The United States and South Korea are to begin two major annual joint military exercises in the coming week.

"Israel is weaker than it has ever been and its army is tired and humiliated,” Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi said.

There are fears that chaos in Yemen could empower the country's branch of al Qaeda near major oil shipping routes.

The comic book-inspired painting will be shown in Los Angeles, Hong Kong, London and New York before the sale.

The humanitarian effort came after Arab and Western governments called on Damascus to "immediately cease all violence".

Clinton hopes the international community will help convince Russia and China to change their stance in regard to Syria.

"When the enemy shows more signs of capability, we ask what we can do to checkmate it," a U.S. military officer said.