Civil War In Syria -- News Updates August 12, 2015

Reuters: Syrian air strikes kill 31, rebels bombard Damascus: monitor

Syrian government air strikes on rebel-held areas near Damascus killed at least 31 people on Wednesday, and insurgents bombarded the capital with rockets that killed at least 13 people, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.

The violence came ahead of an expected visit by Iran's foreign minister to Damascus to discuss a new plan to resolve the more than four-year-long civil war.

Warplanes targeted several areas in the insurgent-held district of Eastern Ghouta on the capital's outskirts, the Britain-based Observatory said, killing at least 31 people and wounding another 120.

Civil War In Syria -- News Updates August 12, 2015

Dozens killed in Syrian government air strikes near Damascus -- Deutsche Welle
Deadly Attacks Ahead of Iran Foreign Minister's Syria Visit -- NYT/AP
Syria regime air strikes, rebel fire on Damascus kill at least 50 -- ABC News (Australia)
Syria regime air raids, rebel fire on Damascus kill 50 -- AFP
Syria conflict: Rebels advance on Assad heartland -- BBC
Airstrikes Destroy ISIL Infrastructure in Syria, Iraq -- US Department of Defense
Activists: ‘huge’ ISIS reinforcements in Syria’s Deir Ezzor -- Rudaw
Syria's Assad Meets With Iran's Zarif as Damascus Shelled -- AP
Iran’s foreign minister due in Damascus for Syria peace talks -- Al Bawaba
Iranian foreign minister discusses Syrian war with Hezbollah leader ahead of visit to Damascus -- FOX News/AP
Iran foreign minister to discuss 'new plan' for Syria on Lebanon visit -- Reuters
Assad loyalists protest over siege of troops by ISIL -- Al Jazeera
Turkey, US, Syrian ISIS-Free Safe Zone: Turkmen Brigades Move Into Syria, Al-Nusra Moves Out, Soldiers Say -- IBTimes
Truce between Hezbollah fighters, militants and rebels in Syria starts in northern area -- AP
Ceasefire begins for three towns in Syria -- Euronews
Report: Warring Syria sides agree to 48-hour truce in 3 towns -- CNN
Turkey PM: Syria no-fly zone needed -- BBC
No IS-free zone? US denies reaching agreement with Turkey on Syria 'safe zone' -- Sydney Morning Herald
Small Steps Seen Toward Syria Peace Talks -- VOA
Russia, Saudis to Help Syrian Government Renew Talks With Opposition -- WSJ
Syria opposition heads for Russia cold on anti-IS Assad coalition -- AFP
Druse Under Pressure to Take Sides in Syrian War -- WSJ
Why Chechen Militants In Syria Are Showing Off Weapons Meant For Moderate Rebels -- Radio Free Europe
Regime committing war crimes in besieged Syria area: Amnesty -- AFP
Syria's civilians have been left to die under siege -- Politics.co.uk
If Barack Obama ever had a strategy for Syria, it’s been turned on its head -- Natalie Nougayrède, The Guardian
Today, Syria is 'a Rubik's cube of battle fronts' -- Shirin Jaafari, PRI