Syria war live news:
- Al-Assad in Moscow, given asylum – Russian state media
An opposition fighter steps on a broken bust of the late Syrian President Hafez Assad in Damascus, Syria, Sunday December 8, 2024. [Hussein Malla/AP]
This video may contain light patterns or images that could trigger seizures or cause discomfort for people with visual sensitivities.
Al Jazeera Live
By Patrick Keddie and Edna Mohamed
Published On 8 Dec 2024
Russian state media reports that ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is in Moscow and has been granted asylum, after the Russian Foreign Ministry said earlier that he stepped down and left the country.
Syrian opposition fighters say al-Assad’s 24-year rule has come to an end after they seized the capital, Damascus.
A curfew has been declared in Damascus after people took to the streets there and elsewhere to celebrate the downfall of al-Assad’s government.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israeli forces have seized a buffer zone in the occupied Golan Heights following the opposition’s takeover in Syria.
The dramatic turn of events comes after opposition forces seized several strategic cities in a lightning offensive.
Read less
77 Updates
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18s ago (20:25 GMT)
Opinion: What the collapse of the Syrian regime says about the Arab region
Rami G Khouri
Rami G Khouri
On December 8, after a rapid offensive that lasted less than two weeks, Syrian opposition forces entered Damascus and declared the end of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. The Syrian president and his family are believed to have flown out in an unknown direction just before the rebels entered the capital.
The uprising against the Syrian government that ended the half-century of al-Assad family rule should be seen as among the most important political turning points in the modern Arab region since the end of World War II and the creation of Israel in 1948. It marks a definitive break with the legacy since the 1950s of military-anchored Arab autocrats who have long dominated and ravaged Arab societies.
Many rightly celebrate the overthrow of al-Assad, and many others wonder what will happen next given the involvement of various local and external powers in Syria. The Syrian people know they want a decent life, to be treated with respect and to be heard. We should humbly watch them bring a new and stable order to their country and stop the Western silliness of analysing what the length of a beard means or entertaining conspiracy theories.
It is critical now to reflect on what the devastating tale of Syrian governance and civil war mean. Syria under the Assads was neither unique nor the work of just a few local brutes. Rather, it is an example of the widespread legacy of heavy-handed, often vicious, Arab state power that has ravaged the region and demeaned its people for half a century, with the help of regional and great powers and assorted nongovernmental groups.
Read more here.
Click here to share on social media
10m ago (20:15 GMT)
WATCH: What’s next for Syria after al-Assad?
Celebrations are being held by some in Syria after Bashar al-Assad is toppled.
Overthrown by opposition forces made up of different factions, there’s concern now, about what might follow.
So, how will Syria be governed – and what impact will it have on the region?
Watch Al Jazeera’s Inside Story to hear the debate:
Play Video
Video Duration 28 minutes 50 seconds
28:50
What's next for Syria after Assad?
Click here to share on social media
20m ago (20:05 GMT)
Iranian FM: ‘Assurances’ given that holy sites, embassy in Syria will be protected
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says that the country has spoken with “various parties” about “the security of our embassy and our consulate in Aleppo, as well as the safety of the holy shrines of Zainab and Ruqayyah”, in Syria.
“We have been given assurances that the sanctity of these sites will be preserved and that the respect for our embassy will also be upheld”, he said, during a televised interview.
“Unfortunately, early this morning, there was an intrusion into our embassy. However, the scenes indicate that it was not an organized or armed intrusion, based on the footage we reviewed, it appears that some of those involved were ordinary people”, he added.
Click here to share on social media
25m ago (20:00 GMT)
Syrians in Hatay, Turkiye want to go home but worry about the future
Al Jazeera’s Sinem Koseoglu has talked with Syrian refugees in the southern Turkish province of Hatay.
Having endured years of conflict and the devastation of the 2023 earthquake, many Syrians in Hatay now say they want to go home. But they’re also worried about the future after the fall of al-Assad.
Abdurrahman Barut, from Idlib, has lived in Turkiye for 11 years. He has a reason for return.
“My father has been in jail in Syria for 13 years. We don’t know his crime or if he’s alive. His prison is now free,” he said.
“If Syria improves, we may return, I don’t know. Although I was raised in Turkiye, Syria is still home.”
Mustafa Knatar, originally from Aleppo, runs a sweetshop business in Hatay. Moved by the capture of the capital Damascus, he says he’s determined to go home.
“We will return soon, maybe in weeks, ” he said.
“Turkiye welcomed us; we’re grateful, but we want to go back. [But] Syria is unstable, the infrastructure is in ruins, and officials must re-establish order.”
Click here to share on social media
30m ago (19:55 GMT)
More from Iran’s Abbas Araghchi on fall of al-Assad regime
We have more for you from the Iranian foreign minister, from the televised interview he gave this evening on developments in Syria:
During recent discussions with al-Assad, we raised numerous recommendations regarding the Syrian army.
We emphasized the need to boost the army’s morale and suggested measures to achieve this. However, this responsibility primarily rested with President al-Assad to strengthen the motivation and morale of the army, while Iran provided assistance to the best of its ability.
