By The Associated Press
Israeli strikes killed at least six people in the central Gaza Strip, Palestinian medical officials said Monday, while also hitting suspected chemical and long-range weapons sites in Syria to keep them from rebels who seized Damascus.
The U.N. Security Council plans to hold emergency closed consultations on Syria later Monday at the request of Russia, which on Monday said it granted asylum to its longtime ally Syrian leader Bashar Assad.
Russian President Vladimir Putin personally made the decision to offer asylum to Assad, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Peskov wouldn’t comment on Assad’s specific whereabouts and said that Putin wasn’t planning to meet with him.
Israel’s offensive has killed over 44,500 Palestinians in the Gaza since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, according to local health authorities. They say most of the dead are women and children but do not distinguish between fighters and civilians.
The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250, including older adults and children. Around 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead.
Here’s the Latest:
Syria’s opposition meets for the first time with the prime minister
BEIRUT — The leader of Syria’s opposition met for the first time with the country’s prime minister to discuss Syria’s political transition following the fall of the Syrian regime. He emphasized that the new leadership cannot entirely abandon the practices of the previous government.
In a video of the meeting shared on the rebels’ “Military Operations” Telegram channel, opposition leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, widely known as Abu Mohammad al-Golani, told Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi Jalali, “The men have a high level of experience,” referring to the rebels.
“They started the work from nothing. Idlib is small and has few resources, but thank God, we were able to achieve something big through it,” he added. “You will see there are skills, and despite this, we cannot dispense of the old practices.”
Earlier today, Jalali said most cabinet members who are in Damascus are performing their duties from their offices to guarantee security in the country.
Britain suspends decisions on accepting Syrian refugees
LONDON — Britain has followed Germany and several other European countries by suspending decisions about whether to accept Syrian refugees in the wake of the Assad government’s fall.
The Home Office said in a statement on Monday that it “has paused decisions on Syrian asylum claims whilst we assess the current situation.”
British prime minister says the UK will not soon remove Syrian militant group HTS from its list of terror groups
LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says the U.K. will not soon remove Syrian militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham from its list of terror groups, after one of his Cabinet ministers said it would be considered “quite quickly.”
Speaking on a visit to Saudi Arabia, Starmer said “no decision is pending at all on this.”
Starmer said “it is far too early” to make that decision, and “at the moment the focus has to be on talking to our allies, making sure that this is an opportunity for Syria and therefore we have to work to make sure that this is a peaceful opportunity.”
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said HTS’ past links with al-Qaida “should rightly make us cautious” and “we will judge HTS by their actions.”
Cabinet Minister Pat McFadden said earlier that the group’s removal from the terrorist list “will have to be considered quite quickly.”
U.S. deputy ambassador to the UN outlines its priorities ahead of emergency Security Council meeting
UNITED NATIONS – The United States has three primary interests in Syria: protecting U.S. soldiers and personnel, ensuring U.S. allies are safe, and preventing a humanitarian catastrophe, the U.S. deputy ambassador said ahead of an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting on the fast-evolving events in the country.
The United States will work to try and ensure that “all of those things happen,” Robert Wood told reporters ahead of Monday afternoon’s closed council meeting called by Russia.
He said another “high, high priority” for the U.S. is to locate and free missing American journalist Austin Tice, who disappeared 12 years ago near the Syrian capital. “We have reasons to believe that he still is (alive), but we have to see,” he said.
Wood called the situation in Syria “dynamic” following the rebel overthrow of President Bashar Assad. The U.S. will judge the insurgent force now in control of Syria, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS on “what actions they take.” HTS is a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, which impacts U.S. efforts to communicate directly with the rebels. But he said there are various channels to talk to different factions “and we’re going to do that in order to try to best protect our interests in Syria right now.”
As for Iran’s so-called Axis of Resistance, Wood said Tehran and its allies Hezbollah and Hamas are clearly weakened while Israel has been strengthened.
“We just want to make sure that nefarious players are not going to be able to take advantage of the situation in Syria right now, because everything is fragile and fast-moving,” Wood said.
Rebel forces in Syria announce a general amnesty for all conscripted soldiers
BEIRUT— Rebel forces in Syria announced Monday a general amnesty for all conscripted soldiers serving under mandatory service in the now-ousted Syrian regime.
“The Military Operations Directorate announces a general amnesty for all conscripted soldiers serving under mandatory service. Their safety is guaranteed, and any harm or assault against them is strictly prohibited,” the opposition said in a message on their Telegram channel.
