Syria Civil War Live Updates: Syrian Prime Minister Jalali agrees to handover power to rebel forces

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan discussed the latest developments in Syria in phone call with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Tuesday, his office said.

"During the call, President Erdogan stated that Turkey will keep doing everything in its power for the establishment of a unified and terror-free Syria," Erdogan's office said in a post on X. (Reuters)

An Israeli military spokesperson on Tuesday denied that Israeli forces had penetrated into Syrian territory beyond the buffer zone with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights after Syrian sources said the incursion had reached up to 25 km from the capital Damascus.

"It's not true, the forces have not left the buffer zone," the spokesperson said. (Reuters)

Hundreds of Syrian refugees gathered at two border crossings in southern Turkey on Monday, eagerly anticipating their return home following the fall of Bashar Assad’s government.Many arrived at the Cilvegozu and Oncupinar gates at daybreak, draped in blankets and coats.

Some camped by the barriers, warming at makeshift fires. The crossings correspond to the Bab al-Hawa and Bab al-Salameh gates on the Syrian side. (AP)

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emannuel Macron are prepared to work with the Syrian rebel groups who ousted President Bashar al-Assad on certain conditions, a German government statement after a phone call between the two leaders.

The leaders of the European Union's two largest powers welcomed the departure of Assad who had caused "terrible suffering to the Syrian people and great damage to his country". The Syrian leader fled Damascus for Moscow on Sunday, ending more than 50 years of brutal rule by his family. (Reuters)

An Israeli military incursion into southern Syria has reached about 25 km (16 miles) southwest of capital Damascus, two regional security sources and one Syrian security source said on Tuesday.

The Syrian security source said Israeli troops reached Qatana, which is 10 km into Syrian territory east of a demilitarized zone separating Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from Syria.

The Israeli military declined to comment. (Reuters)

Iran's foreign ministry has said that Israel's "violation" of law by intruding inside the Golan buffer zone which is a United Nations patrolled region in the Golan Heights is “a flagrant violation of the United Nations charter”, Al Jazeera reported.

"We demand an immediate response from the UN Security Council to stop the aggression and hold the occupation regime accountable," said Esmail Baghaei, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson.

The UN’s refugee agency (UNHCR) has said that close to one million people have been displaced inside Syria since the rebel forces up their offensive against the ousted President Bashar al-Assad.

The number put up by the UN agency includes 150,000 “experiencing secondary displacement”. It added that women and girls comprise of the close to one million figure reported.

"“The security situation in Aleppo, Idlib, Hama, Homs and Damascus remains dynamic. There are multiple overlapping population movements, including major internal displacement within Syria," the UNHCR said.

The Syrian rebels, who seized power from the ousted President Bashar al-Assad, have planned to name senior Assad regime officials who are wanted for torture, CNN reported.

The rebels will announce List no. 1 that includes names of the most senior officials involved in torturing the Syrian people, according to a statement from Military Operations Command led by HTS.

The Assad family, which ruled in Syria for over 50 years, have been accused of torture, mass incarceration, extra-judicial killings and atrocities of the Syrians.

Israeli warplanes have bombarded Syria, including the capital Damascus, a dozen of times since Syrian rebels seized power from ousted President Bashar al-Assad, BBC reported.

According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), there were over 100 strikes by the Israeli forces on military targets in Syria.

As per Syria's local media reports, a research centre was targeted which allegedly had links to chemical weapon production.

The collapse of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime presents Israel with both potential threats and strategic opportunities. While there are fears of unrest spilling over into Israeli territory, the situation also offers a chance to counteract Iran’s weapons smuggling to Hezbollah via Syria.

Israeli forces have begun seizing control of a demilitarised buffer zone in Syria established as part of the 1974 ceasefire agreement. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the move as temporary, aimed at securing the border following the Syrian army’s retreat.

Visiting the Golan Heights on Sunday, he stated, “Because Syrian troops abandoned their positions, Israel’s move into the buffer zone was necessary as a temporary defensive position”, according to news agency AP.

The United Nations, however, has raised concerns. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said, “Peacekeepers at UNDOF informed Israeli counterparts that these actions would constitute a violation of the 1974 disengagement agreement”, AP reported.

(Read more from the report)

US President Joe Biden is seeking ways to engage with the Syrian rebel groups who ousted President Bashar al-Assad and is reaching out to partners in the region with the likes of Turkey to initiate an informal diplomacy.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, during a press briefing, said that Washington had its own ways of communicating with various groups.

"We have been engaging in those conversations over the past few days. Secretary himself has been engaged in conversations with countries that have influence inside Syria, and we'll continue to do that," Miller stated, according to Reuters.

Syria's Ambassador to the United Nations Koussay Aldahhak has said that he and his mission and all Syrian embassies abroad have received instructions to continue with their jobs during the transitional period.

Aldahhak made the comments outside of the UN Security Council where closed consultations were ongoing regarding the overthrow of the ousted President Bashar al-Assad’s regime by the Syrian rebels forces.

“We are with the Syrian people. We will keep defending and working for the Syrian people. So we will continue our work until further notice,” the ambassador said.

The rescue teams which went to search the infamous Sednaya prison discovered 15 bodies reportedly of civilians, claimed Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).

The UK based human rights group said that it has documented 69 deaths of civilians in the prisons during the ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in 2024, reported Al Jazeera.

The report came as Syrians continue to search for their loved ones in the prisons after the rebels seized control of Syria from Assad.

The United Nations Security Council members will work on a statement on Syria in the coming days, U.S. and Russian diplomats said on Monday, after a closed-door meeting over the rebel seizure of the capital Damascus and ousting of President Bashar al-Assad.

"The council, I think, was more or less united on the need to preserve the territorial integrity and unity of Syria, to ensure the protection of civilians, to ensure that humanitarian aid is coming to the needy population," Russian U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told reporters after the 15-member body met.

Deputy U.S. Ambassador Robert Wood confirmed that most members spoke about those issues and told reporters the council would work on a statement. The United States is president of the council for December.

"This is an incredible moment for the Syrian people," Wood said. "Now we're really focused right now on trying to see where the situation goes. Can there be a governing authority in Syria that respects the rights and dignities of the Syrian population?"

Syria's U.N. Ambassador Koussay Aldahhak told reporters outside the council that his mission and all Syrian embassies abroad had received instructions to continue doing their job and maintain the state institution during the transition period.

(Reuters)

A Syrian civil defense group named White Helmets which launched an investigation into the infamous Saydnaya prison in order to search for possible prisoners being detained in any 'secret cells or basements', has ended and found no evidence of any secret cells.

In a statement on Monday, the group White Helmets said “The search did not uncover any unopened or hidden areas within the facility.”

Named as “human slaughterhouse” by Amnesty International, the White Helmet group deployed an emergency specialized team to search for the hidden cells or basements holding prisoners in the Saydnaya prison which has been a hub for caging activists and volunteers.

The United States prosecutors have accused two Syrian officials of managing and overseeing the operations of torture centre where peaceful protesters were abused, including a 26-year-old American woman who was detained it and allegedly executed later on.

The indictment by the US administration came to the fore on Monday, days after the Syrian rebels seized the country from ousted President Bashar al-Assad, who has been reportedly given asylum in Moscow.

The indictment by the US prosecutors named Jamil Hassan, director of the Syrian air force's intelligence branch, who is said to oversaw a prison and torture center at the Mezzeh air force base in Damascus, and Abdul Salam Mahmoud, who allegedly operated the prison.

The US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller informed the public on Monday that America has “taken steps to secure our embassy” building in Syria after rebel forces seized Damascus and ousted President Bashar al-Assad’s government from the country.

“We have taken steps to secure our embassy, and we believe that our embassy, which, of course, we’re not staffing at the time, but that our embassy is still secure,” Miller said at a press conference.

