Reported strikes in Homs Province in central Syria are the first in the country attributed to Israel in more than a month

Attack, reportedly from direction of Lebanon, would be first in over a month; Syria claims some missiles shot down by air defense systems; explosions reported near Damascus, Homs

Protesters slam decision to put Assad regime on executive panel of UN body, noting his army's bombing of hospitals and clinics

No vote held in areas of worn-torn country controlled by rebels where at least 8 million displaced civilians live; 5 million refugees in neighboring countries refrain from voting

On eve of election, US, Britain, France, Germany and Italy say poll 'neither free nor fair'; fragmented opposition calls it a 'farce'

Vote in government-held areas has been decried as a sham by observers and Western countries, with no supervision and just 2 unknown figures running against president

Moscow's Defense Ministry says Tu-22M3 planes will take part in training missions; deployment marks first time since Cold War that Moscow has stationed heavy bombers in Mideast

Without providing evidence for Jerusalem's involvement, foreign minister threatens 'these attacks cannot continue with Israel not paying a price'

PM says the UAV was dispatched by Iranian forces from either Syria or Iraq, accuses Tehran of backing terror groups in Gaza

Incumbent Bashar Assad all but guaranteed a fourth term in office; vote held in shadow of a decade of civil war that has displaced half the country's population