Syria ready for US 'aggression'
President Bashar al-Assad has said Syria is capable of confronting any "external aggression", Reuters reports, citing state television. The United States are seeking approval from Congress to take military action.
US strike delay 'would give Assad time to retaliate'
A rebel commander has said that Syria's embattled President Assad would gain time to prepare for a military strike while President Obama sought Congressional approval in a decision that would likely delay US action for at least 10 days.
Lieutenant Mohammad Abuod of the Free Syrian Army welcomed Obama's statement, saying: "We have been waiting for this decision for a very long time. Even though it took [the US] some time, they finally took this decision", said the rebel commander from Antakya, Turkey.
"However, Obama's decision to step back from the brink and delay an imminent military strike against Syria to seek approval from the US Congress would give Assad time to prepare for retaliation".
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Regime delight at cracks in West's anti-Assad coalition
Syrian government officials were watching President Obama's White House speech. I didn't see them smile but there's no doubt they did.
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'Napalm bomb' dropped near school in Syria
Footage has emerged which appears to show an horrific incident incendiary weapons in northern Syria near a school.
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Anxiety and anger as Syria braces for missile strike
After last week's clouds of poison gases in the suburbs, people in Damascus are bracing themselves for the expected missile retaliation.