Hezbollah And Syrian Army Launch New Offensive South Of Damascus

People walk on rubble as others try to put out a fire after what activists said were airstrikes followed by shelling by forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in the Douma neighborhood of Damascus, February 9, 2015. Credit: Reuters/ Mohammed Badra

Reuters: Syrian army, Hezbollah advance in campaign against rebels in south -Damascus

Syrian government forces and their Lebanese Shi'ite militant allies took new ground in a major offensive in southern Syria on Wednesday, pressing a campaign against Sunni insurgents posing one of the biggest remaining threats to Damascus.

More News On Hezbollah And The Syrian Army Launching A New Offensive South Of Damascus

Hezbollah and Syrian army take new ground near Israeli border -- Haaretz/Reuters
Syrian troops, Hezbollah launch major offensive near Golan -- AP
Hezbollah Offensive in Syria Brings It Closer to Israel’s Border -- Bloomberg
Bloodshed Hits Syrian Capital as U.N. Attempts Truce -- WSJ
Syrian air attacks kill nearly 200 in Damascus suburbs: monitor -- Reuters
Hezbollah in Syria fighting close to Israeli lines -- AFP
Syrian, Hezbollah troops advancing towards Israeli Golan -- YNet News

Syrian President Assad Denies His Forces Are Dropping Barrel Bombs

Global Post: Assad denies using barrel bombs, just as barrel bombs fall on Aleppo

The Syrian president has denied that his forces use the indiscriminate explosives, but there's a wealth of evidence demonstrating their use.

WNU Editor: No one is believing him.

More News On Syrian President Assad's Denials That His Forces Are Dropping Barrel Bombs

Syria: President Assad denies his forces drop barrel bombs, despite the evidence -- IBTimes
#NotBarrelBombs aims to set record straight as Assad brushes off accusations -- Mashable
Syria's President Assad Called 'Deluded Liar' For Denying His Military Kills Civilians With Barrel Bombs -- Huffington Post
Syria War: What Are Barrel Bombs and Why Are They So Deadly? -- NBC

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad: 'Informed Of US Air Strikes Through Third Parties'

BBC: Assad says Syria is informed on anti-IS air campaign

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad says his government is receiving messages from the US-led coalition battling the jihadist group, Islamic State.

Mr Assad told the BBC that there had been no direct co-operation since air strikes began in Syria in September.

But third parties - among them Iraq - were conveying "information".

WNU Editor: I am sure that the Syrian Air Force is being informed .... otherwise we will be hearing reports of Syrian fighters being shot down whenever the U.S. led coalition conducts air strikes.

More News On Syrian President Bashar al-Assad Claims That He Is 'Informed Of US Air Strikes Through Third Parties'

Bashar al-Assad denies co-operation with U.S. in anti-ISIS fight -- CBC/AP
Assad Says He Receives Messages from US-Led Coalition Against ISIS -- Time
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad Denies US Cooperation in ISIS Fight -- ABC News
Syria Given Information About U.S.-Led Airstrikes Against ISIS: Assad -- NBC
Syria says it gets info on airstrikes against ISIL -- USA Today
Syria 'informed' about US-led strikes on IS: Assad -- AFP
Syria gets info via Iraq: Assad -- Global Times
Syrian government receiving information on airstrikes against Islamic State -- UPI
Assad regime briefed on anti-ISIS airstrikes, Syrian president says -- The Hill

Al Qaeda Now Has A 'Mini-State' In Syria

Gaining control: The al-Nusra Front have carved out their own territory in the region, marked above in pink, raising fears a second jihadist mini-state could thwart any attempts by western forces to end the barbarity

Daily Mail: Al-Qaeda faction carves out second jihadist 'mini-state' in Syria to rival Islamic State

* Al-Nusra Front are gaining control across Idlib province in northern Syria
* Have driven out other rebel groups including western-armed moderates
* Raises fears second jihadist 'mini-state' could defeat efforts to end unrest

WNU Editor: More proof that these earlier White House claims were .... to put it bluntly .... slightly premature.

Syrian Rebels Declare Damascus A Military Zone

BBC: Syria conflict: Dozens killed in heavy Damascus fighting

WNU Editor: It was always a war zone .... nothing new here.

More News On Syrian Rebels Declaring Damascus A Military Zone

Syria strikes kill 57 after rebel fire on Damascus: monitor -- AFP
Rocket attacks on Damascus kill 10 after Islam Army warning -- Daily Mail/Reuters
21 Dead in Damascus as Syrian Forces, Rebels Trade Salvos -- AP
Syria strikes kill 57 after rebel fire on Damascus -- i24 News
Update: Mortar rounds rain down Damascus as rebels threat more escalation -- Xinhua News Agency

Islamic State Retreated From Kobane Because Of Constant Coalition Air Strikes

CNN: ISIS fighters say constant airstrikes drove them out of Kobani

WNU Editor: DUH!!!!!

More News On The Civil War In Syria

Syria battle between al Qaeda and Western-backed group spreads -- Reuters
Qaeda group launches assault on Western-backed Syria rebels -- AFP
Nusra Front attacks FSA rebels in Aleppo, kills four -- Daily Star
Jihadists' Rivalries in Syria Result in Violent Executions -- VOA
Western-backed rebels join Aleppo alliance: Syria monitor -- Reuters
Syria rebels overtake strategic base in south -- Al Arabiya/Reuters
Syrian troops kill 50 rebels in Idlib -- Global Post/Xinhua
Syria begins destroying chemical weapons production sites -- Deutsche Welle
Next round of Syria talks in Moscow in a month: delegate -- Daily Star/Reuters
Palestinians in Syria cut off from aid once more - U.N. -- Reuters
Syria raises fuel prices to snuff out black market, soothe unrest -- Reuters
Syria: The world’s most dangerous place for journalists -- Globe and Mail

Dozens Of Civilians Killed In An Air Strike Outside The Syrian Capital

Reuters: Syrian air strike on rebel area kills more than 40: monitor

WNU Editor: A confession from this blogger. In the past .... I would have posted this story right away listing multiple news sources for this incident. But today .... I was debating whether to post it or not. Sighhh .... it then hit me .... I am becoming numb from the violence and bloodshed that is now a fact of everyday life in Syria.

More News On Today's Air Strike That Killed Dozens Of Civilians Outside Of Damascus

Syria airforce 'kills dozens of civilians near capital' -- AL Jazeera
Syrian Airstrike Kills at Least 35 Near Damascus -- Epoch Times/AP
Air strikes near Damascus kill 42, including 6 children: NGO -- AFP
Syria strike kills more than 30 near Damascus, including children -- Deutsche Welle
Syrian Airstrike Kills at Least 35 Near Damascus -- WSJ
Syria conflict: Air strike on Damascus suburb 'kills dozens' -- BBC