Turmoil in the Mideast

Syrian army pushes assault on rebel-held town

Syrian troops backed by tanks and warplanes launched an assault Sunday on a strategic rebel-held town near the Lebanese border, pounding the area with airstrikes and artillery salvos that killed at least 30 people and forced residents to scramble for cover in basements and makeshift bunkers, activists said.

Syrian soldiers warned daily of sectarian dangers, defectors say

Each morning, after saluting the Syrian flag and before the warplanes take off, soldiers at army bases across Syria are given political orientation.
04:42 May 19, 2013
Syria's Assad dubious of US-Russia peace initiative

Syrian President Bashar Assad has expressed skepticism that a planned U.S.-Russian peace conference could help stop the bloodshed in his country, according to an interview published in an Argentine newspaper.
04:45 May 19, 2013
Assad: Syria transition talks are internal matter

Syrian President Bashar Assad said in an interview Saturday he won't step down before elections and that the United States has no right to interfere in his country's politics.
Elderly father of Syria's deputy foreign minister abducted

The office of Syria's deputy foreign minister says gunmen have abducted his elderly father in the southern Daraa province. Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad's father, who is over 80 years old, was seized Saturday in the village of Ghossom in Daraa province.
12:02 May 18, 2013
Syria reportedly holds thousands incommunicado

Security agents showed up just after midnight, breaking down the door to an apartment in a town near the Syrian capital of Damascus. They grabbed a university student and left. A year later his family doesn't know if he's dead or alive. More than two years into the conflict, such accounts have become chillingly familiar to Syrians.
03:13 May 18, 2013

Live now on the Tablet Edition

Does social media add fuel to servicemembers' degrading actions?

Degrading hate speech against women remains ubiquitous in the military, despite efforts to address the sexual assault crisis.
Improved grenade design on the way

Troops can soon look forward to small improvements, even a possible complete redesign, of the fragmentation hand grenade.
Gallery

Wandering through Sicily with an eye for awe

A photo essay explores the charm of Noto, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Latest Blog Postings

Pacific Sportsblog

Far East fearless forecasting

Here are the teams to watch at this week’s Far East high school spring sports tournaments.
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Things learned, observed in Pacific high school spring sports season Weeks 12.0, 13.0

What to do about Kanto Invitational, congrats to Kadena softball, Ma Nature, soccer fellowship and other things.
Pacific Sportsblog

Things learned, observed in USFJ-AFL Weeks 4.0, 5.0

A few modest proposals to teams to improve their production; huge opportunity for command recognition.
Pacific Sportsblog

Pacific high school soccer ratings, pre-Far East edition

No movement in final regular-season top 10; could be major moves after Far Easts end.
Stripes Central

Fort Bliss gets on the microgrid, an energy first for DOD

The Army flipped the switch on an advanced power system at Fort Bliss Thursday, taking a step towards the Pentagon's goal to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of its military bases around the world.
Stripes Central

Blue Star Families survey shows stress over finances, deployments

A by-the-numbers look at the annual survey, which surveys troops and their spouses about the successes and challenges they see while serving

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