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PremiumSyria Civil War Live Updates: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has fled the country of Syria ending a fifty year regime. Russian media reported that the ousted President had been granted asylum in Moscow on ‘humanitarian grounds’. The Opposition forces in war-torn Syria took over the capital city of Damascus, early on Sunday.
Syrian Opposition said on Sunday they have begun entering the capital Damascus without any sign of army deployments. The developments mark the biggest challenge to President Bashar al-Assad’s rule since Syria’s civil war began in 2011.
"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," they added. Sednaya is a large military prison on the outskirts Damascus where the Syrian government detained thousands.
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 UN special envoy on Syria on the sidelines of the Doha Summit for two hours of discussions Saturday night, and more will follow. The UN envoy seeks urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition."
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Syria War Live: A spokesperson for the Department of Political Affairs in Damascus has called for unity in the country as Syria moves away from the al-Assad government’s rule, reported Al Jazeera. The spokesperson said that Syria needed the efforts of all people.
Syria War Live: The rebels who ousted president Bashar al-Assad and are now in power in Syria appointed a transitional head of government Tuesday to run the country until March 1.
"The general command has tasked us with running the transitional government until March 1," said a statement attributed to Mohammad al-Bashir on state television's Telegram account, referring to him as "the new Syrian prime minister".
Syria War Live: Syria's new government has told business leaders it will adopt a free-market model and integrate the country into the global economy in a major shift from decades of corrupt state control, the head of the biggest Syrian business lobby said on Tuesday.
"It will be a free-market system based on competition," Bassel Hamwi, head of the Damascus Chambers of Commerce, told Reuters in an interview
Syria War Live: 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.
(via Reuters)
Syria War Live: The British wife of ousted Syrian leader Bashar Assad is a sanctioned individual and is “not welcome here in the UK". Foreign Secretary David Lammy however said it was too early to say whether the Government would strip Asma Assad of her British citizenship.
Syria War Live: Israel reportedly carried out a wave of heavy airstrikes across Syria on Tuesday as its troops advanced deeper into the country, drawing to within 25 kilometers (15 miles) of the capital. Israel had earlier seized a roughly 400-square-kilometer (155-square-mile) buffer zone inside Syria that had been established after the 1973 Mideast war, a move it said was taken to prevent attacks in the aftermath of the overthrow of President Bashar Assad.
Syria War Live: Rebel leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani met with outgoing Syrian prime minister Mohammed al-Jalali on Monday to discuss the "transfer of power". A statement posted on the rebels' Telegram channels said Jolani — now using his real name Ahmed al-Sharaa — met Jalali "to coordinate a transfer of power that guarantees the provision of services" to the people of Syria. A video of the interaction also showed Mohammed Bashir in attendance. He incidentally heads the rebels ‘Salvation Government’ in their northwest Syria bastion.
Syria War Live: Several European countries have announced that they are putting asylum applications from Syrians on hold till further notice following the change in government. The decision will affect tens of thousands of open claims and reflects rising support across the continent for immigration curbs.
Syria War Live: According to Syrian television, Mohammed Al Bashir will form a transitional government to manage the transition period and “avoid slipping into chaos."
Syria War Live: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reportedly set aside 11 million pounds ($14.07 million) of humanitarian aid for Syria, after rebel forces ousted President Bashar al-Assad.
"The stability of the Middle East is paramount to delivering a foundation of security at home," Reuters quoted him as saying.
Syria War Live: Despite ouster of President Bashar Assad, Syria's prime minister on Monday said that most cabinet ministers are still working from offices in the capital, Damascus. However, some key government services had closed as state workers refused to return to their jobs.
With former senior al-Qaida militant-led rebel alliance in control of much of the country, vows of representative government and religious tolerance have surfaced. The rebel command said that they would not limit women's choice to dress.
The General Command in a statement on social media 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,"
Syria War Live: Syrians living in Berlin, London, Istanbul, Lebanon and in other cities abroad celebrated Bashar al-Assad's downfall as can be seen in the video footage.
Syria War Live: Syria’s Damascus International Airport issued a notice terminating all flights until December 18. The country’s flag carrier Syrian Airlines grounded all flights as the country's main airports suspended operations following the collapse of Bashar Al-Assad’s regime.