Another important issue was fostering greater interaction between the Syrian government and its people. Ultimately, the key to sustaining governments lies in public support.
Iran also has a specific concern regarding the opportunistic behavior of the Zionist [Israeli] regime. As of last night, there have been some movements suggesting an attempt to reclaim areas in the Golan Heights. I issue a serious warning regarding these developments. I am also aware that resistance groups in the region are closely monitoring these actions by the Zionist regime.
Click here to share on social media
35m ago (19:50 GMT)
Iran’s FM: ‘No one anticipated’ this outcome in Syria
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has given a televised interview this evening, in which he gave his assessment of developments in Syria and what went wrong for the al-Assad regime.
In it, he said that Iran only played a support role to the now-fallen al-Assad government, and that it was up to them to facilitate reconciliation after 13 years of civil war.
Iran was a key ally of al-Assad, and partially responsible, along with the Russian government, for the survival of his regime.
Here are some of the key things he said:
Iran provided political support and consultation to assist the Syrian government but never intended to replace the Syrian army in managing domestic affairs or addressing opposition forces.
The Syrian army’s inability to resist sufficiently and its rapid withdrawal from certain situations seemed, in my opinion, to stem more from psychological factors, as no one had anticipated such an outcome.
It is a reality that Syrian opposition groups are diverse, operating in both northern and southern regions of the country. They range widely in nature, with some designated as terrorist groups by the United Nations.
Iran has consistently emphasized and insisted that the Syrian government engage in dialogue with opposition groups. Here, opposition groups refer to those not classified as terrorist organizations. The Islamic Republic of Iran has never opposed negotiations with non-terrorist opposition groups
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40m ago (19:45 GMT)
US CENTCOM says it will not allow ISIS to take ‘advantage’ in Syria
The US army’s Central Command (CENTCOM) has announced that it conducted “dozens of precision airstrikes” on ISIS camps and operatives in central Syria.
“The operation struck over 75 targets using multiple US Air Force assets, including B-52s, F-15s, and A-10s. Battle damage assessments are underway, and there are no indications of civilian casualties,” CENTCOM wrote on X.
It added that it will continue to work with partners in the region to “degrade ISIS operational capabilities even during this dynamic period in Syria”.
General Michael Erik Kurilla 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,” he added.
Click here to share on social media
45m ago (19:40 GMT)
Analysis
Biden ‘basically taking credit’ for fall of al-Assad regime
Robert Geist Pinfold, a professor of peace and security at Durham University, says the US president was “basically taking credit” for the fall of the al-Assad regime during his address.
Biden said that al-Assad’s allies, Russia, Iran and Hezbollah are all weaker to his leadership on the world stage.
“First of all, it’s important to know that no external power can really take credit for what happened in Syria. This is something the Syrian people did themselves, and second of all I think its a bit rich coming from Biden to be honest to say what he’s been saying,” Geist Pinfold told Al Jazeera.
“We know that Biden has been at loggerheads with Israel over its policies over its expansion of the war to Lebanon. For example, they’ve been trying to constrain Israel’s behaviour, but they failed miserably. So this idea that Biden and Israel are singing from the same hymn sheet and remaking the Middle East … current events and history don’t vindicate this approach,” he added.
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Live updates
Live updates,
Syria war live news: Al-Assad in Moscow, given asylum – Russian state media
An opposition fighter steps on a broken bust of the late Syrian President Hafez Assad in Damascus, Syria, Sunday December 8, 2024. [Hussein Malla/AP]
This video may contain light patterns or images that could trigger seizures or cause discomfort for people with visual sensitivities.
Al Jazeera Live
By Patrick Keddie and Edna Mohamed
Published On 8 Dec 2024
8 Dec 2024
Click here to share on social media
Russian state media reports that ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is in Moscow and has been granted asylum, after the Russian Foreign Ministry said earlier that he stepped down and left the country.
Syrian opposition fighters say al-Assad’s 24-year rule has come to an end after they seized the capital, Damascus.
A curfew has been declared in Damascus after people took to the streets there and elsewhere to celebrate the downfall of al-Assad’s government.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israeli forces have seized a buffer zone in the occupied Golan Heights following the opposition’s takeover in Syria.
The dramatic turn of events comes after opposition forces seized several strategic cities in a lightning offensive.
Read less
77 Updates
Auto-updates
2m ago (20:25 GMT)
Opinion
What the collapse of the Syrian regime says about the Arab region
Rami G Khouri
Rami G Khouri
On December 8, after a rapid offensive that lasted less than two weeks, Syrian opposition forces entered Damascus and declared the end of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. The Syrian president and his family are believed to have flown out in an unknown direction just before the rebels entered the capital.
The uprising against the Syrian government that ended the half-century of al-Assad family rule should be seen as among the most important political turning points in the modern Arab region since the end of World War II and the creation of Israel in 1948. It marks a definitive break with the legacy since the 1950s of military-anchored Arab autocrats who have long dominated and ravaged Arab societies.
Many rightly celebrate the overthrow of al-Assad, and many others wonder what will happen next given the involvement of various local and external powers in Syria. The Syrian people know they want a decent life, to be treated with respect and to be heard. We should humbly watch them bring a new and stable order to their country and stop the Western silliness of analysing what the length of a beard means or entertaining conspiracy theories.