Notably, the United States had suspended its embassy’s operations in Damascus in 2012 and didn’t have any diplomatic relations with Assad's regime.

The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) has said that the presence of Israeli forces in the Syrian buffer zone is a direct violation of the 1974 Agreement on Disengagement with Syria.

On Sunday, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that he had ordered the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to seize control of the buffer zone, which actually separates the Golan Heights, which is occupied by Tel Aviv from the remaining part of Syria.

The UN Secretary General’s spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric confirmed that Israeli personnel are present in the buffer zone in at least three locations. He added “There should be no military forces or activities in the area of separation. Currently, the situation in the UNDOF area of operations is relatively calm,” as reported by CNN.

During a call with Jordan’s King Abdullah II, US President Joe Biden highlighted Jordan’s key role in maintaining stability and de-escalating tension in the Middle East region amid the rebels seizing control of Damascus and falling of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

“The President emphasized his full support for a Syrian-led transition process under the auspices of the United Nations as outlined in UN Security Council Resolution 2254,” the White House stated.

The two leaders also talked about the need to finalise a ceasefire and a hostage return deal between Israel and Gaza and increase the humanitarian aid in the region and agreed to remain in “regular contact directly and through their teams.”

After taking over the reigns of the country from ousted President Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian rebel forces have called upon Assad's security forces to register with them at a “settlement centre”.

“All Assad regime forces need to visit the center to complete settlement procedures and receive a temporary ID before Saturday Dec 14, 2024,” the rebels statement said as reported by CNN.

The armed rebel forces took down Assad's regime in a lightning advance in 11 days of offensive, which led to President Assad’s ouster and fleeing the country.

Israeli planes bombed at least three major Syrian army air bases that housed dozens of helicopters and jets in the biggest such wave of strikes on air bases since Bashar al Assad was toppled, two Syrian security sources said. Qamishli air base in north east Syria, Shinshar base in the countryside of Homs and Aqrba airport southwest of the capital Damascus were all hit, the sources said. It has also waged several strikes on a research centre on the outskirts of Damascus and a centre for electronic warfare near Sayeda Zainab area of the capital.

(Reuters)

Israel told the United Nations Security Council on Monday that it has taken "limited and temporary measures" in a demilitarized strip bordering Syria to counter any threats, particularly to residents of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. "It is important to emphasize, however, that Israel is not intervening in the ongoing conflict between Syrian armed groups; our actions are solely focused on safeguarding our security," Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon wrote in a letter to the 15-member council. He said Israel remained committed to the framework of a 1974 Separation of Forces Agreement.

(Reuters)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Assad's overthrow in Syria a major opportunity but warned of risks like ISIS rebuilding during the transition. He urged Syrians to decide their future and stressed the US priority to prevent Syria's fragmentation and the spread of terrorism and extremism.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Italy's government said it would pause asylum applications from Syria, a statement said, following similar moves from European neighbours after the fall of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. "The government decided, similarly to other European partners, to suspend proceedings on asylum applications from Syria," the statement said after a meeting between government chief Giorgia Meloni and some ministers on Syria.

(Reuters)

At least two explosions heard in Damascus took place in the area of Barzeh, near Damascus, where the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Centre has an office, three witnesses in the neighbourhood told Reuters. The SSRC has been sanctioned and previously struck for its links to chemical weapons production under toppled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel is using all the tools it has to ensure its security, post change in Syrian leadership.

(Reuters)

The UN refugee chief called for patience as millions of Syrian refugees displaced by the 13-year civil war weigh a possible return to the country after the toppling of autocratic president Bashar al-Assad. "There is a remarkable opportunity for Syria to move toward peace and for its people to begin returning home," said United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi in a statement sent to journalists. "But with the situation still uncertain, millions of refugees are carefully assessing how safe it is to do so. Some are eager, while others are hesitant."

He called for "patience and vigilance" as refugees weigh their options. Already European countries were putting asylum applications from Syrians on hold until further notice. The likelihood of returns is likely to depend on whether Syrian's new leaders prioritise law and order, he said. "A transition that respects the rights, lives, and aspirations of all Syrians – regardless of ethnicity, religion, or political beliefs – is crucial for people to feel safe." UNHCR stood ready to help states organise voluntary returns, Grandi added.

(Reuters)

US President Joe Biden spoke with Jordan's King Abdullah about the situation in Syria, Axios reported.

(Reuters)

The United States and Turkey have reached an agreement to ensure the safe withdrawal of US-backed Kurdish Syrian forces from the besieged town of Manbij, a Syrian opposition source said. The Kurdish group SDF "have withdrawn from the city, and still need to withdraw from the other areas" east of the city, said the Syrian opposition source familiar with the matter.

(Reuters)

Turkey announced the reopening of the Yayladagi border gate with Syria to facilitate the safe and voluntary return of Syrian migrants, President Tayyip Erdogan said. Erdogan emphasized managing migrant returns "in a way befitting our hosting" and easing border traffic. The Yayladagi crossing, closed since 2013 due to nearby fighting, is set to reopen as part of this effort.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Britain paused decisions on Syrian asylum claims on Monday, a government spokesperson said after rebel forces seized the capital of Damascus over the weekend. "The Home Office has paused decisions on Syrian asylum claims whilst we assess the current situation," a spokesperson from the interior ministry said in a statement. "We keep all country guidance relating to asylum claims under constant review so we can respond to emerging issues.”

The UK decision comes after Germany, Austria and other European countries ordered a halt to asylum applications by Syrians after President Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia following 13 years of civil war. The war forced millions of Syrians to flee the country. Most went to Turkey and other neighbouring nations but Syrians also made up a large proportion of the more than a million people who fled to Germany and Austria during the European migration crisis of 2015 and 2016.

In the UK, by the end of February 2021, more than 20,000 Syrian refugees had been resettled under a government scheme, according to the Refugee Council.

(Reuters)

Former Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Jalali told Al Arabiya TV on Monday that he had agreed to hand over power to the rebel "Salvation Government".

(Reuters)

Turkey's foreign minister and United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres discussed the transition period in Syria after President Bashar al-Assad's ousting by rebels and possible steps to rebuild the country, a Turkish Foreign Ministry source said on Monday.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Guterres also discussed the access of humanitarian aid into Syria, the source said. The two exchanged ideas on what the UN could do to help rebuild Syria, the person added.

(Reuters)

Qatar condemned the Israeli seizure of the buffer zone and sites on the border with Syria. In a statement the foreign ministry said this is "a dangerous development".

(Reuters)

Syrian rebels have freed thousands of detainees, including political prisoners, as President Bashar Assad's regime collapsed. Among those released was 63-year-old writer Bashar Barhoum, who narrowly escaped execution after months in prison.

Detainees from notorious facilities like Saydnaya prison, infamous for torture and secret executions, were seen celebrating their freedom in videos shared online.

(With inputs from AP)

Syria's Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi Jalali announced that the government remains operational despite significant challenges following the fall of President Bashar Assad. He assured citizens that most ministers are continuing their work in Damascus and emphasized efforts to ensure a smooth transition.

However, disruptions in government services, including aviation and humanitarian aid, have emerged as many state employees stay home. UN officials reported that critical operations have stalled, highlighting the difficulties of maintaining stability in a transitional period.

(With inputs from AP)

Hundreds of Syrian refugees gathered at Turkey's Cilvegozu and Oncupinar border crossings on Monday, eager to return home following the fall of President Bashar Assad. Wrapped in blankets and carrying their belongings, refugees expressed joy and relief at the prospect of reuniting with families and rebuilding their lives.

Turkish authorities facilitated the process, allowing only those with proper documents to cross.

(With inputs from AP)

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said on Monday it had reminded Syrian authorities of their obligation to destroy banned toxic munitions amid ongoing political changes in the country.

