Dictator confirmed by elections widely regarded as a farce hails 'fighting spirit' of nation torn asunder by war, says he'll be victorious no matter how many battles it takes

Russia lauds 'decisive victory' by Syrian dictator, rejects Western accusations of sham vote

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

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

Damascus accused of failing to answer key questions after watchdog probe found its air force bombed Lataminah village with sarin and chlorine in 2017

Under Netanyahu's leadership, the Jewish state survived the difficult early years to come out on top as Iran and jihadists are on the defensive

Damascus dismisses as 'unfounded and fabricated' OPCW report on samples collected from attack in Saraqib

Syrian Democratic Forces say efforts to combat jihadists today 'more difficult and more dangerous' since their expulsion into Syria's vast desert

New administration has raised other Middle East issues as priorities while indicating Syria is a matter for the United Nations to deal with

US State Department condemns strikes in northwest Syria that left one dead, set ablaze trucks used for distributing aid