Russian defense minister says he knows of 'more than 16,000 applications' from fighters who fought alongside Russian troops in Syria

Human rights group, humanitarian agencies say offer of safe passage to residents of besieged areas leaves 2 choices: Flee to attackers or die in bombardment

With invasion appearing to slow to a crawl, some worry Putin will increasingly turn to indiscriminate artillery and missile strikes against civilians, as he has done in past

Political organizations, now mainly based abroad, have seen their influence wane in recent years as Iran and Russia steadfastly supported the Syrian president

Syrian Democratic Forces claim to retake full control of Ghwayran prison, where six-day battle with IS fighters claimed more than 200 lives

Damascus's representative blames 'foreign occupation 'and 'armed terrorist groups' for its inability to protect human rights

UNICEF calls for protection of some 850 minors detained inside the prison, some as young as 12, warning they could be 'harmed or forcibly recruited' by IS

Alaa Mousa, 36, accused of torturing 18 detainees at military hospitals; allegedly administered lethal injection to prisoner

In verdict hailed as 'breakthrough,' Anwar Raslan sentenced to life behind bars for overseeing 'systematic and brutal torture' of 4,000 prisoners in early stages of civil war

Court set to deliver ruling for former Syrian secret police officer Anwar Raslan, accused of crimes against humanity for abuse of detainees at Damascus jail a decade ago