Minneapolis, MN – A coalition of Twin Cities area peace groups gathered Oct. 31 for an emergency protest against the sending of U.S. Special Forces troops to Syria. The announcement of the sending of these troops was made Oct. 30. The troop deployment represents an escalation of aggression by the U.S. in Syria and Iraq.

Miami, FL – For the last several days, the news media has been ablaze with graphic photos conveying the desperate situation facing thousands of Arab refugees fleeing the Middle East for asylum in Europe. The international community has looked on in horror as images of dead children and broken families flood social media and news shows. The sadness and outrage from witnessing such death has caused a global outcry from the socially-conscious of the world, especially because, as the thousands of now-destitute refugees risk their lives and leave their entire worlds behind them, some of the the richest nations on the globe have locked their doors and secured their borders.

Minneapolis, MN – To mark one year since the start of the latest U.S. military intervention in Iraq, over 60 people joined a Minneapolis anti-war protest on August 8.

Minneapolis, MN – 30 people gathered here for an April 19 forum announcing the first Coke Free Zone in Minneapolis. Last fall, the campaign to #BoycottCoke was launched by the U.S. Palestinian Communities Network (USPCN), targeting Coca-Cola for its operations in illegal settlements on Palestinian land, and its support for the Zionist regime.

Tampa, FL – Over a dozen students at the University of South Florida (USF) gathered outside of Russell M. Cooper Hall on campus, March 30, to condemn recent interventions by the U.S. in Venezuela, Iraq, Syria and Ukraine. The students made speeches and chanted, attracting other students to listen.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following Jan. 19 statement from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).

The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) is reporting that the Israeli corporation, Afek Oil and Gas, is about to start drilling for oil in the occupied Syrian Golan. The Jan. 2 report states that heavy equipment has arrived at a site called Oil 5. Actual drilling is expected in two weeks

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following Oct. 17 statement from Scott Williams. We remind all progressive activists to not speak with the FBI. The FBI came looking for me today at my family’s house

Coral Gables, FL – At noon, Oct. 14, ten anti-war activists gathered in downtown Coral Gables and marched to Senator Bill Nelson’s office demanding, “U.S. hands off Syria and Iraq!” Nelson is a pro-war Democrat and member of the Armed Services Committee. The protesters chanted, “Money for jobs and education, not for war and occupation!”

Tampa, FL – 50 anti-war activists protested U.S. bombings on Syria at the corner of Dale Mabry Highway and Gandy Boulevard here, Sept. 27. The Syrian government did not give the U.S. permission to make the attacks in its territory. The U.S. government plans to continue violating the sovereignty of Syria as it targets the group calling itself the Islamic State. The crowd of protesters chanted, “Hands off Syria!” and “No more war!” to express outrage against the U.S. bombings.

Minneapolis, MN – Twin Cities peace and anti-war groups held a rally in the West Bank neighborhood, near the University of Minnesota and Augsburg College on Sept. 27. The rally was organized to be a part of a coordinated anti-war campaign in cities across the U.S. Sept. 23-29 to protest the U.S. bombing of Syria and Iraq called by the ANSWER Coalition.

Minneapolis, MN – An anti-war protest was held here, Sept. 20, to speak out against the new U.S. military intervention in Iraq and the threat of more U.S. intervention is Syria.

The Lebanese news outlet Al-Manar is reporting that an Israeli spy drone has crashed in south Lebanon, Sept. 20. It reported that the drone was in good condition when it was picked up by members of Lebanon’s army.

Minneapolis, MN – On Sept. 10, President Obama spoke to the nation to try to justify increased intervention in the Middle East, using the specter of the upcoming 13th anniversary of 9/11.

New York, NY – In front of 35 members of the United Nations Correspondence Association (UNCA), Ambassador Dr. Bashar Jaafari of the Syrian Mission hosted a report-back, June 18, by five members of the U.S. delegation of election observers who had traveled to Damascus for the June 3 presidential elections. Included among the election observers were Joe Iosbaker of the Anti-War Committee-Chicago; Paul Larudee of the Syrian Solidarity Movement; Jane Stillwater, a freelance journalist; Scott Williams of the International Action Center and Judy Bello of New York’s Upstate Coalition to Ground the Drones and End the Wars. Both Bello and Iosbaker are also members of the administrative committee of the United National Antiwar Coalition.

New York, NY – Anti-war activists joined Syrian ambassador to the United Nations, Dr. Bashar Jaafari, for a press conference at the U.N. on June 18, at 11:00 a.m. Paul Larudee, Joe Iosbaker, Judy Bello, Scott Williams and Jane Stillwater were observers of the presidential elections in Syria on June 3. They joined official governmental delegations from 11 countries, including Venezuela, Bolivia, Iran and Brazil.

Damasucs, Syria – On June 4, a group of parliamentarians met with the delegation of election observers from Canada, Ireland and the U.S. for a press event, which was covered by SANA, the Syrian public news company.

Damascus, Syria – Election observers gathered June 4, the day after election day, to discuss what they had seen and adopted a statement that the elections were democratic and wished the Syrian people a new stage of stability, national unity and reconciliation. Parliamentarians from 11 countries officially participated as observers, including Russia, Iran, Tajikistan, Bolivia, Brazil, Venezuela, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and The Philippines. There were also journalists, anti-war and international solidarity activists from Canada, the U.S., Ireland, Pakistan, Malaysia and Bahrain.

Homs, Syria – In an emotional day, mixed with sadness for the loss of life and a celebration of victory, the people of Homs, Syria came out to vote in their presidential election, June 3. Outside many polling places, hundreds of people gathered to rally, chant and dance dabke, the traditional dance of Syria, Lebanon and Palestine. The celebratory mood was because in the past month, the armies backed by the U.S., NATO, Israel and the Gulf states that had been fighting in the Old City of Homs were finally driven out.

Editors note: Prominent Chicago- based anti-war activist Joe Iosbaker is in route to Damascus, Syria where he will participate in a delegation of observers for the Syrian election’s. Fight Back! will publish commentary by Iosbaker as we receive it.