Additionally, Lebanon’s Middle East Airlines and Iraqi Airways issued a statement saying thar they would avoid the Syria's airspace, Bloomberg reported.
Syria War Live: Head of the Islamic Jihad, Ziad al-Nakhala said, "The Islamic Jihad hopes Syria will remain a real support for the Palestinian people, their just cause, as it has always been," reported Reuters.
Notably, Islamic Jihad is an Iranian-backed group and an ally of Hamas.
Syria War Live: Palestinian group Hamas, the Islamist faction that has been governing the Gaza Strip, in a statement on Monday said, "We stand strongly with the great people of Syria... and respect the will, the independence, and the political choices of the people of Syria, Reuters reported.
The Palestinian group said it hoped that post-Assad Syria would continue "its historical and pivotal role in supporting the Palestinian people".
Since rebel forces swept into the Syrian capital Damascus on Sunday, this was Hamas' first public comment. It congratulated the Syrian people for achieving their "aspirations for freedom and justice" after the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad.
Syria War Live: Rescuers from the Syrian White Helmets on Monday said they were searching for secret doors or basements in Saydnaya prison. After the ouster of president Bashar al-Assad, the rescuers were looking for any detainees who might be trapped.
"We are working with all our energy to reach a new hope, and we must be prepared for the worst," AFP quoted the organisation as saying.
Syria War Live: United Arab Emirates on Monday said that it is closely monitoring the ongoing developments in Syria, Reuters reported.
UAE foreign ministry official Afra Al Hameli took to social media platform X and in a post said, “The UAE foreign ministry calls on all Syrian parties to prioritise wisdom during this critical juncture in Syria's history."
Syria War Live: On Monday, several men at Syria's embassy in Moscow raised the opposition flag. A spokesman said the facility was operating normally, reported AFP.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia was "in dialogue" with Turkey, which supported rebel forces in Syria.
Syria War Live: On Monday, Russia declined to confirm reports that Syrian president Bashar al-Assad had fled to Moscow.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, “As for Mr Assad's whereabouts, I've got nothing to tell you,"reported AFP. He further noted that the decision to grant asylum to Assad rested on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
He added, “Of course such decisions cannot be taken without the head of state, and it's his decision."
Syria War Live: Russia has given political asylum to former Syrian President Bashar Assad, says Kremlin.
Syria War Live: Kremlin issued a statement, "It is going to be difficult period in Syria due to instability, and it is necessary to maintain a dialogue with all regional powers," reported Reuters.
Syria War Live: Alexey Muraviev, a Russia expert and associate professor of national security at Curtin University in Perth, Australia, believes that Putin values loyalty and rewards it accordingly. He noted that Bashar al-Assad has consistently shown allegiance to Russia, including supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Muraviev explained that Moscow’s decision to grant asylum to the al-Assad family sends a strong message to Russia’s allies and partners across the Gulf, Middle East, Africa, and Asia. "The message is clear: as long as you remain loyal, we will not abandon you, and we will take care of you," he said.
Syria War Live: Paris will send a special diplomatic envoy to the country in the coming days, according to France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot.
The events in Syria were a stunning defeat for Russia, Barrot told France Info radio, as Moscow could now lose access to military assets it has in the Arab country.
Syria War Live: Yavne, located on southern Israel's coast, north of Ashdod and the Gaza Strip, has reportedly been struck by a drone.
Initially, the Israeli military confirmed "reports of a suspicious aerial target" falling in the Yavne area, but no sirens were triggered.
Later, through its official Telegram channel, the military clarified that a UAV, likely originating from Yemen, had impacted the area.
No injuries have been reported, and the incident is currently under investigation by the IDF.
Syria War Live: Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has stated that the presence of Israeli forces in Syrian territory is a "temporary" and "limited" measure aimed at safeguarding Israel’s security amid the instability following the fall of Bashar al-Assad.
Speaking at a news conference in West Jerusalem, Saar emphasised that Israel's sole priority is ensuring its security.
Syria War Live: The Syrian embassy in Moscow has raised the three-starred flag of the opposition, reports Reuters news agency, citing an eyewitness.
