Paris backs Syria no-fly zone as fighting grows -BEIRUT (AP) — France signaled Thursday that it was prepared to take part in enforcing a partial no-fly zone over Syria, piling pressure on President Bashar Assad’s embattled regime as it widens a major offensive against rebels in Damascus and surrounding areas. Read more…

US aircraft carrier heads to Mideast-WASHINGTON – Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Wednesday that the United States was preparing for “threats” from Iran and Syria’s turmoil as an aircraft carrier headed to the region ahead of schedule. Read more…

Pentagon drafts plans for strike on Syria chemical weapons if ‘red line’ crossed-The Pentagon has drafted active contingency plans to take out Syria’s chemical and biological weapons, sources familiar with the plans told Fox News — a development that comes as the Obama administration warns of military action if the Assad regime crosses a “red line.” Read more…

Syria forces unleash assault on Damascus in attempt to stomp out resistance-Syrian forces backed by helicopter gunships and tanks launched a deadly assault on parts of Damascus on Wednesday, activists said, as the regime battles to stomp out rebel resistance in the capital. Read more…

Iran expands nuclear capacity in underground bunker, sources say-Iran has installed many more uranium enrichment machines in an underground bunker, diplomatic sources said on Thursday, potentially paving the way for a significant expansion of work the West fears is ultimately aimed at making nuclear bombs. Read more…

Russia: We have Syrian guarantees on chemical arms-Russia is working closely with the Syrian government to ensure that its arsenal of chemical weapons remains under firm control and has won promises that the weapons of mass destruction will not be used or moved, Moscow’s point man on Syria told The Associated Press on Thursday. Read more…

Syria can destroy Israeli nuclear facilities ‘with 20 missiles,’ boasts ambassador to Jordan-Syria is capable of destroying Israel’s nuclear facilities with 20 missiles, Syria’s ambassador to Jordan, Bahjat Suleiman, told a visiting delegation on Wednesday, pro-Assad news sources reported. Read more…

Hezbollah holds massive military drill to simulate raids into northern Israel, border clashes-Hezbollah conducted a massive military exercise in southern Lebanon this week, reportedly deploying 10,000 gunmen over three days in a war-game scenario and simulating the Shiite group’s role as an Iranian proxy in a potential war between Israel and Iran. Read more…