Bashar al-Assad
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Nusra says action was taken in retaliation for the arrest of wives of Islamist militants
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Police found traces of explosives on clothes of Mohammed Ahmed and Yusuf Sarwar, who joined Kataib al-Muhajireen
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Activists tell the Observer of crucifixions, beheadings, air strikes, hunger and poverty under the rule of Islamic State
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Pontiff calls for greater tolerance on visit to Turkey’s President Erdoğan, who has been criticised for authoritarian policies
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Fighters from the Free Syrian Army and several Islamic military groups say Isis is gaining allies or truces due to US bombings
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In a speech in Washington just hours after death of the latest US hostage, secretary of state argued sworn enemies were propping each other up
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Assad regime says scheme to curb fighting in Aleppo and improve access to aid is worth studying, but rebels are divided
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Ian Black: The Syrian president is the beneficiary of a muddled campaign that leaves him free to strike against his own enemies
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Abubaker Deghayes pleads with sons’ peers and tells David Cameron to create exit strategy for jihadis wanting to return
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MP tells inquest into death of Dr Abbas Khan, who died in a Damascus jail in 2013, he was ready to bring the doctor home
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Professional pictures of the Quds commander are part of Iranian promotion of its support of Iraq forces against Isis
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Turkey's passive-aggressive inaction in Kobani is anti-Kurd, anti-peace politics. And it's dangerous
Mutlu Civiroglu: If Isis seizes the border city, who’s to say they won’t attack the Turks next? Erdogan needs to stop treating Kurdish people like others
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Republican senator says US needs ‘fundamental re-evaluation’ of strategy to defeat militant group in Syria and Iraq
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Shelling and bombing by the Syrian government intensifies in the two weeks since coalition air strikes against Isis began
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Letters: Our only hope in a peaceful unified Syria is an all-out victory of the Syrian army or at least some kind of agreement that keeps the current regime in charge
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Editorial: Whatever the exigencies, the west must resist the temptation to turn Damascus into a partner
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News raises concerns Islamic State could get hold of remaining stockpiles a year after UN joint mission set out to destroy them
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Letters: What is needed in Syria is serious support for the groups on the ground that have shown in the past that they are capable of defeating Isis
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Defence case corroborated as documents revealed agency told Begg he could continue work for opposition in Syria ‘unhindered’
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Islamic State fighters threaten Syrian-Kurdish city of Kobani as Turkish MPs debate deployment of troops in Iraq and Syria
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Kurds near Downing Street demand heavy weapons and antitank missiles from the UK government for fight against Isis
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Jonathan Steele: President Assad’s aides say the US is informing them in advance of the air strikes. It could lead the way to a truce with the non-jihadist rebels
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Nick Cohen: Western foreign policy is only shoring up the Syrian leader’s brutal regime
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Simon Tisdall: Syria’s president Bashar al-Assad may be laughing at the disarray of western policy, but he is also taking advantage of it
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British prime minister tells the UN general assembly the world must learn the mistake of past military ventures in Iraq, but 'must not be frozen with fear'. Cameron says there is a place for Iran in the fight against Isis, but in the case of Syria's leader Bashar al-Assad, 'my enemy's enemy is not my friend – it is another enemy'.
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Middle East Live US strikes in Syria mark start of 'sustainable, persistent campaign' – as it happened
Follow live updates on the US-led battle against Islamic State militants after the campaign spread from Iraq to Syria for the first time -
Former MI6 intelligence director Nigel Inkster warns against joining military action that could anger Assad allies
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Meeting of 24 countries in Paris sees support for Iraq's new government and urgent calls for action against 'global threat'
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Offers of help from Arab nations attest to the gravity of the Isis challenge, but signs of difficulties are already emerging
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Claims that strikes would violate sovereignty, as Syrian rebels welcome move and other Arab states offer 'appropriate' support
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A year ago, Obama told the nation he was stepping back from military intervention. On Wednesday, he made a starkly different announcement: what amounted to a declaration of war
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Battling the jihadis in Syria without giving aid to Bashar al-Assad's regime will be a hugely complicated undertaking, writes Martin Chulov
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Syrian National Coalition 'ready and willing' to help defeat Isis in the south – but urges Obama to also topple Assad regime
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For expanded Isis strikes, president relies on legal authority he disavowed only a year ago
How to solve the Syrian crisis