LA Times News

LA Times News

Syria border fighting sends 8,000 fleeing to Turkey

Posted: 09 Nov 2012 05:57 PM PST

The total of 11,000 who fled the country in 24 hours is one of the largest since the Syrian conflict began, underscoring the crisis for civilians.

BEIRUT — Fierce fighting in a border town in northeastern Syrian sent about 8,000 people fleeing into neighboring Turkey over a 24-hour period, one of the largest single-day surges of refugees since the Syrian conflict began, officials said Friday.

Brother of French gunman denounces his family

Posted: 09 Nov 2012 04:11 PM PST

Abdelghani Merah, the brother of Mohamed Merah, who killed seven people in Toulouse, France, says they were raised with hatred, anti-Semitism and violence.

PARIS — The older brother of a French militant who killed seven people early this year before being shot to death by police has spoken out against his family in a new book, condemning what he describes as a childhood of hatred, anti-Semitism and violence.

Iran confirms its planes fired on U.S. drone

Posted: 09 Nov 2012 02:10 PM PST

Iran says the Predator drone was over Iranian territorial waters; the Pentagon says the spy plane was in international airspace. It was not damaged.

WASHINGTON — Iran's government confirmed Friday that two of its warplanes fired at a U.S. surveillance drone flying over the Persian Gulf, but contradicted Pentagon claims that the unarmed aircraft, which was not damaged, was in international airspace when attacked.