As opposition forces seized control of Damascus on Sunday, Syria’s Foreign Ministry has released a statement pledging to represent all citizens as the country starts a new chapter.
Syria War Live: Iran has opened a direct line of communication with opposition forces within Syria’s new leadership after the removal of Tehran’s key ally Bashar al-Assad, a senior Iranian official told the Reuters news agency.
The official added the talks aimed to “prevent a hostile trajectory" between the two countries.
Syria War Live: In a press briefing in Jerusalem, Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Saar has described his country’s invasion of Syria as a “limited, temporary" step and said the airstrikes conducted by the IDF had been aimed at “strategic weapons systems."
Israel seized the Golan Heights from Syria in 1967 and unilaterally annexed them in 1981. Earlier today Israel’s military issued photographs of IDF troops operating further inside Syrian territory, in the region of Mount Hermon.
The Times of Israel reports that Saar said, after Israel targeted sites inside Syria with airstrikes, “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."
Syria War Live: 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 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."
Syria War Live: Al Jazeera reports, buses full of Syrians were seen returning to Syria despite all the questions that remain.
A few who couldn’t find any transportation to the border crossing, so they asked to be let in on foot.
People are eager to return, especially those who are originally from Daraa, which is right across the border.
Syria War Live: Reuters reports that Jean-Noël Barrot, who continues to act as France’s foreign minister while the country assembles a new government, has said on the radio that the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria was a stunning defeat for Russia, and said France will shortly send a special diplomatic envoy to Damascus.
Palestinian news agency Wafa reports that one of its correspondents and a photographer were injured in an assault by Israeli security forces in the village of Al-Walaja, northwest of Bethlehem, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, while the Israeli security forces were carrying out the demolition of two Palestinian homes.
Syria War Live: Israeli media reports indicate that Defense Minister Israel Katz has directed the Israeli military to target various sites within Syria, including "surface-to-air missiles, air defence systems, surface-to-surface missiles, cruise missiles, long-range rockets, and coast-to-sea missiles."
In a statement, Katz, who was recently appointed to the role, confirmed that he had instructed the military to establish a "security zone free of heavy strategic weapons and terror infrastructure."
Syria War Live: Speaking on Sky News in the UK this morning, senior minister Pat McFadden has suggested that the country may consider changing the status of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which the UK currently designates as a proscribed terror group.
Reuters reports he told viewers “We will consider that. And I think it will partly depend on what happens."
The British government proscribed Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in May 2017 as an alternative name for al-Qaida.
Syria War Live: Yoshimasa Hayashi, the spokesman for the Japanese government, says Tokyo is closely following the developments in Syria.
He said the government hopes the humanitarian situation in Syria would improve following al-Assad’s removal, according to local media reports.
Hayashi said Tokyo was “strongly concerned" about the events in the country, and expressed “hope that the violence will end as soon as possible, and all Syrian people can enjoy freedom and prosperity".
Syria War Live: After the ground operation in Gaza which was launched in October 2023, and the incursions into southern Lebanon which began in October 2024, Syria is the third country or territory that Israeli troops have invaded in the last 14 months.
Syria War Live: Reuters reports that China’s foreign ministry spokesperson has called for the restoration of stability and order in Syria and the search for a “political solution" as soon as possible.
Syria War Live: The Astana Process is a series of peace talks launched in January 2017 by Russia, Turkey, and Iran to resolve the Syrian conflict. The talks aim to establish de-escalation zones, ensure humanitarian aid, and facilitate political negotiations.
Despite 22 rounds, the talks have been complicated by the sponsors backing opposing sides in the conflict. On Saturday, the three sponsors held an exceptional meeting in Doha, issuing a joint statement with Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, and Qatar, reaffirming UN Security Council Resolution 2254, which calls for a ceasefire, political negotiations, and free elections in Syria.
We advocate peaceful Syrian-led political process respecting aspirations of all sections of Syrian society: MEA.
Syria War Live: Guardian analyses that grappling with the rapidly evolving geopolitical dynamic Hezbollah’s war with Israel left the Assad regime fatally exposed.
