Samuel Oakford
The US and Russia Just Brokered a Ceasefire in Syria — But No Syrians Have Signed on Yet
The agreement aims for a cessation of hostilities to begin on Saturday, February 27 at midnight local time, but still requires armed actors, including the government of Bashar al-Assad and its allies, and an assortment of armed rebel groups, to get on...
The UN Plans to Use Russian Aircraft to Deliver Humanitarian Aid in Syria
The UN's World Food Program said it would have to consult Russia and Assad's government to ensure the flight's safe passage, but played down the Russian Foreign Ministry's assertion that the UN was teaming up with Moscow and Assad.
Russia Is Killing a Lot of Civilians in Syria — But the US Coalition Allegedly Is Too
While Russian airstrikes are thought to have left dozens of civilians dead on Monday alone, rights groups say a US-led coalition airstrike killed 15 civilians on the same day.
China Hits Back at UN Criticism of Its Human Rights Record
The UN human rights chief said a crackdown that has targeted lawyers and rights advocates is a "very worrying pattern," and urged transparency in the case of the missing Hong Kong booksellers.
Supposed Syrian Ceasefire Viewed Skeptically by War-Weary Aid Workers
World leaders have reportedly reached a deal to end fighting in Syria, but in light of the earlier collapse of peace talks in Geneva, humanitarian officials said they will wait to see results on the ground before wholly endorsing the deal.
US and Russia Bicker Over Ceasefire in Syria as Aid Fails to Reach Besieged Areas
The UN's human rights office said that residents of besieged Moadamiya had not in fact received aid that was reportedly delivered last week.
Exclusive: Saudi Arabia Warns the UN and Aid Workers in Yemen
The Saudi government has sent letters to the UN and aid organizations telling them to get out of areas controlled by Houthi rebels. NGOs suspect it means the Saudi are saying: If you get hit, it's tyour fault.
French Foreign Minister Quits, Lashes Out at Obama on Syria
Speaking as he left his last cabinet meeting, Laurent Fabius made no mystery of what he thinks of the United States' position on Syria.
The UN Says a Syrian Regime Siege of Aleppo Would Be a Total Catastrophe
An estimated 300,000 residents remaining in Aleppo risk being completely cut off from humanitarian supply routes if the Syrian government and allied forces succeed in surrounding the city.
Another Doctors Without Borders Hospital Has Been Bombed in Syria
The medical charity said rhree people were killed and at least six wounded in an airstrike on a hospital in southern Syria. In December, barrel-bomb attacks partially ?destroyed an MSF-supported hospital in the Homs Governorate, killing seven people.
Banned Cluster Bombs Were Used in Assad's Latest Russian-Backed Offensives in Syria
Cluster bombs unleash an array of smaller bomblets that strike indiscriminately and often linger unexploded, only to later kill or maim unexpectedly. A 2008 UN convention outlawed the weapons, but it hasn't been ratified by Russia, the US, or Syria.
The Syrian Regime Is Systematically Exterminating Prisoners, UN Inquiry Says
The commission found that deaths were centrally tracked and that military and civilian superiors have knowledge of crimes, or are at least were aware of allegations and chose to "consciously disregard such information."