It is critical now to reflect on what the devastating tale of Syrian governance and civil war mean. Syria under the Assads was neither unique nor the work of just a few local brutes. Rather, it is an example of the widespread legacy of heavy-handed, often vicious, Arab state power that has ravaged the region and demeaned its people for half a century, with the help of regional and great powers and assorted nongovernmental groups.
13m ago (20:15 GMT)
WATCH: What’s next for Syria after al-Assad?
Celebrations are being held by some in Syria after Bashar al-Assad is toppled.
Overthrown by opposition forces made up of different factions, there’s concern now, about what might follow.
So, how will Syria be governed – and what impact will it have on the region?
Watch Al Jazeera’s Inside Story to hear the debate:
Play Video
Video Duration 28 minutes 50 seconds
28:50
What's next for Syria after Assad?
Click here to share on social media
23m ago (20:05 GMT)
Iranian FM: ‘Assurances’ given that holy sites, embassy in Syria will be protected
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says that the country has spoken with “various parties” about “the security of our embassy and our consulate in Aleppo, as well as the safety of the holy shrines of Zainab and Ruqayyah”, in Syria.
“We have been given assurances that the sanctity of these sites will be preserved and that the respect for our embassy will also be upheld”, he said, during a televised interview.
“Unfortunately, early this morning, there was an intrusion into our embassy. However, the scenes indicate that it was not an organized or armed intrusion, based on the footage we reviewed, it appears that some of those involved were ordinary people”, he added.
Click here to share on social media
28m ago (20:00 GMT)
Syrians in Hatay, Turkiye want to go home but worry about the future
Al Jazeera’s Sinem Koseoglu has talked with Syrian refugees in the southern Turkish province of Hatay.
Having endured years of conflict and the devastation of the 2023 earthquake, many Syrians in Hatay now say they want to go home. But they’re also worried about the future after the fall of al-Assad.
Abdurrahman Barut, from Idlib, has lived in Turkiye for 11 years. He has a reason for return.
“My father has been in jail in Syria for 13 years. We don’t know his crime or if he’s alive. His prison is now free,” he said.
“If Syria improves, we may return, I don’t know. Although I was raised in Turkiye, Syria is still home.”
Mustafa Knatar, originally from Aleppo, runs a sweetshop business in Hatay. Moved by the capture of the capital Damascus, he says he’s determined to go home.
“We will return soon, maybe in weeks, ” he said.
“Turkiye welcomed us; we’re grateful, but we want to go back. [But] Syria is unstable, the infrastructure is in ruins, and officials must re-establish order.”
Click here to share on social media
35m ago (19:55 GMT)
More from Iran’s Abbas Araghchi on fall of al-Assad regime
We have more for you from the Iranian foreign minister, from the televised interview he gave this evening on developments in Syria:
During recent discussions with al-Assad, we raised numerous recommendations regarding the Syrian army.
We emphasized the need to boost the army’s morale and suggested measures to achieve this. However, this responsibility primarily rested with President al-Assad to strengthen the motivation and morale of the army, while Iran provided assistance to the best of its ability.
Another important issue was fostering greater interaction between the Syrian government and its people. Ultimately, the key to sustaining governments lies in public support.
Iran also has a specific concern regarding the opportunistic behavior of the Zionist [Israeli] regime. As of last night, there have been some movements suggesting an attempt to reclaim areas in the Golan Heights. I issue a serious warning regarding these developments. I am also aware that resistance groups in the region are closely monitoring these actions by the Zionist regime.
Click here to share on social media
40m ago (19:50 GMT)
Iran’s FM: ‘No one anticipated’ this outcome in Syria
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has given a televised interview this evening, in which he gave his assessment of developments in Syria and what went wrong for the al-Assad regime.
In it, he said that Iran only played a support role to the now-fallen al-Assad government, and that it was up to them to facilitate reconciliation after 13 years of civil war.
Iran was a key ally of al-Assad, and partially responsible, along with the Russian government, for the survival of his regime.
Here are some of the key things he said:
Iran provided political support and consultation to assist the Syrian government but never intended to replace the Syrian army in managing domestic affairs or addressing opposition forces.
The Syrian army’s inability to resist sufficiently and its rapid withdrawal from certain situations seemed, in my opinion, to stem more from psychological factors, as no one had anticipated such an outcome.
It is a reality that Syrian opposition groups are diverse, operating in both northern and southern regions of the country. They range widely in nature, with some designated as terrorist groups by the United Nations.
Iran has consistently emphasized and insisted that the Syrian government engage in dialogue with opposition groups. Here, opposition groups refer to those not classified as terrorist organizatio
ns. The Islamic Republic of Iran has never opposed negotiations with non-terrorist opposition groups
Click here to share on social media
45m ago (19:45 GMT)
US CENTCOM says it will not allow ISIS to take ‘advantage’ in Syria
The US army’s Central Command (CENTCOM) has announced that it conducted “dozens of precision airstrikes” on ISIS camps and operatives in central Syria.