(Reuters)

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte voiced cautious optimism on Monday following developments in Syria, calling for a peaceful transition of power and an inclusive, Syrian-led political process. "This is a moment of joy but also uncertainty for the people of Syria and the region. We hope for a peaceful transition of power and an inclusive Syrian-led political process," Rutte said in a statement.

Rutte also emphasized the need for Syrian rebel leaders to uphold the rule of law, protect civilians, and respect religious minorities during the transition. He criticized Russia and Iran, the primary backers of Bashar al-Assad's fallen regime, for their roles in the conflict and said they abandoned Assad once he no longer served their interests. Rutte added that Moscow and Teheran shared responsibility for crimes committed against the Syrian people.

(Reuters)

White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan is expected to visit Israel on Thursday for talks on Syria and efforts to broker a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal, Axios reporter Barak Ravid stated in a post on X, citing Israeli officials.

(Reuters)

Austria's caretaker government said it had ordered a halt to the processing of asylum applications by Syrians after rebels seized Damascus and President Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia after 13 years of civil war. The civil war forced millions of Syrians to flee the country. They were a large proportion of the more than a million people who their way to Germany and neighbouring Austria during the European migration crisis of 2015 and 2016. A public backlash against that influx continues to fuel support for Austria's far right and conservatives.

"Chancellor Karl Nehammer today instructed Interior Minister Gerhard Karner to suspend all current Syrian asylum applications and to review all cases in which asylum was granted," the Interior Ministry said in a statement. Karner added: "I have instructed the Ministry to prepare a programme of orderly repatriation and deportation to Syria," without elaborating on how that could be achieved.

(Reuters)

Germany's Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) has put all asylum applications from Syrian nationals on hold until further notice after the toppling Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, an Interior Ministry spokesperson said on Monday.

Asylum requests will be not be processed until there is more clarity on political developments in the country, which is just emerging from a 13-year civil war, the spokesperson said. Over 800,000 people with Syrian citizenship live in Germany, with the majority having come as refugees following former Chancellor Angela Merkel's decision in 2015 to allow over a million asylum seekers to enter Germany.

Syria was the top country of origin for asylum seekers in Germany this year, with 72,420 asylum applications submitted by the end of November, BAMF data shows. Some 47,270 asylum applications from Syrians remain undecided. The decision comes ahead of snap elections set for February. Far-right and conservative parties are topping the polls, and Germans view migration as the second biggest problem their country faces, a poll by Infratest showed on Friday.

The head Bavaria's conservatives, Markus Soeder, on Monday referred to the BAMF suspension as "the right decision." "We even have to consider how a greater number of people can be repatriated to their Syrian homeland," he said in a news conference.

(Reuters)

Hamas congratulated the Syrian people on achieving their aspirations for freedom and justice, and expressed hope that Syria's national unity will strengthen its historical and pivotal role in supporting the Palestinian cause.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Egypt condemns Israel's "further occupation of Syrian lands" and views the Israeli military's movement into a buffer zone as an attempt to enforce a new reality on the ground, it said in a foreign ministry statement on Monday.

Israel moved tanks over the border into the buffer zone with Syria, calling the move temporary and limited and aimed at ensuring Israel's security.

(Reuters)

The deposits of Syrian citizens in functioning Syrian banks are safe, Syria's Central Bank said in a Facebook post on Monday, Reuters reported.

Syrian insurgents who toppled President Bashar Assad said they won't impose any religious dress code on women and vowed to guarantee personal freedom for everyone.

In a statement posted on social media, the insurgents' General Command said “It is strictly forbidden to interfere with women's dress or impose any request related to their clothing or appearance, including requests for modesty”.

The command said it affirms that personal freedom is guaranteed to everyone, and that respect for the rights of individuals is the basis for building a civilised nation.

In areas that were controlled by Syrian opposition groups since the civil war erupted in 2011, the vast majority of women dressed modestly, only revealing their faces and hands.

Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the militant leader whose forces entered Damascus over the weekend, has renounced longtime ties to al-Qaida and depicted himself as a champion of pluralism and tolerance.

(AP)

Syria's prime minister said Monday that most Cabinet ministers are still working from offices in Damascus after rebels entered the capital over the weekend and overthrew President Bashar Assad. Streams of refugees crossed in from neighboring countries, hoping for a more peaceful future.

But there were already signs of the difficulties ahead for the rebel alliance now in control of much of the country, which is led by a former senior al-Qaida militant who severed ties with the extremist group years ago and has promised representative government and religious tolerance.

Israel said it is carrying out airstrikes on suspected chemical weapons sites and long-range rockets to keep them from falling into the hands of extremists. Israel has also seized a buffer zone inside Syria after Syrian troops withdrew.

(With inputs from AP)

A German foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former al Qaeda affiliate that spearheaded a lightning advance that toppled the Syrian regime, will be judged by its treatment of minorities.

"In recent months and years, HTS has endeavored to distance itself from its jihadist origins and to build up civilian structures," the spokesperson said.

"Whether these efforts can now be taken seriously will be seen in particular in the treatment of civilians and especially minorities in the areas they now control," the spokesperson added.

(Reuters)

Foreign intelligence chief Sergei Naryshkin said that Russia was holding talks on the security of its citizens in Syria, Interfax news agency reported on Monday, as quoted by Reuters.

The Kremlin said earlier in the day that it was too early to say what the future would hold for Russia's military bases in Syria after rebels ousted President Bashar al-Assad, adding that it would be the subject of discussion with the new rulers in Damascus.

The speed at which the situation in Syria has spiralled into anarchy defies all logic. With the availability of the best surveillance systems, eyes in the sky, eavesdropping capabilities, and artificial intelligence, there should hardly be scope for strategic surprise in the world of military and quasi-military affairs. Yet, with uncanny frequency, turbulence festers under the scanner to burst out with a vengeance.

We are well past the stage where one could luxuriously explain the backdrop of this hugely complex problem which has the potential to upset the entire apple cart in the Middle East. The number of players in the fray, along with ideologies and multiple other interests, complicate the situation beyond measure.

It’s important to understand the likely immediate effects of the overthrow of Assad. First, Iran’s supply chain to Hezbollah is now compromised, thus potentially delaying or making impossible the refurbishment of its military capability to take on Israel. Read More

The Kremlin said that it was too early to say what the future would hold for Russia's military bases in Syria, adding that it was a subject of discussion with those who will be in power, news agency Reuters reported.

President Vladimir Putin decided to grant asylum to Bashar al-Assad in Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

The UN human rights chief on Monday said there was a "huge chance" for inclusive dialogue on the political transition in Syria's new era after the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad.

"I hope that within this current environment that obviously there will be this inclusive, very inclusive dialogue," United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said while addressing a Geneva press briefing. "There is a huge chance for this to happen. And what we have seen initially is indeed cooperation," he added.

He also called for accountability for past crimes in Syria and the meticulous preservation of evidence.

(With inputs from Reuters)

The Kremlin said Monday that Russia has granted political asylum to former Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russian President Vladimir Putin "personally" decided to grant asylum to Assad.

Peskov did not comment on Assad's specific whereabouts; he said that Putin wasn't planning to meet with Assad.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Russia will give a harsh response if its bases in Syria are attacked, Interfax news agency said on Monday, citing a senior Russian lawmaker, as reported by news agency Reuters.

The presence of Israeli forces in Syrian territory is a “limited, temporary” step meant to ensure Israel's security during the confusion after the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Monday.

“The only interest we have is the security of Israel,” he told a news conference in Jerusalem.

Saar also spoke about deadlocked negotiations with Hamas on a release of hostages in Gaza, saying indirect talks were ongoing, without elaborating. He said Israel could be more optimistic about an eventual breakthrough but was not there yet. (Reuters)

Israel's foreign minister says it has struck suspected chemical weapons sites and long-range rockets in Syria in order to prevent them from falling into the hands of hostile actors.