The announcement followed the ousting of Bashar Assad and the fall of his regime, which had ruled Syria for over 50 years. The opposition faced little resistance from the Syrian army as it moved south, swiftly capturing one city after another.
Global chemical arms watchdog warns Syria about unaccounted weapons
THE HAGUE — The global chemical weapons watchdog on Monday reminded Syria of its obligations to comply with rules to safeguard certain toxic chemicals, after rebels entered the capital Damascus over the weekend and overthrew President Bashar Assad.
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons said in a statement it has been “monitoring closely the recent developments in Syria, with special attention to the status of its chemical weapons related sites and other locations of interest.”
Syria’s Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi Jalali said Monday that most cabinet ministers are still working from offices in Damascus but the status of a stockpile of chemical weapons that Assad has been accused of using against civilians is unclear.
Assad’s government has denied using chemical weapons but the OPCW has found evidence indicating their repeated use by Syria in the country’s grinding civil war.
US weighs whether to delist Syrian insurgents as a terror organization
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration has indicated it is looking to be pragmatic about the realities on the ground in Syria as it weighs whether to delist the Syrian jihadi insurgent group that toppled President Bashar Assad as a terror organization, according to two senior administration officials.
One of the officials noted that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, is “saying the right things so far and they’re doing the right things so far” but also noted that it is just one of several groups that are looking to be part of the post-Assad transition in Syria.
Still, the official stressed that HTS will be an “important component” in what transpires in Syria and that the U.S. needs to “engage with them, appropriately, and with U.S. interests in mind.”
The second official said that the administration remains in a “wait and see” mode on whether to remove the HTS designation and has not set a timeline on whether to take action.
Both officials requested anonymity to discuss the ongoing internal deliberations by the administration.
The Syrian group is led by Abu Mohammed al-Golani, who has renounced longtime ties to al-Qaida and depicted himself as a champion of pluralism and tolerance.
— By Aamer Madhani
Ceasefire implementation committee holds its first meeting in Lebanon
BEIRUT — Representatives from a five-member committee tasked with enforcing a ceasefire that stopped the war between Hezbollah and Israel on Monday held their first meeting in Naqoura, southern Lebanon.
The group, comprising the United States, France, the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Lebanon known as UNIFIL, the Lebanese army and the Israeli army met to coordinate efforts supporting the Nov. 27 ceasefire, the U.S. Embassy in Beirut said.
Hosted by UNIFIL and chaired by the U.S. with France assisting, the meeting focused on advancing the implementation of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire and U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which aims to maintain stability along the Lebanon-Israel border, the embassy said.
“This mechanism will meet regularly and coordinate closely to advance implementation of the ceasefire agreement and UNSCR 1701,” the U.S. Embassy said.
The U.S. military announced in late November that Maj. Gen. Jasper Jeffers and envoy Amos Hochstein would co-chair the committee temporarily, with Hochstein serving until a permanent civilian co-chair is appointed.
UK government promises ‘swift decision’ on status of banned Syrian group
LONDON — The British government is considering whether to remove the group that led the toppling of Basha Assad’s Syrian government from the list of banned terrorist organizations.
The U.K. proscribed the jihadi group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, in 2017, considering it an alias of al-Qaida.
HTS began life as an offshoot of al-Qaida but years ago cut ties with the organization and has worked to present a more moderate image. It led the military offensive that swept across Syria and toppled Assad’s government in less than two weeks.
The British government, which is barred from talking to the group as long as it is banned, said Monday it keeps the list of banned organizations “under regular review.”
Cabinet minister Pat McFadden said “it should be a relatively swift decision.”
Lebanon’s security forces face influx of Syrians at border crossings
BEIRUT— Lebanese General Security said Monday that there has been a surge of Syrian people attempting to cross into Lebanon, facilitated by the absence of Syrian authorities at the Jdeidet Yabous border crossing.
Following the ousting of former Syria’s President Bashar Assad, thousands of Syrians have returned to their homeland, many for the first time in years. However, many are also attempting to leave Syria, driven by growing uncertainty about how the political situation will unfold.
The Lebanese General Security said in a statement that some Syrians had tried to bypass legal entry requirements and make their way into Lebanon at the Masnaa border crossing in eastern Lebanon.
That prompted a joint response by Lebanese security forces.
“In cooperation with the army and internal security forces, the General Security regulated the situation and returned (Syrians) to Syrian territory, allowing only those meeting legal entry criteria to proceed,” the statement added.
