Civil War In Syria -- News Updates February 27, 2013

Kerry Hints At More US Help For Syrian Rebels -- NBC

PARIS — The United States is looking for new ways to help rebels fighting the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad and help speed up political transition in the country, Secretary of State John Kerry said on his maiden foreign trip on Wednesday.

"We are examining and developing ways to accelerate the transition the Syrian people seek and deserve," Kerry said during news conference with French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius.
While Kerry did not say if Washington was set to change the policy on aiding the Syrian rebels, the Washington Post has reported that the administration was planning to start sending non-lethal equipment like body armor and armed vehicles to Assad's foes. American officials have so far opposed sending weapons to the rebels.

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More News On Syria's Civil War

Syria Live Blog -- Al Jazeera
Syria crisis: US considers more support for rebels - Wednesday 27 February 2013 -- The Guardian

New Report on Syrian Missiles Shows Extent of Death and Damage -- New York Times
Group: Syrian missiles kill at least 141 in Aleppo -- AP
Ballistic missile strikes on Aleppo signal new escalation in Syria war -- Washington Post
Syrian warplanes target rebels trying to capture police school near Aleppo as fighting rages -- Washington Post/AP
Violence rages near historic 12th century Syrian mosque -- CBS/AP
Fierce clashes threaten Syrian landmarks -- AP
U.N.: Syria targeting hospitals, doctors -- UPI
Hezbollah accuses Syria rebels of attacking Shiite villages -- AFP
Syria opposition to seek military support at Rome meeting -- Reuters
Hint of U.S. aid brings hope to Syrian rebels -- USA Today
Israel military: Mortar shell from Syria lands in Israel-controlled Golan Heights; no injuries -- Washington Post/AP
Canadian UN worker missing in Syria -- Globe and Mail
Criminals cash in on Syria's chaos with kidnappings and ransoms -- Christian Science Monitor
As atrocities mount, Syrians collect evidence of war crimes with an eye toward future trials -- Washington Post/AP
Syria Mass-Reprisal Risks Grow as Conflict Lengthens: Ban -- Bloomberg Businessweek

Iraqi premier warns Syrian rebel victory would spark wars in Iraq and Lebanon -- Washington Post/AP
Backers of Syrian rebels endanger Iraq: Iraqi minister -- Reuters
U.S. official: Iraq continues to allow Iranian overflights to Syria -- L.A. Times

US to bolster support for Syrian rebels -- Al Jazeera
Kerry: U.S. must help counter aid to Syria opposition from extremists -- Washington Post
US to Bolster Support for Syria Rebels, Kerry Says -- AP
Kerry Will Seek More Syria Opposition Aid to Oust Assad -- Bloomberg
U.S. weighing direct aid to Syrian rebels: sources -- CBS/AP
Kerry Says US Wants Speedy Transition in Syria -- Voice of America

Jordan reports new surge in Syrians fleeing civil war as fighting intensifies near border -- Washington Post/AP
UN struggling to keep up with worsening Syria war -- Global Post/AFP
Syria humanitarian crisis worsening day by day, warns Oxfam -- The Guardian/AP
Women and children bear the brunt of the Syrian war -- Al Arabiya
Over 105,000 Syrian refugees at Zaatari refugee camp -- Ammon

Outside powers seek to define Syria's endgame -- Michael Young, The National
Syria crisis: Are the two sides ready to talk? -- Mark Urban, BBC
Al-Qaida, not Assad, is Syria’s real problem -- Douglas M. Bloomfield, Jerusalem Post
Was Syria ever the secular, non-sectarian state we are led to believe it was? -- Richard Spencer, The Telegraph