Gideon Saar said Monday that “the only interest we have is the security of Israel and its citizens”."That's why we attacked strategic weapons systems, like, for example, remaining chemical weapons, or long-range missiles and rockets, in order that they will not fall in the hands of extremists," he said.

Saar spoke after Syrian rebels reached Damascus over the weekend and overthrew President Bashar Assad's government following nearly 14 years of civil war. (AP)

Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar addressed the ongoing political turmoil in Syria, urging that the minorities in the country must be protected. He also urged that the attacks on Kurds in the country must stop at once, reported Reuters.

China's foreign ministry on Monday called for the restoration of stability and order in Syria and the search for a "political solution" as soon as possible, after rebels seized the Syrian capital over the weekend and its president fled to Russia.

As Syria looks for a political solution, China hopes that all the parties concerned would be guided by the long-term interests of the Syrian people, Mao Ning, spokesperson at the Chinese foreign ministry, said at a regular news conference. (Reuters)

As the rebel forces announced their victory from the state television, seizing Damascus and ousting President Bashar al-Assad's regime, United Nations Secretary General António Guterres said that future of Syria is a matter for the Syrians to determine.

"After 14 years of brutal war and the fall of the dictatorial regime, today the people of Syria can seize an historic opportunity to build a stable and peaceful future. There is much work to be done to ensure an orderly political transition to renewed institutions," said Guterres in a statement.

The rebel forces advanced through the country in a lightning speed and took control of the capital city in around 11 days, leading Assad to flee Syria reportedly to Russia where he has been given an asylum by the Kremlin.

The Syrian Football Association has announced that the colour of the national team’s kit and logo has changed from red to green following the toppling of ousted President Bashar al-Assad’s government.

“Our new national team uniform,” the group posted on social media alongside a photo of several players clad in green, reported Al Jazeera.

Since Syrian rebels launched their offensive against the now ousted President Bashar al-Assad, more than 900 people have been killed in the violence, which includes 138 civilian deaths.

The offensive, which culminated into seizing control of Damascus by the Syrian rebels, is “documented, since the launch of the…(rebel) operation on November 27" said Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The toll of 910 people includes 138 civilians, 380 Syrian troops and allied fighters and 392 rebel forces, as reported by news agency AFP.

China’s Foreign Ministry's spokesperson has said that Beijing is closely monitoring the situation in Syria and it hopes that stability will return soon in the country where rebels have seized the power from ousted President Bashar al-Assad.

"We urge relevant parties in Syria to ensure the safety and security of the Chinese institutions and personnel in Syria," the Chinese spokesperson said.

The spokesperson further added that the China’s Embassy in Syria remains operational and that the Chinese government has “been actively helping Chinese nationals who wish to leave the country”.

The Syrian civil war, which began in 2011 and had been in a stalemate in 2020, has seen major developments in recent days. The government of President Bashar al-Assad, who ruled the Middle Eastern country since 2000, has reeled under sudden intense attacks from the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). On Sunday (December 8), its members reached the capital Damascus and celebrated the fall of the regime led by Assad, who was reported to have fled the country.

HTS leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani recently told The New York Times in an interview, “Our goal is to liberate Syria from this oppressive regime.” What is known about Jolani and his group? We explain.

First, what is happening in Syria?

Syrian rebel forces, who oppose the Assad regime, concluded a three-day attack towards the city of Aleppo on November 29. The move came as a surprise since the conflict had laid dormant after a ceasefire was negotiated in 2020.

Who is Abu Mohammad al-Jolani?

Jolani, 42, is seen as being instrumental in HTS meeting its objectives in recent days. According to a recent profile in Financial Times, “Jolani capitalised on the recent outreach he’d conducted with tribes, former opponents and minority groups, brokering surrenders and ordering the protection of minorities.”

(Read more from the report)

Following the collapse of ousted President Bashar al-Assad's regime, dozens of people were seen gathered in Syria's second city Aleppo on Sunday, according to satellite images.

The images which were captured by Maxar Technologies showed large anti-Assad demonstrations across Aleppo which rebel forces took control of last week itself in lightning advance, reported CNN.

Ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s car collection appeared in a video footage purportedly from a garage near his main palace in Damascus.

A video which was reportedly verified by the CNN showed over 40 luxury vehicles in a large warehouse in western Damascus. Some of the cars in collection were Ferrari F50, which sells for over $3 million, Lamborghini, a Rolls Royce and a Bentley.

According to reports, Assad and his family left for Moscow where the Kremlin has given them an asylum as the rebels seized control of Syria from his regime.

The Syrian civil defence group known as the White Helmets has claimed that it received reports from survivors who were freed from prions that people are being detained underground at Saydnaya prison, reported BBC.

As rebels took control of the country, Saydnaya was one of the prisons which was freed from ousted President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

In a post on X, White Helmets have said that they have deployed specialised emergency teams to the prison, who are being helped by a guide familiar with the prison's layout.

Egypt has affirmed its support for Syria and urged the nation to prioritise its unifying objectives and carve out a way for a comprehensive and inclusive political process that would lead to harmony and restore peace in Damascus.

According to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement carried by Ahram Online, Cairo called on the Syrian parties to safeguard the country's resources and national institutions.

Egypt has also assured its support for Syria’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, the ministry added.

President Joe Biden said Sunday that the U.S. government believes missing American journalist Austin Tice, who disappeared 12 years ago near the Syrian capital, is alive and that Washington is committed to bringing him home after Bashar Assad’s ouster from power in Damascus. “We think we can get him back," Biden told reporters at the White House, while acknowledging that “we have no direct evidence” of his status.

"Assad should be held accountable.” Biden said officials must still identify exactly where Tice is after his disappearance in August 2012 at a checkpoint in a contested area west of Damascus. “We've remained committed to returning him to his family,” he said. Tice, who is from Houston, has had his work published by The Washington Post, McClatchy newspapers and other outlets.

A video released weeks after Tice went missing showed him blindfolded and held by armed men and saying, “Oh, Jesus.” He has not been heard from since. Syria has publicly denied that it was holding him. The United States has no new evidence that Tice is alive, but continues to operate under that assumption, according to a U.S. official.

(AP)

The aftermath of the fall of ousted President Bashar al-Assad’s regime will go beyond the control of the United States, and it might also lead to a situation of conflict between regional countries and Turkey, the Iranian ambassador to Syria Hossein Akbari said on Sunday.

“I believe the developments in the region will be beyond American control and could seriously disrupt their strategic objectives,” Akbari said according to CNN.

The rebel forces took control of Damascus and Assad fled the country reportedly to Russia, where the Kremlin has provided him and his family, an asylum on “humanitarian grounds”.

The Israeli authorities have said that they have notified US President Joe Biden led administration about their operation to take control of the buffer zone on the border with Syria in the Golan Heights, Axios reported.

The Israeli administration said that it is a temporary move and it will last for a few days or weeks until the security situation in Syria improves. "We are not looking to permanently occupy more parts of Syria," an Israeli official said.

“We send a hand of peace to all those beyond our border in Syria. If we can establish neighborly relations and peaceful relations with the new forces emerging in Syria, that's our desire,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier said.

The United Nations is bound to convene for an emergency closed door meeting regarding the situation in Syria in the aftermath of ousted President Bashar al-Assad fleeing the country, news agency AFP reported.

The United Nations is scheduled to meet on Monday, according to The Guardian report.

The United States strongly supports a peaceful power transition in Syria after the rebel forces toppled President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, said Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

“During this transitional period, the Syrian people have every right to demand the preservation of state institutions, the resumption of key services, and the protection of vulnerable communities,” Blinken said according to a CNN report.

Blinken further added that the United States has taken note of the statements made by the rebel leaders of Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) group, and Washington has called on all actors involved to respect human rights.

The United States Central Command (Centcom) which is responsible for US interests in the Middle East, Central and South Asia has confirmed that it carried out over 75 precision strikes at the camps of ISIS in Syria on Sunday and added that there were “no indications of civilian casualties”.