Hamas congratulates Syrians after overthrow of Assad regime
CAIRO — Hamas has congratulated the Syrian people after the toppling of President Bashar Assad’s government.
The Palestinian militant group said in a statement Monday that it hopes Syria can “continue its historic and central role in supporting the Palestinian people and its resistance.” The statement did not mention Assad by name.
Hamas’ ties with Assad frayed at the start of the Syrian uprising when the militant group sided with the rebels, leading Syria to kick out top Hamas leaders who had been based there. But they later mended ties in an effort facilitated by Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
Hamas and Hezbollah are part of Iran’s so-called “Axis of Resistance,” an alliance of militant groups across the region that are opposed to Israel.
Assad’s government was also part of that alliance and played a key role as a conduit between Iran and Hezbollah. It provided crucial support to Assad throughout the Syrian civil war but seemed to have abandoned him as the rebels made a lightning advance across the country.
Germany suspends Syria asylum decisions after rebels seize power
BERLIN — Germany’s migration authority is suspending decisions on pending asylum applications from Syrian nationals because of the unclear situation following the fall of Bashar Assad.
The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees said Monday that more than 47,000 applications are currently pending, German news agency dpa reported.
Interior Ministry spokesperson Sonja Kock noted that asylum decisions take account of the circumstances of each individual case, and that involves assessing the situation in the applicant’s country. She said the migration authority has the option of prioritizing cases from other places if a situation is unclear, as it currently is in Syria.
More broadly, German officials said it’s too early to speculate on what the fall of Assad will ultimately mean for the many Syrians who sought refuge in Germany in recent years, particularly in the mid-2010s. They noted that the situation in Syria remains unclear and complex.
The Interior Ministry said that, as of Oct. 31, there were 974,136 Syrian nationals in the country, the majority of whom had some kind of refugee or other protected status.
In neighboring Austria, Chancellor Karl Nehammer also tasked his interior minister with suspending decisions on current asylum applications by Syrians, the Austria Press Agency reported.
State employees in Syria stay away from work, paralyzing key services, UN official says
GENEVA — The public sector in Syria has come to an abrupt halt after rebels seized power as state employees ignore calls to return to their jobs, causing troubles in places like airports, borders and at the Foreign Ministry, and impeding the flow of humanitarian aid, a U.N. official said.
U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria Adam Abdelmoula suggested that armed groups could “limit the number of people who are with guns were outside roaming the streets” and “bring back the regular police and the regular law enforcement organs. That could assure the population.”
The public sector, he added, “has just come to a complete an abrupt halt, with people not knowing what their future will look like.”
“This is a country that has had one government for 53 years and then suddenly all of those who have been demonized by the public media are now in charge in the nation’s capital,” Abdelmoula told The Associated Press, alluding to insurgents who seized the capital as longtime President Bashar Assad fled.
“To see in the streets that used to be safe … being occupied by armed people, it is frightening for the population.”
He said he was told by “every interlocutor from the armed groups that I spoke to informally that they are prioritizing the restoration of law and order and basic services.”
U.N. emergency workers are trying to get into Syria, but a lack of border patrol officers or staffing at the Foreign Ministry — which issues visas — have held up entry, he said.
He said that the civil aviation employees also abandoned their jobs. “We have a shortage — acute shortage — of medical supplies, and we wanted, through WHO, to get at least one plane, cargo plane, to deliver some much needed medical supplies,” Abdelmoula said. “But again, that’s on hold for now because of the absence of civil aviation officials.”
Syrians in Egypt celebrate the end of Assad’s rule
CAIRO— Syrians in Egypt are celebrating the overthrow of President Bashar Assad after nearly 14 years of civil war.
Teachers and students danced, waved the flag of Syrian revolutionaries and chanted anti-Assad slogans at a Syrian school in a Cairo suburb on Monday.
The war has killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced half of Syria’s pre-war population of 23 million, with millions having fled to other countries in the region. The United Nations estimates there are some 150,000 Syrian refugees in Egypt.
“This was the best news I have ever heard,” said Ranim Hossam, a 36-year-old teacher from the northern Syrian city of Aleppo. “We have lost our properties and our families. There were many martyrs.”
Emad Tebian, a Syrian chef living in Cairo, said they have been waiting for Assad’s fall for more than a decade.
“It happened in a single day,” he said. “I swear I cannot even describe how happy I am.”
Mahmoud Adnan, a Syrian who works in a nut store in a Cairo suburb, said he lost many relatives and friends during the war. Like others, he hopes to return home.
“No one wanted to leave,” he said.
