Manna is not part of the main opposition delegation, which was formed at a meeting in Saudi Arabia and has yet to say if it will take part in the peace talks
Opposition’s negotiating delegation in disarray as US secretary of state warns it could lose political and military support if it refuses to accept the conditions of the upcoming Geneva talks
The UN envoy appears to be preparing an alternative plan if his attempts to change the opposition negotiation delegation fail by promoting the need to involve civil society organizations and women in the peace negotiations
Russian air force operations against terrorists in Syria have drastically altered the situation on the ground, foreign minister tells reporters in Moscow
Opposition figure says Saudi foreign minister “personally” responsible for delay of the upcoming Geneva peace talks
An empowered Moscow, with its military presence and its “perpetual” military accord, has forced its interlocutors — including the Americans — to make one of two choices: a mixed opposition list; or two delegations, one the “Russian list,” and the other the “Riyadh list”
Moscow’s insistence on imposing Russian standards on the climate of the negotiations before they have begun could to a large degree obstruct the peace talks from being held at the scheduled time
Upcoming meeting between top Russian and US diplomats will explore Syrian political settlement in an “objective and comprehensive way”, says ministry spokesperson
The UN’s proposed peace talks are hardly the result of a genuine desire to stop the killings. Instead, they are meant to create the illusion that the international community has now reached a consensus on Syria. This is patently untrue
The US retreat from the Middle East, Russian expansionism in the region, and an increase in Tehran’s influence in Syria and the region has led the pro-Assad camp to dominate the Syrian file as we witness a decline of other influential regional and international players from the scene
“Hezbollah finds itself in an awkward position as its militia is unable to launch a wide response against Israel for fear of its response, which may result in more human losses in Hezbollah ranks, especially since a third of its fighters have perished in Syria”
The resolution opted for constructive ambiguity and mutual concessions in an attempt to secure a consensus. The result was a final draft outlining the maximum Moscow could get, and the minimum Washington would surrender
Putin stresses operations in Syria will continue until objectives are fulfilled, despite Turkish “aggression”
Newly-formed alternative opposition, Syrian Democratic Council, elects Qahm Movement’s Haytham Manna and Ilham Ahmed as joint presidents following summit in Hassakeh province
“The presence of Assad in Damascus is necessary and when the duty arises, we will receive him in Iran.” says Velayati
US advises Syria’s political and military opposition to adopt “creative language” when discussing the fate of President Bashar al-Assad during the opposition’s expanded conference in Riyadh this week
Foreign policy advisor to Iran’s supreme leader says Assad’s fate can only be decided by the Syrian people
FSA officers in Turkey have provided sensitive information, including rebels’ movements, bases, names and weapons to Russian intelligence
Ceasefire reached between regime and rebels in Al-Waar as Assad looks to consolidate his control over Syria’s strategic areas prior to the upcoming negotiations in Vienna
The secretary general of the Damascus–based opposition Syrian National Democratic Action Commission talks to Syria Times