General Michael Erik Kurilla, Centcom commander said, “There should be no doubt - we will not allow ISIS to reconstitute and take advantage of the current situation in Syria. All organisations in Syria should know that we will hold them accountable if they partner with or support ISIS in any way,” reported BBC.

US President Joe Biden, in an address earlier, warned the Islamic State (ISIS group) to take any undue advantage of the situation in Syria which has been created due to a power transition in the country.

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, has said that it is a very good thing for the Syrian people that President Bashar al-Assad has left.

When asked by reporters whether the UK government will engage with the rebel forces which ousted President Assad, PM Starmer said it is “very early days”.

On a foreign trip to Abu Dhabi, Starmer said “We do need a political solution” in Syria, reported BBC.

The United States is not contemplating entering Syria at the moment in order to neutralise chemical weapons in the country but it remains as a top priority for the administration, the BBC reported.

According to a senior US official, the expertise in the US government is currently focused upon neutralising chemical weapons in Syria but exploring options to carry out the task.

After the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad from Syria, the United States wants that the material is either not available to anyone or ‘taken care of’ and they are working on the plan, even looking to partner with its allies in the region.

Rebel leader Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani of the HTS group, which led the uprising against ousted President Bashar al-Assad said it was "a victory for the entire Muslim nation" and represented a "new page for the region" to a crowd gathered at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus.

Jawlani thanked the people who died in the civil war which broke out in Syria in 2011 and said Assad spread "sectarianism" and "corruption", reported BBC.

Jawlani further added that Syria was "abandoned as a playground for Iranian ambitions" under Assad but now everyone can breathe freely.

The United States will work with partners and stakeholders in Syria to help seize an opportunity and manage the risk, US President Joe Biden said on Sunday after rebel fighters overthrew Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. In remarks at the White House, Biden said the United States will support Syria's neighbors through the period of transition and will assess the words and actions of rebel groups.

Biden said the United States does not officially know of Assad's whereabouts but noted reports that he fled to Moscow. He said Assad "should be held accountable." Biden said Syria is in a period of risk and uncertainty and that it is the first time in years that neither Russia nor Iran nor the Hezbollah militant organization held an influential role in Syria.

"For years, the main backers of Assad have been Iran, Hezbollah and Russia. But over the last week, their support collapsed - all three of them - because all three of them are far weaker today than they were when I took office," said Biden, who became president in 2021.

Biden said US forces on Sunday conducted a dozen precision strikes within Syria targeting camps and operatives of the militant group Islamic State. "It's a moment of historic opportunity for the long suffering people of Syria to build a better future for their proud country. It's also a moment of risk and uncertainty," Biden said. "As we all turn to the question of what comes next, the United States will work with our partners and the stakeholders in Syria to help them seize an opportunity to manage the risk," Biden added.

(With inputs from Reuters)

The Syrian flag was removed on Sunday from a pole outside the country's embassy in Moscow, Russian news agencies reported.

The flag had been hoisted outside the embassy earlier in the day, the agency said. TASS also quoted embassy staff as saying the embassy would operate as normal on Monday. It said the embassy provided no explanation for the absence of the flag.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fled to Moscow on Sunday after rebels seized Damascus, ending 50 years of Assad family rule. Russian media reported that Assad and his family were granted asylum in Moscow, although the Kremlin has not confirmed this.

(With inputs from AP)

The fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad underscores Russia's weakness and inability to fight on two fronts, Ukraine's foreign ministry said on Sunday.

Russia had bolstered Assad's government by staging air strikes against opposition targets beginning in 2015 and had operated out of two bases on Syrian territory. But Moscow's 33-month-old invasion of Ukraine has sapped considerable military resources.

"Events in Syria demonstrate the weakness of Putin's regime, which is incapable of fighting on two fronts and abandons its closest allies for the sake of continued aggression against Ukraine," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Syria's Bashar al-Assad and his family have arrived in Russia and have been granted asylum by the Russian authorities, Russian news agencies reported on Sunday, citing a Kremlin source.

The Interfax news agency quoted the unnamed source as saying: "President Assad of Syria has arrived in Moscow. Russia has granted them (him and his family) asylum on humanitarian grounds."

(With inputs from Reuters)

Saudi Arabia said on Sunday it stands by Syrian people and their choices at this "critical stage" after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was ousted early in the day.

It also called on the international community to support Syria while respecting its sovereignty and avoiding interference in its internal matters.

US President Joe Biden will meet with his national security team on Sunday morning to receive an update on the situation in Syria, a White House spokesperson said in a post on X.

The meeting comes after rebels declared they had ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad after seizing control of Damascus on Sunday.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Syria's biggest rebel faction, addressed crowds at Umayyad Mosque in the centre of the city, AFP news agency reported. In his first public appearance since the ousting of Bashar Assad, he called it "a victory to the Islamic nation."

He reportedly gave a speech as the crowd chanted "Allahu Akbar" (God is Great). Videos circulating online show al-Jolani entering the mosque, with the crowd cheering on him.

Israel conducted three airstrikes against a major security complex in the Kafr Sousa district of the Syrian capital along with a research centre where it had previously said Iranian scientists developed missiles, news agency Reuters reported, quoting regional sources.

The exit of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has been met with joy in the streets of Damascus but in capitals near and far, including New Delhi, the multiple moving parts in the sprawling insurrection are keeping many fingers crossed.

Assad, ruling the country since 2000, having inherited the legacy from his father Hafez al-Assad since 1971, was forced to flee the country Sunday (December 8) as Islamist rebels led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) marched into the Syrian capital.

The anger against Assad’s regime is a curious case in the Arab world. Thrust into power at the age of 35, Assad made the transition from a reluctant leader to one CNN called the “most popular” in December 2009, with about 68% Arabs voting for him. Trained to be an ophthalmologist, Assad’s style was informal as he interacted with people in restaurants and public places. Read More

The Israeli military issued a warning on Sunday to five towns in southern Syria, calling on residents to stay at home "until further notice" due to ongoing conflict in the area.

The Syrian civil war, which began in 2011 and had been in a stalemate in 2020, has seen major developments in recent days. The government of President Bashar al-Assad, who ruled the Middle Eastern country since 2000, has reeled under sudden intense attacks from the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). On Sunday (December 8), its members reached the capital Damascus and celebrated the fall of the regime led by Assad, who was reported to have fled the country.

HTS leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani recently told The New York Times in an interview, “Our goal is to liberate Syria from this oppressive regime.” What is known about Jolani and his group? Read More

After almost 15 years of civil war, the final push to overthrow Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad took less than 15 days. On Sunday (December 8), rebel forces overran the capital Damascus, while Assad appears to have left for an undisclosed location.

Who is fighting whom in Syria, and why? Why are so many foreign governments, from the US to Russia to Iran to Turkey involved? How did Assad’s regime survive for so long, and what happens now that he is gone?

And what is India’s attitude towards Assad? Read more to find out

The Syrian opposition coalition on Sunday said it is working towards forming a transitional governing body with full executive powers, adding in a post on X that it aspires to build strategic partnerships within the region and the world.

(Reuters)

Groups of Syrians strolled through the palaces of President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday following his ouster, wandering from room to room, posing for photographs, and with some taking items of furniture or ornaments.

A video showed people entering the Al-Rawda Presidential Palace, as children ran through the grand rooms and men slid a large trunk across the ornate floor, news agency Reuters reported.

Several men carried smart chairs over their shoulders. In a storeroom, cupboards had been ransacked and objects strewn across the floor. Video of another palace, the Muhajreen Palace, verified by Reuters, showed groups of men and women walking across a white marble floor and through tall wooden doors. A man carried a vase in his hand, and a large cabinet stood empty with its doors ajar.