Egypt condemns Israel’s seizure of a buffer zone in the Golan Heights
CAIRO — Egypt on Monday condemned Israel’s seizure of a buffer zone in the Golan Heights that was established by a 1974 agreement with Syria.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry accused Israel of “exploiting the power vacuum … to occupy more Syrian territories and create a fait accompli in violation of international law.”
Egypt called for the United Nations Security Council to take “a firm position towards the Israeli aggression on Syria.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Sunday that the 50-year-old ceasefire agreement with Syria had collapsed. He said Syrian troops had abandoned their positions, necessitating the Israeli takeover as a “temporary defensive position.”
Israel captured the Golan Heights in the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed it. The entire international community, except for the United States, considers the strategic plateau to be occupied Syrian territory.
The agreement that demarcated the buffer zone was reached after the 1973 war, in which Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israel. Egypt became the first Arab country to make peace with Israel in 1978.
Syrian insurgents say they won’t interfere with women’s dressing or personal freedoms
DAMASCUS, Syria — 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 civilized 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.
T
housands of Syrian soldiers cross into Iraq, an official says
BAGHDAD — More than 4,000 Syrian army soldiers have crossed into Iraq since rebel forces seized Damascus and overthrew the government of Bashar Assad, a militia official in western Iraq said Monday.
The official with the Anbar Tribal Mobilization Forces said that the soldiers had turned over their weapons, ammunition and armored vehicles and would be housed in a camp. He did not say where the camp was located.
Another security official said that the governor of the Syrian province of Hasakeh had come to the border late Sunday night with a convoy of Syrian army soldiers who wanted to cross into Iraq, and they were allowed in via the Qaim crossing.
Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the matter.
The Iraqi government has close ties with Iran and used to be one of Assad’s primary backers but Baghdad has taken a neutral position on the advance of the insurgents and Assad’s downfall.
— By Qassim Abdul-Zahra
UN human rights chief says Assad and other officials should face justice
GENEVA — The U.N. human rights chief said Monday that former President Bashar Assad and other top Syrian officials behind possible war crimes “should be brought to justice.”
Volker Türk also said any transition process in Syria should not be separated from the need for accountability for alleged war crimes that took place in its civil war that began in 2011, leaving hundreds of thousands dead and millions fleeing their homes.
Türk, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights, also noted that Syria has not ratified the International Criminal Court statute, but the court in The Hague could have jurisdiction if the “new Syria” decides to ratify it — an allusion to whoever the new leadership of Syria becomes.
Turk said there were “serious grounds to believe” that Assad and others in serious leadership positions in his government may have committed atrocity crimes, “and as a result, yes, they should be brought to justice.”
Russia grants political asylum to Assad, Kremlin says
MOSCOW — The Kremlin said Monday that Russia has granted political asylum to former Syrian President Bashar Assad.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has personally made the decision to offer asylum to Assad, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
“Such decisions certainly can’t be made without the head of state,” Peskov said in a conference call with reporters. “It was his decision.”
Peskov wouldn’t comment on Assad’s specific whereabouts. He said that Putin wasn’t planning to meet with Assad.
The Kremlin spokesman said that Moscow has been doing everything needed to ensure the security of its military bases in Syria.
He said the future of the Russian bases will be a subject for discussion with the new authorities.
“For now, we are witnessing a period of transformation and extreme instability, so it will obviously take time and require a serious conversation with those who will have power,” he said.
“The developments have surprised the world, and we weren’t an exclusion,” Peskov said when asked whether the Kremlin was surprised by Assad’s quick demise.
Turkish foreign minister says Ankara hopes for ‘an inclusive government’ in Syria
ANKARA, Turkey — Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Monday that Ankara hopes the fall of the Syrian government will usher in a new era where different ethnic and religious groups can live peacefully under an inclusive new government.
Fidan also said his country hopes that a “new Syria” would maintain good relations with its neighbors and bring stability to the volatile region.
“The developments in Syria yesterday have given us a glimmer of hope,” Fidan said in a speech to Turkish ambassadors. “We expect international actors, especially the United Nations, to reach out to the Syrian people and support the formation of an inclusive government.”
The minister said Turkey would continue to support Syria’s territorial and political unity and work toward the country’s “prosperity, security and stability.”
But Fidan said it was important that the Islamic State group and Kurdish militants do not take advantage of the situation, adding that Turkey “would work with determination” to prevent Syria from turning into a “haven for terrorism.”
