Ruth Pollard

Ruth Pollard is the Middle East Correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Her job takes her throughout the Middle East and North Africa, reporting on the Arab revolutions from Egypt, Libya, Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan, Tunisia and on the conflict in Israel and Palestine.

Syria's top diplomat in London defects over 'violent and oppressive' regime

Ruth Pollard in Antakya, Turkey Syria's most senior diplomat in Britain has announced his defection, saying he can no longer represent a regime that has “committed such violent and oppressive acts against its own...

Deaths rise as Assad's army pounds Aleppo

Ruth Pollard ANTAKYA, Turkey: Forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad bombarded the northern city of Aleppo overnight, with constant helicopter machinegun fire and heavy shelling continuing across many neighbourhoods...

'Syria is stronger': troops fight to regain ground in Aleppo

Ruth Pollard, Antakya With thousands of refugees streaming across Syria's borders into Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq, Syrian government forces continued to pound the country's commercial capital, Aleppo, in a bid to...

Bloody battle for Syria's commercial city

Ruth Pollard THE fierce battle for control of Syria's second city, Aleppo, is now fought street by street, as the Syrian Army rushes more troops and tanks to the area and fighter jets fly over the city, firing on...

Bomb attack claims fourth Assad aide as rebels gain ground

Ruth Pollard Thousands flee Syria as news confirmed that the head of the country's security was a victim of Wednesday's bombing attack by rebels.

Syria regime on the brink

Ruth Pollard The four-decade rule of the family of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad appears under growing threat.

Israel alleges Iran planned bus blast

Ruth Pollard Israel threatens to 'settle the account' with those responsible for an attack that left seven dead.

Six dead in attack on Israelis in Bulgaria

Ruth Pollard At least six people were killed and many more wounded on Wednesday in an attack on a bus packed with Israelis at a Black Sea airport in Bulgaria that the government in Israel blamed on arch foe Iran.

Israel split flags shift to the right

Ruth Pollard Israel's coalition may have split over drafting ultra-Orthodox Jews into its defence force.

Early election on cards as Kadima party quits Israel alliance

Ruth Pollard It took just 70 days for Israel's mega-coalition to implode, with the centre-left Kadima party last night voting to end its alliance with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing Likud Party,...

Medical tourism drains the health system in war-ravaged Libya

Ruth Pollard A multimillion-dollar medical tourism industry catering to Libyans has emerged in neighbouring countries, stripping the country's struggling health system of vital investment and blocking efforts to...

Libyans buck Islamist trend as moderates surge ahead

Ruth Pollard A decisive victory for the broad coalition of moderates over the Muslim Brotherhood appears increasingly likely.

Libyan voters fear the rise of religious parties

Ruth Pollard The golden-coloured stallion with the four white socks is everywhere, rearing up on its hind legs and reaching towards the sky.

Libyans go to the polls with a goal of unity

Ruth Pollard With voter registration as high as 80 per cent, Libyans went to the polls yesterday to vote in a 200-member congress to replace the National Transitional Council.

Guns darken dawn of a new Libya

Ruth Pollard, Tripoli For 42 years, the only face Libyans saw looming over their future was Muammar Gaddafi's. Now the faces of thousands of candidates - many of them women - line the crowded streets of Tripoli as Libya...

Revealed: Syrian torture centres

Ruth Pollard Former detainees, torture victims and defectors reveal the torture secrets of the Assad regime.

Israel marks death of 'giant' Yitzhak Shamir

Ruth Pollard Israel's second-longest serving prime minister, Yitzhak Shamir, has died aged 96.

Hopes fade for crisis talks as Syrian conflict worsens

Ruth Pollard In the face of a dramatically deteriorating conflict in Syria, major powers are set to meet in Geneva today to discuss a UN plan for an interim transitional government.

British lawyers condemn Israeli injustice on Palestinian minors

Ruth Pollard Israel's practice of holding Palestinian children in solitary confinement and its use of violence and coerced confessions in interrogations is again in the spotlight following a report by eminent...