Sara Firth

Assad regime encircles opposition in N Syria; Erdogan warns of human crisis

The regime's brutal push into northwestern Syria has seen over 800 people killed and thousands displaced in just four months as it takes over rebel-held territory in Idlib and Hama, violating a ceasefire in the de-escalation zone.

Syrian artist finds relief in wood etchings

Artist Youssef Shaabou is one of millions of Syrians hoping to find some comfort in the midst of a war that has killed hundreds of thousands of people.

Thousands flee last Daesh redoubt in Syria as fighting intensifies

Thousands of people, including militants, have left the last area held by Daesh in Syria, with the UN saying hundreds more are expected to arrive at camps for the displaced on Tuesday alone.

Bereaved father mourns loss of baby boy at London's Grenfell fire inquiry

An inquiry into last year's devastating fire at Grenfell Tower in west London begins with two weeks of tributes to the 72 people who were confirmed dead.

Iraq's Mosul gears up for first post-Daesh election

People of the war-ravaged city will head for the ballot boxes on Saturday, hoping for a new beginning.

UK's involvement in Iraq still scrutinised

The war against Iraq started in March 2003, on the grounds that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction that could be deployed within 45 minutes. No weapons have been found in Iraq despite intensive investigation.

Erdogan says US funding of YPG will impact Turkey's decisions

Erdogan's comments followed the release of the US Department of Defense's 2019 budget, which includes funds to train and equip the Syrian Democratic Forces in the fight against Daesh in Syria.

Turkish army carefully advances towards Afrin to avoid civilian casualties

Turkish soldiers and the Free Syrian Army keep a careful watch during the Operation Olive Branch in order not to harm residents living in the Syria’s YPG-held Afrin region.

US air strikes in Syria kill more than 100 pro-regime forces

US military says the air strikes were a response to an "unprovoked attack" on the headquarters of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces.

Turkey's Operation Olive Branch enters its third week

Three weeks into Turkey's Operation Olive Branch to remove the YPG terror group on the Syrian side of the border, Sara Firth brings us this in-depth look at the operation so far and its impact on both sides.

Turkish military captures strategic border peak Bursaya in Syria

Eliminating terrorists from Mount Bursaya, which has been the base for the YPG’s armories and ammunition, will help Turkey reduce the terror threat at its border and protect civilians in Syria.

The 9th round of UN talks on Syria makes little progress

Having regained the upper hand on the battlefield after nearly seven years of conflict, Regime leader Bashar al-Assad appears unwilling to negotiate with his enemies at all, let alone step down as part of any peaceful solution.