“The operation struck over 75 targets using multiple US Air Force assets, including B-52s, F-15s, and A-10s. Battle damage assessments are underway, and there are no indications of civilian casualties,” CENTCOM wrote on X.
It added that it will continue to work with partners in the region to “degrade ISIS operational capabilities even during this dynamic period in Syria”.
General Michael Erik Kurilla 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,” he added.
Click here to share on social media
50m ago (19:40 GMT)
52m ago (19:40 GMT)
Analysis
Biden ‘basically taking credit’ for fall of al-Assad regime
Robert Geist Pinfold, a professor of peace and security at Durham University, says the US president was “basically taking credit” for the fall of the al-Assad regime during his address.
Biden said that al-Assad’s allies, Russia, Iran and Hezbollah are all weaker to his leadership on the world stage.
“First of all, it’s important to know that no external power can really take credit for what happened in Syria. This is something the Syrian people did themselves, and second of all I think its a bit rich coming from Biden to be honest to say what he’s been saying,” Geist Pinfold told Al Jazeera.
“We know that Biden has been at loggerheads with Israel over its policies over its expansion of the war to Lebanon. For example, they’ve been trying to constrain Israel’s behaviour, but they failed miserably. So this idea that Biden and Israel are singing from the same hymn sheet and remaking the Middle East … current events and history don’t vindicate this approach,” he added.
Click here to share on social media
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protected by reCAPTCHA
57m ago (19:35 GMT)
Freed detainee from Sednaya prison describes horrible conditions
Al Jazeera has spoken to a man who was held inside the infamous military prison near Damascus.
“Here, the regime tortured the families, engaging in violence, beatings, and breaking people’s spirits”, said the man.
He told us he was a soldier in the Syrian army who tried to escape to Turkey. When he was caught he was sentenced to a 10-year sentence.
He said guards “tortured people, insulted them, and left them to die from hunger, in addition to the humiliation, assaults on honor, and verbal abuse”.
“Moreover, any money your family brought during visits was taken, and people starved to death amidst insults and beatings. There was degradation; there was trampling on the dignity of a defenseless human being with no power or recourse”, he added.
“By the grace of the revolutionary army, the beautiful army, we were liberated. They trampled on the oppressors and the regime.”
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1h ago (19:30 GMT)
Biden lays out next steps for the US’s response to the fall of al-Assad
Looking ahead, Biden says the US will do the following:
First: Support Syria’s neighbours, including Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Israel, from any threat from Syria during the transitional period. Biden will speak to leaders in the region in the coming days and deploy senior officials to the Middle East to discuss Syria.
Second: The US will ensure stability in eastern Syria, protecting US personnel against any threats, and remain committed to their mission against ISIS. Biden says the US conducted dozens of precision air strikes today in Syria targeting ISIS camps.
Third: The US will engage with all Syrian groups with the UN to establish a transition away from the al-Assad regime towards an “independent, sovereign Syria” with a new constitution and new government determined by the Syrian people. Biden says the US will do whatever it can to support the country, including providing humanitarian relief to help “restore Syria after more than a decade of war”.
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1h ago (19:25 GMT)
Biden says some Syrian opposition groups have ‘grim record of terrorism’
The outgoing US president said that some of the opposition groups that overthrew al-Assad have “their own grim record of terrorism,” adding that Washington would assess if they had moderated.
“Some of the rebel groups that took down Assad have their own grim record of terrorism and human right abuses,” Biden said in his address from the White House.
Biden added that the United States had “taken note” of recent statements by opposition groups suggesting they had since moderated, cautioning “we will assess not just their words, but their actions”.
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1h ago (19:20 GMT)
h ago (19:20 GMT)
‘A number not a name’: In Syria, freed prisoners recall horrors of the past
Muadh al-Abbas
Idlib, Syria
“My name was number 1100,” Hala said, still fearful of being identified by her real name.
Hala is one of the thousands who have been freed from the prisons of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, after it spectacularly collapsed amid a rebel offensive in less than two weeks.
She told Al Jazeera that she had been taken from a checkpoint in Hama in 2019, accused of “terrorism” – a charge often thrown at anyone suspected of opposing the government. She was taken to Aleppo, where she has spent the time since in various prisons.
That is until Syrian opposition forces arrived at Aleppo’s Central Prison on November 29, freeing her and countless others.
“We couldn’t believe it was real and we would see the light,” she said of the opening of the prison by rebel forces led by Hayat Tahir al-Sham (HTS) in late November.
“The joy was immense; we ululated and cheered, wishing we could hug and kiss them,” Hala said of her liberators. “The joy was even greater when I reached my family. It was as if I was born again.”
Read more here.
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1h ago (19:15 GMT)
Developing
Biden: ‘New opportunities’ arise for the people of Syria
The US president says neither Russia, Iran or Hezbollah could defend “this abhorrent regime in Syria”.
“This is the direct result of the blows that Ukraine [and] Israel have delivered on their own self-defence with the unflagging support of the United States,” he said.
“Our approach has shifted the balance of power in the Middle East. Through this combination of support for our partners, sanctions, diplomacy, and targeted military enforcement, we now see new opportunities opening up for the people of Syria and for the entire region,” Biden added.