A Syrian opposition fighter sits inside an office at the Presidential Palace after the Syrian government collapsed in Damascus (AP Photo)

Iraqi government spokesperson Bassem Al-Awadi said on Sunday that Iraq is closely following developments in Syria, and added that Iraq reaffirms the importance of not interfering in the internal affairs of Syria, or supporting one party in favour of another.

(Reuters)

Syria should have an 18-month transition period to establish "a safe, neutral, and quiet environment" for free elections, Hadi Al-Bahra, the head of Syria's main opposition abroad, said, as quoted by Reuters.

The lightning offensive sparked concerns in Arab capitals and raised fears of a new wave of regional instability, as well as questions over whether the rebels will be able to ensure an orderly transition.

Al-Bahra, President of the Syrian National Coalition, said Syria should draft a constitution within six months, on which the first election would be a referendum.

"The constitution will say, are we going to have a parliamentary system, presidential system, or mixed system? And based on this, we do the election and the people choose their leader," said Al-Bahra.

He added that the opposition had asked state employees to continue to report to work until the power transition, and assured them that they would not be harmed. "It was like a domino effect. So it was clear that (Assad) decided to leave. I felt relief, but also a little sad. He should be held accountable for all the crimes that he did," Al-Bahra said, as quoted by Reuters.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israeli forces have seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights established by a 1974 ceasefire agreement with Syria.

His statement came after Syrian President Bashar Assad was ousted by the country's rebel forces.

Netanyahu said the decades-old agreement had collapsed and that Syrian troops had abandoned their positions, necessitating the Israeli takeover.

Israel captured the Golan Heights in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed it. The international community, except for the United States, views it as occupied Syrian territory.

(With inputs from AP)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the ousting of Syria's Bashar al-Assad on Sunday as a "historic day" that followed the blows delivered by Israel against Assad's supporters Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

On a visit to the area near the border with Syria, he said he had ordered Israeli forces to seize areas in the buffer zone to ensure Israel's security. "We will not allow any hostile force to establish itself on our border," Netanyahu said, as quoted by Reuters.

After Tehran's ally Bashar al-Assad was ousted by rebels, Iran's foreign ministry said Syria's fate is the sole responsibility of its citizens and should be pursued without foreign imposition or destructive intervention.

Syrians will have to cope with a full-scale civil war alone, Konstantin Kosachyov, deputy chairman of Russia's upper house of parliament said on Sunday, while suggesting that Moscow was ready to support the Syrian people in certain circumstances.

Syrian rebels announced on Sunday that they had ousted President Bashar al-Assad, after seizing control of Damascus on Sunday, ending his family's iron-fisted rule after more than 13 years of civil war in a seismic moment for the Middle East.

Russia, a staunch Assad ally, intervened decisively in 2015 to prop him up during Syria's civil war. But with its military resources mostly tied down in Ukraine, Russia's ability to influence the situation on the ground was far more limited this time round - despite maintaining two military facilities in Syria - and it did not mobilise the same level of resources.

Russian war bloggers have raised fears about the fate of the two Russian military facilities under the rebels but they so far appear to be still functioning while the Russian Embassy in Damascus has said its staff are "fine."

Kosachyov, a veteran Russian expert in international affairs, predicted that the civil war in Syria would not end with Assad's departure and that tough times were ahead.

(Reuters)

Qatar's foreign ministry on Sunday renewed its call to end the crisis in Syria along the lines of the 2015 UN Security Council Resolution 2254 which laid out the steps for a ceasefire and political transition.

The foreign ministry also said in its statement that it is following developments in Syria with interest and called for the preservation of the unity of the state.

(Reuters)

French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday welcomed news of the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and said France will remain committed to the security of all in the Middle East.

"The barbaric state has fallen. Finally. I pay tribute to the Syrian people, to their courage, to their patience. In this moment of uncertainty, I wish them peace, freedom, and unity," Macron said in a post on X social media. "France will remain committed to the security of all in the Middle East."

(Reuters)

The Russian Foreign Ministry has said that deposed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad left office and departed the country following negotiations with other participants in the “armed conflict” and gave orders for a peaceful handover of power.

“As a result of negotiations between B. Assad and a number of participants in the armed conflict on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic, he decided to resign from the presidency and left the country, giving instructions for a peaceful transfer of power. Russia did not participate in these negotiations,” the ministry said, as quoted by Reuters.

Moscow was extremely worried by events in Syria and urged all sides to refrain from violence, it said.

"We urge all parties involved to refrain from the use of violence and to resolve all issues of governance through political means," the statement said. "In that regard, the Russian Federation is in contact with all groups of the Syrian opposition."

(With inputs from Reuters)

Syrian rebels announced on Sunday a curfew in Damascus starting at 4 pm local time until 5 am, news agency Reuters reported.

Suspected Israeli strikes hit Mazzeh district of Damascus, one Lebanese and one Syrian security source said on Sunday, news agency Reuters reported.

The Syrian foreign ministry issued a statement, in which it said “A new page is being written in the history of Syria” today with the country having endured nearly 14 years of civil war.

In a post on X, it said, "Syrian brothers Today, a new page is being written in the history of Syria, to inaugurate a national covenant and charter that unites the word of the Syrians, unites them and does not divide them, in order to build one homeland in which justice and equality prevail and in which everyone enjoys all rights and duties, far from one opinion. And citizenship is the basis."

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Syrian Arab Republic and its diplomatic missions abroad will remain committed to serving all fellow citizens and managing their affairs, based on the trust they bear in representing the Syrian people, and that the homeland remains supreme," the post read.

Trump added that Russia and Iran, Assad's other main backer, "are in a weakened state right now, one because of Ukraine and a bad economy, the other because of Israel and its fighting success". He said Russia and Ukraine had both suffered hundreds of thousands of dead and wounded troops, and Ukraine had also lost many civilians.

Trump, who has said that Russia's abandonment of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad led to his downfall, posted:

"Assad is gone. He has fled his country. His protector, Russia, Russia, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, was not interested in protecting him any longer. There was no reason for Russia to be there in the first place. They lost all interest in Syria because of Ukraine, where close to 600,000 Russian soldiers lay wounded or dead, in a war that should never have started, and could go on forever.

Russia and Iran are in a weakened state right now, one because of Ukraine and a bad economy, the other because of Israel and its fighting success. Likewise, Zelenskyy and Ukraine would like to make a deal and stop the madness. They have ridiculously lost 400,000 soldiers, and many more civilians. There should be an immediate ceasefire and negotiations should begin.

Too many lives are being so needlessly wasted, too many families destroyed, and if it keeps going, it can turn into something much bigger, and far worse. I know Vladimir well. This is his time to act. China can help. The World is waiting!"

US President-elect Donald Trump said on Sunday that Russia's abandonment of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad led to his downfall, adding Moscow never should have protected him in the first place and then lost interest because of a war in Ukraine that never should have started.

"Assad is gone. He has fled his country. His protector, Russia, Russia, Russia, led by (President) Vladimir Putin, was not interested in protecting him any longer," Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.

"There was no reason for Russia to be there in the first place," Trump wrote. "They lost all interest in Syria because of Ukraine...a war that should never have started, and could go on forever."

Syria's Bashar al-Assad boarded a plane in Damascus for an unknown destination early on Sunday, two senior army officers said, as rebels seized the city and ousted him from power after 24 years as president.

Assad has not spoken in public since the sudden rebel advance a week ago when insurgents seized northern Aleppo in a surprise attack before marching into a succession of cities as frontlines crumbled.

His whereabouts now - and those of his wife Asma and their two children - remain unknown.

A Syrian Air plane took off from Damascus airport around the time the capital was reported to have been taken by rebels, according to data from the Flightradar website. The aircraft initially flew towards Syria's coastal region, a stronghold of Assad's Alawite sect, but then made an abrupt U-turn and flew in the opposite direction for a few minutes before disappearing off the map.

