The seismic change in Syria is expected to yield deeper Turkish sway just as a change of US administration is raising questions over how long Washington will keep backing the country's Kurdish-led forces.

In every crisis lies opportunity, and in every opportunity lurks crisis.

Narratives shape our world. The deeper meaning of Orwell's words becomes clear when we know the true nature of Syria's crisis.

There is “lots of evidence” that chemical weapons are being prepared by Syrian government forces in Idlib in northwest Syria, the new US adviser for Syria says, as he warns of the risks of an offensive on the country’s last big rebel enclave.

Heavy air strikes and clashes hit the Syrian rebel enclave of Eastern Ghouta ahead of an urgent UN Security Council meeting on the escalating violence.

Bomb attacks hit a Damascus suburb which is the site of Syria's holiest Shia shrine, killing at least 12 people, state media reports.

At least 11 civilians were killed in Syria's second city Aleppo in one of the highest single tolls since a fragile truce came into force, a monitor says.

Double car bomb attacks kill at least 46 people in Syria's central city of Homs on Sunday as international efforts to bring about a ceasefire in the war-torn country have floundered.

The first of several convoys carrying badly-needed aid to besieged areas of Syria has arrived at its destination.

Russia says it "categorically rejects" accusations of war crimes over the bombing of hospitals in Syria.

French PM Manuel Valls urges Russia to stop bombing civilians while carrying out airstrikes in Syria - but Moscow denies harming them.

Bombings claimed by the Islamic State group kill more than 50 people and wound dozens near a revered Shiite shrine outside the Syrian capital Damascus.

Jihadists from the Islamic State group abduct more than 400 Syrian civilians after capturing new ground in a major assault on the city of Deir Ezzor.

President Vladimir Putin orders the Russian military to take "extremely tough" action against any threat to its forces in Syria.

At least 45 people have been killed in Russian air strikes on a rebel-held area of north-western Syria, a monitoring group says.

Russia is to hold more talks with the US on air safety during the two countries’ Syrian bombing campaigns, says the Pentagon.

President Vladimir Putin secures parliament's unanimous backing to launch air strikes against Islamic State militants in Syria, paving the way for imminent Russian military intervention in its closest Middle East ally.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Barack Obama accuses each other over Syria in duelling UN speeches, as Moscow and Tehran mounted a fierce defense of Bashar al-Assad.

The Australian government has confirmed it has launched its first air strikes inside Syria against targets of the so-called Islamic State (IS).

Images of Syrian refugees stuck at borders and at train stations have spurred on an outcry for more to be done to help those fleeing the war.