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1h ago (19:10 GMT)
Canadian, Austrian officials celebrate end of al-Assad regime
“The reign of terror in Syria has finally come to an end,” says Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer on X.
“It is important that all actors now quickly begin an inclusive political process that also protects the rights of minorities. Violence and displacement must end and people must find a future on the ground again”, he added, saying that Austria would “support” all Syrians in the country who want to return home.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau echoed these comments, also on X, saying “the fall of Assad’s dictatorship ends decades of brutal oppression. A new chapter for Syria can begin here — one free of terrorism and suffering for the Syrian people.”
“Canada is monitoring this transition closely. We urge order, stability, and respect for human rights”, Trudeau added.
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1h ago (19:05 GMT)
Former Syrian detainee describes ‘extreme joy’ in seeing prisoners set free
Omar Alshogre, director of detainee affairs at the Syrian Emergency Task Force, was arrested for attending an anti-government protest in Syria at the age of 15.
He says he was tortured into making false confessions in prison and sentenced to death. But he managed to get smuggled out of the prison, made his way to Sweden as a refugee, and is now planning to return home after the fall of al-Assad.
“The joy is extraordinary, there is nothing more beautiful than seeing your country, city by city, being liberated from a dictator who has been killing people fro 14 years at least,” he told Al Jazeera from Stockholm.
“And there is extreme joy for me being a former detainee to see prisoners running out of of their cells, free, not even believing that it’s reality. They looked like they were dreaming, and they were just running out from cells in which they were forced to choose who was going to be killed among them.
“In our cells we were tortured, we were starved, and we were forced to torture each other – and some days, we were forced to choose one of us to be executed.
“So the joy is incredible and I’m very optimistic about the future of Syria because, after 14 years of fighting, 14 years of the world staying silent about what’s happening in Syria – letting us suffer alone, fight alone, hope alone, dream alone, struggle alone – we are victorious today.
“We won this war against the dictator Bashar al-Assad and in the future we will win all the possible fights to build a country that we can be very proud of.
“A country where we have freedom and democracy, where every Syrian can live regardless of their religion, or sect, or colour – and all of them can live and be respected by each other but also by the law that doesn’t discriminate between people.”
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1h ago (19:00 GMT)
Developing
Biden: Moment of ‘uncertainty’ in Syria
US President Joe Biden has said the fall of al-Assad is also a “moment of risk and uncertainty as we all turn to the question of what comes next”.
“The United States will work with our partners and stakeholders in Syria to help them seize an opportunity to manage the risk,” he said.
“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 when I took office,” he continued.
“And let’s remember why: After Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, when much of the world responded in horror, Iran [and] its proxies chose to launch a multifront war against Israel and that was a historic mistake on Iran’s part … Today, Iran’s main territorial proxy, Hezbollah, is also on its back.”
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1h ago (18:55 GMT)
1h ago (18:55 GMT)
Photos: Syrians celebrate in London
Syrians celebrate in London
People embrace as they gather in Trafalgar Square, after Syrian rebels announced that they have ousted Syria’s Bashar al-Assad, in London, Britain [Mina Kim/Reuters]
Syrians celebrate in London
[Mina Kim/Reuters]
Syrians celebrate in London
[Mina Kim/Reuters]
Syrians celebrate in London
[Mina Kim/Reuters]
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1h ago (18:48 GMT)
‘At long last the al-Assad regime has fallen,’ says Biden
The US president began his address on the fall of the Syrian regime by saying it had “brutalised and tortured and killed literally hundreds of thousands of innocent Syrians”.
“The fall of the regime is a fundamental act of justice. It’s a moment of historic opportunity for the long-suffering people of Syria to build a better future for their proud country,” President Joe Biden said.
He added that the US is not sure where al-Assad is, but there’s “word” he’s in Moscow.
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1h ago (18:35 GMT)
Al-Assad in Russia as Moscow seeks assurances from Syrian opposition
Yulia Shapovalova
Moscow, Russia
So now we know that former President al-Assad and his family have received political asylum from the Kremlin for “humanitarian reasons”.
When the uprising began at the end of November, there were reports that al-Assad and his family flew to Russia, and that al-Assad asked Moscow to help him militarily. But back then, Moscow neither confirmed nor denied those reports.
Right now we see that a number of sources, including the BBC’s Russian service, for instance, have reported that al-Assad could possibly have been evacuated by a Russian plane from a Russian air base in Latakia, Syria that took off several hours ago with its transponders turned off.
Now Russian officials are in contact with representatives of the armed Syrian opposition.
According to a Kremlin source, the opposition has guaranteed the security of Russian bases in Latakia and Tartous, as well as Russian diplomatic missions in Syria.
And there are also reports that the Russian authorities consider it necessary to resume negotiations on a settlement in Syria under the supervision of the United Nations.
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2h ago (18:30 GMT)
‘Even the most cruel regime may fall,’ says Polish PM
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk says the defeat of al-Assad in Syria is proof that Russia and its allies can be defeated.
“The events in Syria have made the world realise once again, or at least they should, that even the most cruel regime may fall and that Russia and its allies can be defeated,” Tusk said on X.
