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

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.