer, Iran, said it has warned the US about chemical weapons in rebel hands for more than a year. Keep reading

AP poll: Most Americans oppose strike on Syria

Only 1 in 5 Americans believe that failing to respond to chemical weapons attacks in Syria would embolden other rogue governments, rejecting the heart of a weeks-long White House campaign for U.S. military strikes, an Associated Press poll has concluded.

The poll of 1,007 adults nationwide found that most Americans oppose even a limited attack on Syria — likely with cruise missiles — despite Obama administration warnings that inaction would risk national security and ignore a gruesome humanitarian crisis. And a slim majority — 53 percent — fear that a strike would lead to a long-term U.S. military commitment in Syria. Keep reading

Also see
Analysis: Americans Hate Congress, But Think it Should Have Final Say on Syria

Russia stands by ally Syria as strikes loom

Russia on Monday firmly stood by its ally Syria as President Bashar al-Assad's foreign minister visited Moscow, warning that military strikes against the regime would lead to an "outburst" of terrorism.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, after talks with his Syrian counterpart Walid al-Muallem in Moscow, painted a dark picture of the consequences of US-led military action and insisted the regime was still ready for talks. Keep reading

Assad Warns Americans to 'Expect Everything' in Retaliation if US Attacks Syria

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has warned America to "expect everything" in terms of retaliation if it launches a military strike against his government, and suggested that rebels with chemical weapon capabilities might turn on the U.S. as well.

"You should expect everything. Not necessarily from the government," Assad said in an interview on Sunday with "CBS This Morning."

"You have different parties, you have different factions, you have different ideology. You have everything in this region now," he added, and noted that Syria is "not the only player in the region." Keep reading

Syria Fight Focuses on Christian City That Still Speaks Language of Jesus

Historic pilgrimage destination where Aramaic is spoken has exchanged hands three times in six days. Keep reading

Talking diplomacy in Syria, Obama goes to Congress

Pushing military might and hoping it won't be needed, President Barack Obama angled to end the impasse over Syria on Tuesday by pressing his case for U.S. airstrikes against Bashar Assad's regime as he held out hope of a diplomatic solution under which Syria surrenders its chemical weapons. Seizing on that opening, a bipartisan group of senators crafted a reworked congressional resolution calling for a U.N. team to remove the chemical weapons by a set deadline and allowing military action if that doesn't happen.

The U.S. maneuvering played out as Syria said it has accepted a Russian proposal to put its chemical weapons under international control for dismantling. Keep reading