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2h ago (18:20 GMT)
Syrian opposition guarantees safety of Russian bases, diplomats: Russian media
Syrian opposition leaders have guaranteed the safety of Russian military bases and diplomatic missions inside Syria, Russian news agencies have reported, citing a Kremlin source.
“Russian officials are in contact with representatives of the armed Syrian opposition, whose leaders have guaranteed the safety of Russian military bases and diplomatic institutions on the territory of Syria,” the TASS state news agency said.
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2h ago (18:17 GMT)
2h ago (18:17 GMT)
Houthi
Al-Assad in Moscow: Report
Russian state news agencies have reported that former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is in Moscow and has received asylum.
Citing a source in the Kremlin, the news agencies said al-Assad and his family were granted asylum based on “humanitarian considerations”.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said earlier that al-Assad had left Syria.
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2h ago (18:15 GMT)
Syrians still looking for loved ones in infamous Sednaya prison
Video verified by Al Jazeera’s fact-checking agency shows Syrians at the prison, which was liberated earlier today after opposition forces stormed into Damascus.
The video shows people poring over documents, searching for the names of those they know who were detained there.
Watch below:
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Khaled Abo Alhuda (@khaled_aboalhuda)
Translation: From Sidnaya Prison and searching for a glimmer of hope
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2h ago (18:10 GMT)
Palestine says it stands by will of Syrians
The Palestinian presidency says it stands by the Syrian people and respects their will and political choices in a way that guarantees their security and stability, Wafa reported.
“We reaffirm the need to respect the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic, and to preserve its security and stability, wishing continued progress and prosperity for the brotherly Syrian people,” the presidency said in a statement.
It stressed the importance of all political parties prioritising the interests of the Syrians and the country’s role in the world.
At the same time, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry said it was checking up on Palestinians in Syria and following up on the conditions of Palestinian detainees who were freed from Syrian prisons and reassuring their relatives.
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3h ago (18:05 GMT)
At least 910 killed since Syrian opposition offensive: Monitor
More than 900 people, including 138 civilians, have been killed since Syrian opposition forces launched a major offensive 11 days ago, a war monitor says.
The United Kingdom-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it has documented that at least 910 people were killed since the launch of the opposition advance on November 27.
The toll includes 138 civilians, 380 Syrian soldiers and allied fighters, and 392 rebels.
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3h ago (18:00 GMT)
Russia requests UNSC meeting on Syria: Report
The news comes from Russia’s state-owned news agency TASS, which says that the country has requested emergency consultations of the UN Security Council after Damascus fell to Syrian opposition groups earlier today.
Russia, a key ally of Bashar al-Assad, said that the deposed leader left the country.
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3h ago (17:55 GMT)
Al-Julani’s victory speech very symbolic and significant
Zein Basravi
Zein Basravi
Lebanon-Syria border
There were two very significant things in the speech that HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Julani gave.
He said that this was now not a Syria of vengeance, it was a country for all Syrians. He pushed this idea of Syrian multiplicity – a Syria for all Syrians should be something people focus on.
But he also criticised the Iranian government and its involvement in Syria, making the point that this is no longer going to be a government that will be affected by Iran as an outside actor and that the future of Syria will be determined by Syrians themselves.
He was making this point as a victor in this war, as a leader who was key in taking over one city after another.
So we’ve seen him make this speech that was very symbolic, very significant and mirroring a lot of the feelings that people have here.
We were told by many people that they are glad that this is over and that Syria will no longer be a puppet regime for Russia or for Iran. That’s the sentiment here.
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3h ago (17:50 GMT)
3h ago (17:50 GMT)
UN chief welcomes end of Syria’s ‘dictatorial regime’
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has welcomed the end of Syria’s “dictatorial regime” and urged the country to rebuild after al-Assad’s fall.
“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,” Guterres said in a statement.
“I reiterate my call for calm and avoiding violence at this sensitive time, while protecting the rights of all Syrians, without distinction,” he added.
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3h ago (17:45 GMT)
Biden to deliver remarks on Syria at 18:00 GMT
US President Joe Biden will deliver an address on the situation in Syria at 1pm ET [18:00 GMT] following the fall of the al-Assad regime, the White House announced.
As we reported earlier, Biden was to meet with his security team to discuss the rapid developments and receive an update on the situation.
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3h ago (17:40 GMT)
Lebanon seeing an influx of people from Syria
Zein Basravi
Zein Basravi
Lebanon-Syria border
There is a curfew in place in Damascus and Syria now, so the outflow of Syrian refugees going back into Syria that we saw for so many hours has stopped.
But now we are seeing an influx of more and more people coming from the Syrian side into Lebanon. Just a little while ago, there was a large group – vehicles filled with people and personal belongings, people walking on foot, families carrying whatever they could – leaving Syria and coming into Lebanon.
Many of them are Lebanese refugees, who were displaced by the war with Israel.
But many are also Syrians seeking safety here; perhaps pro-Assad Syrians who are now seeking safety outside of their country.
So there is this outflow of people from Syria now coming into Lebanon that is happening.
