Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, said he and co-sponsor Sen. Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, planned to introduce the legislation as soon as Congress returns from a recess next week.

As fierce bombardment by Syrian government forces continues in Aleppo, President Assad said Donald Trump could be a "natural ally," if he turned out to be "genuine" about his commitment to fight terror in Syria.

Huge crowds gathered Sunday in Istanbul for a massive rally to mark the end of nightly democracy demonstrations following Turkey's abortive July 15 coup that killed over 270 people.