“Turkey, which has reached out to its Syrian brothers during difficult times, will also be by their side, as the new page opens in Damascus,” Fidan said. “We believe that the Syrian people will also make good use of this golden opportunity.”
Israel says a drone that appears to have originated in Yemen hit a city in central Israel
TEL AVIV, Israel — The Israeli military said Monday that a drone that appeared to have originated in Yemen slammed into a city in central Israel.
Video posted by Israeli news sites showed a large burst of smoke erupting from a high-rise apartment building.
The military said sirens were not sounded to warn of the incoming drone. There were no immediate reports of injuries.
Iran-backed militants in Yemen have been attacking Israel since Hamas’ assault on southern Israel in October 2023.
Their drones have at times evaded Israel’s sophisticated aerial defense system.
Turkey-backed forces take full control of Syrian city from U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led force
ANKARA, Turkey — The Turkish-backed forces known as the Syrian National Army launched an offensive against the Syrian Democratic Forces in the northern Syrian city of Manbij on Dec. 6, days after expelling SDF fighters from the city of Tal Rifaat.
Turkish security officials said Monday that “control of Manbij has been secured,” without providing further details. The officials provided the information on condition of anonymity, in line with Turkish regulations.
Turkey views the SDF, which is primarily composed of a Syrian Kurdish militia group, as an extension of the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, and a terrorist organization. The force, however, has been a key partner of the United States in the fight against the Islamic State group.
Separately, the U.S.-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said in a statement on Monday that a Turkish drone strike in the village of al-Mistriha north of Raqqa in eastern Syria killed 12 civilians, including six children.
Top aide to Assad’s brother found dead, war monitor says
BEIRUT — A Syrian opposition war monitor says a top aide to the brother of Syria’s ousted president was found dead in his office near the capital, Damascus.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Maj. Gen. Ali Mahmoud, who was in charge of Maher Assad’s office, had led a 2018 military campaign in southern Syria.
A video that circulated on social media allegedly showed Mahmoud covered in blood while sitting on a chair. His clothes appear to have been set on fire. It was not clear if he was killed by Maher Assad or he committed suicide, the observatory’s chief Rami Abdurrahman said.
Maher Assad was in charge of the army’s 4th Armored Division which played a major role in Syria’s conflict since it began in March 2011.
Israel says it has struck suspected chemical weapons sites and long-range rockets in Syria
JERUSALEM — Israel’s foreign minister says the strikes were 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 so that they will not fall in the hands of extremists.”
Syrian prime minister says Cabinet working to ensure smooth transition of power
DAMASCUS, Syria — Syria’s prime minister says most Cabinet ministers who are in Damascus are performing their duties from their offices to promote security and that food and medicine are available to the public.
“We are working so that the transitional period is quick and smooth,” Mohammed Ghazi Jalali told Sky News Arabia TV station on Monday.
The government is working with insurgents, Jalali said, adding that he is ready to meet their leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, who heads the jihadi Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS.
Israeli strikes kill 6 in central Gaza, Palestinian officials say
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Israeli strikes in the central Gaza Strip overnight killed at least six people, including a woman, Palestinian medical officials said Monday.
Among the dead were Raed Ghabaien, who was released from Israeli detention in 2014, according to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, where the casualties were taken.
He was killed along with his wife when an Israeli strike hit their tent in the central town of Zuweida, the hospital records showed.
Two other people were killed in a strike that hit their house late Sunday in the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp. Another two were killed in a strike in the Wadi Gaza area early Monday. An Associated Press journalist counted the bodies at the hospital’s morgue.
Mourners held funeral services Monday morning for the six dead and nine others who were killed in a strike the previous day in the urban refugee camp of Bureij.
Israel’s offensive has killed over 44,500 Palestinians in the Gaza since the start of the war, according to local health authorities. They say most of the dead are women and children but do not distinguish between fighters and civilians.
Israel says it only strikes militants and blames Hamas for civilian deaths because its fighters operate in residential areas.
The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250, including older adults and children. Around 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead.
US Central Command forces launch airstrikes in central Syria
TAMPA, Fla. – U.S. Central Command says its forces launched dozens of airstrikes targeting Islamic State group camps and operatives in central Syria.
The strikes on Sunday were intended to “disrupt, degrade, and defeat ISIS, in order to prevent the terrorist group from conducting external operations and to ensure that ISIS does not seek to take advantage of the current situation to reconstitute in central Syria,” it said in a statement.
The airstrikes hit over 75 targets using B-52s, F-15s and A-10s, it said, noting that damage assessments were underway and there were no indications of civilian casualties.