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3h ago (17:35 GMT)
Photos: Syrians celebrate in Copenhagen, Denmark
Syrians celebrate in Copenhagen, Denmark
Members of the Syrian Association in Denmark demonstrate, after Syrian rebels announced they ousted Syria’s Bashar al-Assad, at City Hall Square, in Copenhagen, Denmark [Ritzau Scanpix/Emil Nicolai Helms/Reuters]
Syrians celebrate in Copenhagen, Denmark
[Ritzau Scanpix/Emil Nicolai Helms/Reuters]
Syrians celebrate in Copenhagen, Denmark
[Ritzau Scanpix/Emil Nicolai Helms/Reuters]
Syrians celebrate in Copenhagen, Denmark
[Ritzau Scanpix/Emil Nicolai Helms/Reuters]
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3h ago (17:30 GMT)
Saudia Arabia says it is pleased with steps to ensure civilian safety in Syria
Saudi Arabia says it has followed the rapid events in Syria and is pleased with the steps taken to ensure the safety of civilians.
The kingdom added that the positive steps also included stopping the country’s bloodshed and preserving the state’s institutions and capabilities.
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3h ago (17:20 GMT)
Syrians in Egypt rejoice at the fall of al-Assad
Reda al-Khedr was only five when his mother escaped the siege of Homs in 2014. A decade later in Cairo, he can hardly believe the Syrian government that killed his father has fallen.
“I can barely remember Syria,” Khedr, now 15, told the AFP news agency in the Egyptian capital.
“But now we’re going to go home to a liberated Syria. We’re done with Bashar al-Assad and his corrupt regime,” he said on Sunday, still blinking in disbelief at the opposition’s lightning offensive that toppled the al-Assad family’s five-decade rule earlier in the day.
Khedr’s father, who disappeared in 2014, was confirmed killed last year, mere months before opposition forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham opened prison after prison, freeing thousands.
“Maybe he would have been freed, too,” lamented the teenager, who calls himself part of Syria’s “new generation that will rebuild even better than before”.
Since 2011, when al-Assad’s crackdown on pro-democracy protests sparked the war, about 1.5 million Syrians have sought shelter in Egypt, according to United Nations estimates based on government data. About 150,000 are registered refugees with the UN.
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3h ago (17:15 GMT)
Iran will be forced to reconsider its position in the region
Dorsa Jabbari
Dorsa Jabbari
The al-Assad regime in Syria has been Iran’s consistent ally since the 1979 revolution, and as such Tehran has seen the survival of the Syrian government as being crucial to its interests, since Syria provides a vital thoroughfare to Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has described Syria as Iran’s “35th province”, but recent events which led to the downfall of the al-Assad regime show a remarkable shift in this longstanding relationship.
Syria was once Iran’s closest Arab ally, but now it appears everything Tehran had built and fought to preserve for 40 years to make it its main foothold in the Arab world has been lost.
Iran’s other key ally Hezbollah has been battered after an intense period of fighting with Israel in Lebanon. Syria was a crucial passageway for Iran to supply Hezbollah with money, weapons and training, and political, diplomatic and logistical support. That is no longer the case.
Iran deployed commanders and troops to Syria in 2012 at the start of the antigovernment uprising, helping to defeat both the opponents of the al-Assad regime and the ISIL (ISIS) group. According to officials in Tehran, the cost was high, with thousands of members of the Revolutionary Guard killed and nearly $50bn spent to ensure al-Assad’s survival.
Yet [a recent] concern for Iran was Israel’s threat to attack any mobilisation of Iranian troops in Syria. Two flights by a private Iranian airline en route to Damascus were turned around this past week after warnings by Israel that it would shoot them down if they entered Syrian airspace, according to Iranian and Israeli officials. Israel said the flights were transferring weapons.
Hezbollah and the al-Assad regime have been described as Tehran’s right and left wings. And with both now having been clipped, it’s unclear how Tehran will deal with the new reality of its weakened position in the region.
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3h ago (17:10 GMT)
Israel says ground troops deployed into Syria
The Israeli army says its forces are stationed on four fronts: the occupied West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon and Syria.
In a statement on Telegram, the army said ground troops had been deployed into Syrian territory and were working with other branches of the army, including air, sea and intelligence.
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4h ago (17:05 GMT)
4h ago (17:05 GMT)
‘At least now we have hope’: Syrians speak from Stockholm
From Stockholm, Sweden, where crowds of Syrians have gathered to celebrate the end of the al-Assad regime, Eiad Aldroubi, a political science student, tells Al Jazeera that Syrians finally have hope after years of living under a brutal dictatorship.
“The Assad regime was so brutal, we had no freedom of speech, no freedom of the press, no freedom organisation … even if you say a joke about the regime you would disappear, you would not see the sun again,” he told Al Jazeera’s Paul Rhys, adding that his uncle, an activist and lawyer defending political detainees, was imprisoned by the al-Assad regime and died while detained.
“Now after 13 years of war and repression, finally we are done with the Assad regime. Now at least we have hope. We feel that now we can create a new country, a country for all Syrians,” he continued.
“In the future, when Syria becomes more stable, and we get democratic institutions and it becomes a more modern democratic country, of course I will visit Syria and maybe eventually I will move there, too.”
