Syria

Almost 2000 people lost their lives in air attacks in Aleppo committed by government forces in 2014, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) argues.

As many as 283 woman and 567 children are included in the death toll, the organization reports as quoted by Al Jazeera.

Iran said Friday that next week's presidential election in Syria, branded a farce by Western governments, will boost the legitimacy of its ally Bashar al-Assad.
      
"God willing, the elections in Syria will be carried out without a hitch," said Ali Akbar Velayati, the senior foreign policy adviser to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
      

Nearly 2,000 civilians, including 567 children, have been killed in a massive air offensive this year by Syrian regime forces on the northern province of Aleppo, a monitor said Friday.
      

Barrel bombings and other Syrian government air raids on rebel districts of Aleppo and surrounding areas have killed 1,963 civilians since January, including 567 children, a monitoring group said Friday.
      

The traditional Commencement Speeches by U.S. presidents at the West Point Military Academy usually chart the course of their foreign policy agenda for their remaining term. President Barack Obama, in his speech on Wednesday, outlined the U.S.’s priorities for the remainder of his presidency and possibly further.

President Barack Obama said Wednesday the U.S. will increase assistance to the Syrian opposition, opening the way for the likely training and possibly equipping of moderate rebels fighting to oust leader Bashar Assad.
     

The European Union said Thursday it was renewing economic sanctions against Syria, including an oil embargo and asset freezes against allies of President Bashar al-Assad, for another year.
      

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has announced Turkey has preparations underway to form a new professional border security enforcement organization that will assume various responsibilities in regards to providing security at the country’s borders.

The destruction of Syria's chemical weapons arsenal will not be completed before a June 30 deadline agreed after Washington threatened air strikes last year, U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon has said.

An April 27 deadline for Syria to hand over its chemical weapons to international monitors also expired with Damascus holding around eight percent of its declared material.

The death toll from Syrian air raids on rebel-held areas in the northern city of Aleppo has topped 40 over a 24-hour period, a monitoring group said Wednesday.
      
Barrel bombs killed 22 people Tuesday in the eastern districts of Hay Qataneh, Tariq al-Bab, Bustan al-Qasr, Bani Zeid, Mghayer and Lairamoun, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.