“It was not a coincidence that the Syrian group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) began its push for the city of Aleppo on the same day that Israel and Hezbollah agreed a ceasefire to end the fighting in Lebanon," she writes.
“The domino effect set in motion by Hamas on 7 October 2023 is still rippling through the Middle East, this weekend resulting in the spectacular downfall of Syria’s president, Bashar al-Assad."
Syria War Live: Bashar al-Assad's palace was the quintessential scenes of a fallen, dictatorial regime.
Syria War Live: Hind Kabawat, a Syrian Christian and director of interfaith peace-building at the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, stressed the need for ongoing efforts to create an inclusive and democratic Syria.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, she acknowledged that while her Christian community in Syria has remained safe in recent days without facing violations, there is still much work to be done. Kabawat warned against complacency, urging continued vigilance to ensure opposition forces uphold their commitments to protect religious minorities.
“The last thing we want right now is for Syria to have a sectarian war," she said. Her comments come amid reports that the offensive against al-Assad, led by the HTS rebel group, has been marked by hardline interpretations of Islamic law, previously linked to al-Qaeda, which raised concerns over the future treatment of religious minorities.
Syria War Live: As the brutal regime of Bashar al-Assad fell, the doors of the country’s notorious prisons have opened, including those of Sednaya, a facility described as a “human slaughterhouse".
Across the country prisoners, bewildered and exultant, have poured out of their cells.
But it’s not clear if all detainees are free.
Syria War Live: Among those released as rebels forces gained control was prisoner Bashar Barhoum, a 63-year-old writer who was due to be executed on Sunday.
Instead, writes the Associates Press, he walked into the Damascus sunshine.
“I haven’t seen the sun until today," he said after walking in disbelief through the streets of Damascus. “Instead of being dead tomorrow, thank God, he gave me a new lease of life."
Syria War Live: US President Joe Biden welcomed the fall of the Assad regime. As the White House focuses on next steps in Syria, the US military said it struck more than 75 ISIS targets in the country to prevent the terrorist group from taking advantage of the situation there.
Syria War Live: Across Syria on Sunday, there were scenes of jubilation as thousands of prisoners emerged from detention centers that have been described as “human slaughterhouses".
At the notorious Seidnaya prison near Damascus, inmates emerged from overcrowded cells, some in shock after years of imprisonment.
Syria War Live: Here are key events fyou should know
- The White Helmets deployed specialised teams to Sednaya prison in Damascus to search for hidden "secret cellars" that may be holding missing Syrians.
- Cardinal Mario Zenari, the apostolic nuncio to Damascus, revealed that after their victory, rebel forces in Aleppo assured Catholic leaders and bishops of their commitment to respecting religious denominations and Christians.
- Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, stated that Tehran's future relationship with Syrian forces will depend on their behaviour post-victory.
- The US announced airstrikes targeting 75 ISIL positions in Syria, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported Israeli airstrikes on "weapons depots" in eastern Syria.
- The UN Security Council is scheduled to meet later today at Russia's request to discuss the ongoing developments in Syria.
Syria War Live: Defence Minister Israel Katz says Israeli forces are seizing “additional points" in the buffer zone in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, according to Ynet News.
The outlet quoted Katz as saying he instructed the military on Sunday night “to act immediately in Syria" and that soldiers “continued to seize additional points in the buffer zone".
Katz also said he instructed the military “to create a security zone free of heavy strategic weapons and terrorist infrastructures that could threaten Israel".
The move aims “to thwart the renewal of the weapons smuggling route from Iran to Lebanon through Syria and at border crossing points".
Syria War Live: The Syrian Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets, reported that five specialised teams have been conducting an extensive search of Sednaya prison for several hours, amid concerns that some prisoners may still be confined in underground vaults, referred to as the Red Wing.
While the teams have successfully accessed several areas within the prison, they have not yet discovered any prisoners. The White Helmets shared the update on Telegram and stated that they will continue to provide information as the search progresses.
Syria War Live: According to CNN ground reports, strikes could be heard in Damascus in the early hours of Monday morning.
It was not immediately clear who had carried out the strikes.
Reuters reported that Israel had conducted three airstrikes in the Syrian capital on Sunday, citing two regional security sources.
