The March 14 forces insist that Hezbollah and its allies have tried to block the formation of a tribunal to hear evidence in order to serve their Syrian allies.

How is Teheran going to be able to sustain its campaign of hostility against Israel if its Syrian ally now gets drawn into the peace orbit with Israel?

In the spring, Bursuq's army was probably larger than the army of Roger and his Syrian allies.

First came thousands of Syrian allies and clouds of scouts and archers, who searched the country far and wide.

Russia, a staunch Syrian ally, told Syria on Wednesday to leave Lebanon, signaling a lack of support for the country in the Security Council.

China - a long-standing Syrian ally which recently vetoed tougher action against the regime at the UN Security Council - threw its weight behind the mediation effort.

Shawar recaptured Cairo but a dispute then arose with his Syrian allies for the possession of Egypt.

Russia, an important Syrian ally, told Syria on Wednesday to leave Lebanon.

That would rid the region of the most serious threat of a major war and help to isolate Iran, which has been a Syrian ally for more than a decade.

- Russia "vehemently" condemned the attack as did fellow Syrian ally, Lebanon.