US senate backs arming Syrian rebelsA US Senate panel has voted overwhelmingly to send weapons to rebels fighting Syria's government, but it was not clear who would get the arms even if the bill succeeds, as Washington struggles to deal with its response to the conflict. More… |
US rethinking arming Syrian rebels: HagelThe US is rethinking its opposition to arming the Syrian rebels, President Barack Obama's defense chief said on Thursday, even as Obama himself signaled that no decision to deepen U.S. involvement in the conflict was imminent. More… |
US nears $10bn arms pact with Saudi, UAEThe US is finalizing a complex $10 billion arms deal that would strengthen two key Arab allies while maintaining Israel's military edge, defence officials said ahead of a trip to the Middle East by Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel. More… |
Military spending up 8pc in Mena regionMilitary spending increased by around 8 percent in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena region) last year, while global arms spending dropped for the first time in more than a decade. In Mena, More… |
UN approves first-ever global arms trade treatyThe 193-nation UN General Assembly overwhelmingly approved on Tuesday the first-ever treaty on global arms trade that seeks to regulate the $70 billion international business in conventional arms ranging from light weapons to battle tanks and wa More… |
France says too early to send arms to Syria rebelsFrench President Francois Hollande said that the situation in Syria was still too unsure to start supplying weapons to opposition rebels, an idea France backs in the longer term. France and Britain are both pressing for the relaxa More… |
Arab summit backs arming Syrian rebelsAn Arab summit agreed last night that Arab League member states had the right to provide military support to Syrians fighting President Bashar Al Assad, according to a draft declaration. The summit, meeting in Qatar, urged regiona More… |
Move to ease arms ban on Syria rebels failsFrance and Britain have failed to persuade the European Union to back their call to lift an arms embargo on Syrian rebels despite warning that President Bashar al-Assad could resort to using chemical weapons. Paris and London want More… |
Chemical arms used in Syria allege govt, rebelsSyria's government and rebels accused each other of firing a rocket loaded with chemical agents outside the northern city of Aleppo on Tuesday, an attack which a cabinet minister said killed 16 people and wounded 86. More… |
Iran steps up weapons lifeline to AssadIran has significantly stepped up military support to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in recent months, solidifying its position alongside Russia as the government's lifeline in an increasingly sectarian civil war, Western diplomats said. More… |