Two Syrian sources said there was a very high probability that Assad may have been killed if he was on the plane, news agency Reuters reported.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Iraqi media are reporting that the Iraqi embassy building in Damascus has been evacuated, news agency AFP reported, quoting sources.

Earlier, Iranian media reported that the Iranian embassy in Damascus had been attacked.

Iranian media reported that the Iranian embassy in Damascus has been attacked. According to the reports, the building's exterior sustained damage, with broken windows and rooms left in disarray. Papers were also scattered across the floor.

Video footage shared by Al Arabiya, an Arabic news organization, also shows a large image of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah being torn apart by a crowd.

(Reuters Photo)

Syrians will have to cope with a full-scale civil war alone, Konstantin Kosachyov, deputy chairman of Russia's upper house of parliament said on Sunday, the Interfax news agency reported, as quoted by Reuters.

Syrian rebels announced on state television on Sunday that they had ousted President Bashar al-Assad, eliminating a 50-year family dynasty in a lightning offensive that raises the spectre of a new wave of instability in the Middle East gripped by war.

Russia, a staunch Assad ally, intervened decisively in 2015 to prop him up during Syria's civil war, which began in 2011.

Russian war bloggers have raised fears about the fate of two strategically important Russian military facilities in Syria.

(With inputs from Reuters)

The Chinese government assisted citizens in leaving Syria, a spokesperson for the foreign ministry said on Sunday.

It said Syria should ensure the safety of Chinese institutions and personnel and that China's embassy in Syria continues to operate, news agency Reuters reported.

US President-elect Donald Trump said on Sunday that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had “fled his country” after losing the backing of Russia, as reported by The Guardian.

“Assad is gone,” he said on his Truth Social platform. “His protector, Russia, Russia, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, was no longer interested in protecting him.”

The United States will continue to maintain its presence in eastern Syria and will take measures necessary to prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East Daniel Shapiro told the Manama Dialogue security conference in Bahrain's capital on Sunday.

Speaking hours after Syrian rebels announced they had toppled Bashar al-Assad's regime, Shapiro called on all parties to protect civilians, particularly minorities, and respect international norms.

(Reuters)

Following are reactions from around the world to events in Syria. Syria's army command notified officers on Sunday that President Bashar al-Assad's 24-year authoritarian rule has ended, a Syrian officer who was informed of the move told Reuters, following a rapid rebel offensive that took the world by surprise.

US PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN

"President Biden and his team are closely monitoring the extraordinary events in Syria and staying in constant touch with regional partners," the White House said in a statement.

US PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP

"Assad is gone. He has fled his country. His protector, Russia, Russia, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, was not interested in protecting him any longer," Trump posted on X. "Russia and Iran are in a weakened state right now, one because of Ukraine and a bad economy, the other because of Israel and its fighting success."

ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ANTONIO TAJANI

"I am following with concerned attention the evolution of the situation in Syria. I am in constant contact with our embassy in Damascus and with the office of the Prime Minister. I have called an emergency meeting at 10:30 at the Foreign Ministry", Tajani said on X.

UN SPECIAL ENVOY FOR SYRIA GEIR PEDERSEN

Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen underscores the clear desire expressed by millions of Syrians that stable and inclusive transitional arrangements are put in place, a statement said.

He urged all Syrians to prioritize dialogue, unity, and respect for international humanitarian law and human rights as they seek to rebuild their society, adding he stands ready to support the Syrian people in their journey toward a stable and inclusive future.

PHILIPPINES' DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

The Philippines calls on all concerned parties to exercise restraint and refrain from further violence, to avert further casualties and deaths of civilians.

We express concern regarding the situation of our Filipinos in Syria and advise them to take the necessary precautions and stay in contact with the Philippine Embassy in Damascus.

(With Reuters inputs)

Iran's embassy was stormed by Syrian rebels following their capture of Damascus, Iran's English-language Press TV reported on Sunday. - Reuters

Iraq has evacuated its embassy in Syria and moved staff to Lebanon, the Iraqi state news agency reported on Sunday, hours after rebels overthrew President Bashar al-Assad and took control of the capital.

Reasons behind the evacuation were not made public. - Reuters

The Syrian rebel coalition said on Sunday it is continuing work to complete the transfer of power in Syria to a transitional governing body with full executive powers.

"The great Syrian revolution has moved from the stage of struggle to overthrow the Assad regime to the struggle to build a Syria together that befits the sacrifices of its people," it added in a statement. - Reuters

“This change presents an opportunity to build a new Syria based on democracy and justice that secures the rights of all Syrians,” Mazloum Abdi, the leader of the Syrian Democratic Forces, said in a written statement, praising the fall of the “authoritarian regime in Damascus.”The Kurdish-led group has a significant presence in northeastern Syria, where they have clashed with the extremist Islamic State group and Turkish-backed militias over the years. - AP

Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen underscores the clear desire expressed by millions of Syrians that stable and inclusive transitional arrangements are put in place, according to a statement published on Sunday.

The diplomat urged all Syrians to prioritize dialogue, unity, and respect for international humanitarian law and human rights as they seek to rebuild their society, adding he stands ready to support the Syrian people in their journey toward a stable and inclusive future. - Reuters

The Israeli military said Sunday it also sent troops to “other places necessary for its defense,” and that the force deployment was meant to provide security for residents of the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights.It added it was “not interfering with the internal events in Syria.”Israel captured that territory from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed it, a move not recognized by much of the international community, which views the territory as occupied. A later ceasefire agreement created a demilitarized buffer zone between the two countries’ territories, prohibiting military presence or activity from either side in the area. United Nations peacekeepers have patrolled the area since 1974. - AP

Senior Emirati diplomat Anwar Gargash faced a series of direct questions over Syria, particularly as the United Arab Emirates in recent years had sought to rehabilitate Assad’s image in the Arab world.Asked if Assad was heading to the UAE, Gargash said: “When people ask where is Bashar al-Assad going to, I say, you know, when you really look at this, this is really at the end of the day a footnote in history. I’m reminded a little bit by Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1918 when he went into a long exile.”

He added: “But I don’t think when you look at that period, this is really critical.”There has been speculation Assad could flee to the UAE, where his extended family is known to own properties in Dubai. Flight-tracking data showed private jets moving between Damascus, Syria, and the UAE on Saturday.Gargash spoke Sunday at the International Institute of Strategic Studies’ Manama Dialogue in Bahrain. - AP

The rapidly developing events have shaken the region. Lebanon said it was closing all its land border crossings with Syria except for one that links Beirut with Damascus. Jordan closed a border crossing with Syria, too.Eight key countries gathered with the U.N. special envoy on Syria on the sidelines of the Doha Summit for two hours of discussions Saturday night, and more will follow. The U.N. envoy seeks urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition.”

Syria's civil war, which erupted in 2011 as an uprising against Assad's rule, dragged in big outside powers, created space for jihadist militants to plot attacks around the world and sent millions of refugees into neighbouring states.

The frontlines of Syria's complex civil war were dormant for years. Then Islamists once affiliated with Al Qaeda suddenly burst into action, posing the biggest challenge to Assad, who had survived years of gruelling war and international isolation with the help of Russia, Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah.

But Assad's allies were focussed on and weakened by other crises, leaving Assad at the mercy of his opponents with an army that was not prepared to defend him.

Israel, which has severely weakened the Iran-backed groups Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, will likely celebrate the fall of Assad, another of Iran's key regional allies. But the prospects of an Islamist group ruling Syria will likely raise concerns.

President elect and former President of the United States Donald Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, after Asaad fled Syria stating, "Assad is gone. He has fled his country. His protector, Russia, Russia, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, was not interested in protecting him any longer. There was no reason for Russia to be there in the first place. They lost all interest in Syria because of Ukraine, where close to 600,000 Russian soldiers lay wounded or dead, in a war that should never have started, and could go on forever."

He further added, "Russia and Iran are in a weakened state right now, one because of Ukraine and a bad economy, the other because of Israel and its fighting success. Likewise, Zelenskyy and Ukraine would like to make a deal and stop the madness. They have ridiculously lost 400,000 soldiers, and many more civilians. There should be an immediate ceasefire and negotiations should begin. Too many lives are being so needlessly wasted, too many families destroyed, and if it keeps going, it can turn into something much bigger, and far worse. I know Vladimir well. This is his time to act. China can help. The World is waiting!"

Assad-led state for years, must decide how to deal with a new administration in which a globally designated terrorist group - Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) - looks set to have influence.

HTS is Syria's strongest rebel group and some Syrians remain fearful it will impose draconian Islamist rule or instigate reprisals.

A Syrian Air plane took off from Damascus airport around the time the capital was reported to have been taken by rebels, according to data from the Flightradar website.

The aircraft initially flew towards Syria's coastal region, a stronghold of Assad's Alawite sect, but then made an abrupt U-turn and flew in the opposite direction for a few minutes before disappearing off the map.

Reuters could not immediately ascertain who was on board.

Two Syrian sources said there was a very high probability that Assad may have been killed in a plane crash as it was a mystery why the plane took a surprise U turn and disappeared off the map according to data from the Flightradar website.

"It disappeared off the radar, possibly the transponder was switched off, but I believe the bigger probability is that the aircraft was taken down...," said one Syrian source without elaborating. - Reuters

Organisations that had previously been close to the government of Bashar Assad attempted to distance themselves after its rapid fall.

Syria's al-Watan newspaper, historically pro-government, wrote: “We are facing a new page for Syria. We thank God for not shedding more blood. We believe and trust that Syria will be for all Syrians.” It added that media workers should not be blamed for publishing government statements in the past.

“We only carried out the instructions and published the news they sent us,” it said. “It quickly became clear now that it was false.” A statement from the Alawite sect - to which Assad belongs and which has formed the core of his base - called on the youth to be “calm, rational and prudent and not to be dragged into what tears apart the unity of our country.”

“We were and still are advocates of peace and advocates of unity,” it said. It called for “the language of reason and dialogue to prevail over all parties in the service of Syria and its great people.”

(AP)

Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Jalali has said that he has been in touch with rebel leaders and that Syria needs to hold free elections, in order for the Syrian citizens to choose their next leadership, Reuters reported.

In an interview with Al-Arabiya, PM Jalali said that he had been in contact with rebel commander Abu Mohammed al-Golani to discuss managing the current transitional period, marking a notable development in efforts to shape Syria's political future.

Rebels have declared in a televised statement that they have seized Damascus and overthrown the President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

The Syrian rebel fighters were seen at the grounds of the Presidential Palace on Sunday as they declared Damascus free from President Bashar al-Assad’s rule.

Images that were verified by CNN showed fighters by a gate house located on the southern edge of the grounds of the presidential palace.

The entrance area, which usually remains deserted, was seen with rebels crowding and firing celebratory shots in air.

Syrian state TV has aired a video stating President Bashar al-Assad has been overthrown and all the jail detainees have been freed.

Crowds of Syrians have gathered to celebrate in the central squares of Damascus, chanting anti-Assad slogans and honking car horns. In some areas, celebratory gunshots rang out.

“My feelings are indescribable,” said Omar Daher, a 29-year-old lawyer. “After the fear that he (Assad) and his father made us live in for many years, and the panic and state of terror that I was living in, I can't believe it.” Daher said his father had been killed by security forces and his brother was in detention, his fate unknown. Assad “is a criminal, a tyrant and a dog,” he said.

“Damn his soul and the soul of the entire Assad family,” said Ghazal al-Sharif, another reveller in central Damascus. “It is the prayer of every oppressed person and God answered it today.

(AP)

Amid the Syrian rebel forces capturing the capital Damascus and President Bashar al-Assad reportedly fleeing the country, the White House has said that US President Joe Biden has been monitoring the situation.

“President Biden and his team are closely monitoring the extraordinary events in Syria and staying in constant touch with regional partners,” the White House said.

Rebel forces have said that they will announce their victory and address the public of Syria on TV shortly, as they seized the public broadcaster’s office.

Syria's opposition leader, Hadi al-Bahra, has told Al-Arabiya news that Damascus is safe and Bashar-al Assad’s regime has fallen and that “a dark era in Syria's history has passed”.

In a post on X, Bahra who leads the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces, told the Syrian public that “Damascus is safe”. The rebel forces entered the capital city on Sunday after capturing Homs, the third biggest city of Syria.

“To our people of all sects and religions, as long as you do not raise arms against any other citizen and as long as you stay in your homes, you are safe. There will be no cases of revenge or retaliation, and no violations of human rights. People's dignity will be respected and their dignity will be preserved,” Bahra posted on X as reported by BBC.

The head of Syria’s main opposition group abroad, Hadi al-Bahra, told Al Jazeera that to have an agreement over the next stage for Syria, they would meet and discuss with Arab, European countries and the United Nations, reported Reuters.

Syrian rebel forces have announced that they are all set to broadcast their first message on TV to the Syrian public shortly.

Earlier on Sunday, the rebel groups said that in order to broadcast its victory announcement, they were seizing control of the radio and television headquarters in Damascus.

Since the rebel forces entered the capital city of Damascus on Sunday, the official state television broadcast has stopped.

Opposition fighters have entered Syria’s capital in a swiftly developing crisis that has taken much of the world by surprise. Syria’s army has abandoned key cities with little resistance. President Bashar Assad has now left the country. Who are these opposition fighters? If they take control of Damascus after seizing some of Syria’s largest cities, what then?

Here is a look at the stunning reversal of fortune for Assad and the government in just the past 10 days, and what might lie ahead as Syria’s 13-year civil war reignites.

The aim? Overthrow the government

This is the first time that opposition forces have reached the outskirts of the Syrian capital since 2018, when the country’s troops recaptured the area following a yearslong siege. The approaching fighters are led by the most powerful insurgent group in Syria, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, along with an umbrella group of Turkish-backed Syrian militias called the Syrian National Army.

Both have been entrenched in the northwest. They launched the shock offensive on Nov. 27 with gunmen capturing Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, and the central city of Hama, the fourth largest. The HTS has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations.

But the group said in recent years it cut ties with al-Qaida, and experts say HTS has sought to remake itself in recent years by focusing on promoting civilian government in their territory as well as military action. HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani told CNN in an exclusive interview Thursday from Syria that the aim of the offensive is to overthrow Assad’s government.

(AP)

The Syrian rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa said that it was prohibited to go near the public institutions as the rebel forces announced that the institutions will remain under the supervision of ‘former prime minister’ until they are formally handed over.

Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali has said that he remains in his home and that he was ready to support continuity of governance.

Meanwhile, President Bashar al-Assad has reportedly fled the country as soon as the reports suggested that Syrian rebels entered the capital city of Damascus after capturing the third largest city of Syria, Homs.

Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali said on Sunday that he is ready to support continuity of governance and that he remains in his home amid the rebels entering the capital Damascus.

Reports suggested that President Bashar al-Assad fled the country to an unknown location as soon as the Syrian rebels entered Damascus. Syria's army command notified officers that Assad's 24-year rule had ended.

It will be a "new Syria" where "everyone lives in peace and justice prevails", the rebel group HTS which is leading the uprising said.

The Syrian army has notified its officers that President Bashar al-Assad’s rule has ended as rebels entered the capital city and announced that Damascus is “now free of Asad”.

As the news spread that rebels have entered the city of Damascus, two senior army officers told Reuters that President Assad flew out of the country to an unknown destination.

The rebels said, “We celebrate with the Syrian people the news of freeing our prisoners and releasing their chains and announcing the end of the era of injustice in Sednaya prison,” as reported by Reuters.