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4h ago (17:00 GMT)
Syrian Druze leader calls for people to work together to build new state
The spiritual leader of the Druze community, Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri, said in Sweida, southern Syria, that he congratulates and pays respects to the “heroic Syrians … regardless of their affiliations”.
Al-Hijri called on Syrians to work together amid the fall of al-Assad’s regime and build a civil state based on “justice and equality”.
He added a call for a new constitution to be drafted and supported by Syrians through a vote.
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4h ago (16:55 GMT)
WATCH: How Syria’s opposition fighters overthrew al-Assad
Syrian opposition fighters have overthrown President Bashar al-Assad after taking control of the capital Damascus following an advance lasting just 11 days.
Play Video
Video Duration 02 minutes 43 seconds
02:43
How Syria's opposition fighters overthrew Assad
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4h ago (16:50 GMT)
Photos: Syrians celebrate fall of al-Assad in Athens, Greece
Syrians celebrate in Athens, Greece
Syrians living in Greece gather in Syntagma Square in Athens, Greece [Louiza Vradi/Reuters]
Syrians celebrate in Athens, Greece
[Louiza Vradi/Reuters]
Syrians celebrate in Athens, Greece
[Louiza Vradi/Reuters]
Syrians celebrate in Athens, Greece
[Louiza Vradi/Reuters]
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4h ago (16:45 GMT)
Israel is reminding everyone who’s ‘boss’ by attacking assets in Syria
Nour Odeh
Nour Odeh
Reporting from Amman, Jordan
Al Jazeera is reporting from outside Israel because it has been banned by the Israeli government.
This is Netanyahu’s Israel that has normalised giving notifications to residents of other countries to tell them to either leave their homes, as was the case in Gaza and Lebanon, or now to stay at home because Israel is giving itself the right to freely operate in Syrian territory, after having taken over that buffer zone in the Golan.
Israel had already occupied part of the Syrian Golan Heights.
So this is Israel expanding its territorial control further and also basically reminding everybody who’s boss, at least from an Israeli perspective, striking at strategic assets in Damascus, making these steps on the border.
At the same time, it’s saying it’s ready to make peace and extend a hand so long as those rules of the game are at play and everybody is aware of them and accepts them.
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4h ago (16:40 GMT)
EU chief offers to help rebuild a Syria that ‘protects all minorities’
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says the European Union would help to rebuild a Syria that safeguards minorities after the dramatic fall of al-Assad.
“Europe is ready to support safeguarding national unity and rebuilding a Syrian state that protects all minorities,” she said in a statement on X on Sunday.
“The cruel Assad dictatorship has collapsed. This historic change in the region offers opportunities but is not without risks,” added the commission president.
She said the bloc was in touch with key leaders in Europe and the region and was monitoring the fast-moving developments.
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4h ago (16:35 GMT)
Taking Syria: The opposition’s battles in maps
The 24-year rule of President Bashar al-Assad fell in just 11 days.
The maps here give a day-by-day overview of how al-Assad’s rule crumbled in the face of a sweeping opposition advance.
INTERACTIVE - cover- who controls what in Syria-1733655095
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4h ago (16:30 GMT)
Biden to meet with US national security team about Syria
US President Joe Biden will meet with his national security team to receive an update on the situation in Syria, a White House spokesperson said on X.
Earlier, the White House said that Biden and his team were “closely monitoring the extraordinary events in Syria”.
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4h ago (16:25 GMT)
4h ago (16:25 GMT)
Amnesty demands rights violators face justice after al-Assad falls
Amnesty International has called for perpetrators of rights violations in Syria to face justice after Bashar al-Assad’s fall from power, calling it a “historic opportunity” to end decades of abuses.
“Suspected perpetrators of crimes under international law and other serious human rights violations must be investigated, and if warranted, prosecuted for their crimes in fair trials,” Amnesty International head Agnes Callamard said in a statement.
She added that any prosecutions should be “without the possibility of the death penalty”.
“The most important step is justice, and not retribution,” Callamard added, urging “opposition forces to break free from the violence of the past”.
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4h ago (16:20 GMT)
‘I don’t ever remember being this happy before’
Al Jazeera’s Paul Rhys has been talking to a boisterous crowd of Syrian exiles in Stockholm, Sweden who were chanting and waving Syrian opposition flags as they celebrated the fall of al-Assad.
“I don’t ever remember being this happy before. It’s huge. This is a victory for everyone [Syrian],” said Lana Osman, a Syrian refugee who left her country in 2015 when she was 15 years old.
“As a kid, I didn’t really understand the concept of freedom, and my people in Syria taught me what freedom of speech is, what protesting peacefully is. But unfortunately, we were met by violence, by bombings, and by killings,” she said.
“I’m one of the lucky ones to be here in Sweden, able to speak my mind openly without being afraid. So this is a big privilege for me.”
But she said that while she was grateful to Sweden, she wanted to return home at some point.
“Syria is my homeland and I wish very much that one day I will be able to go back there and live my life with my kids and my family and tell them everything about Syria and the true meaning about being in their home,” she said.
“We are still strangers here.”
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4h ago (16:15 GMT)
Analysis
‘No one’ expected the al-Assad regime to fall so fast
Marwan Bishara
Marwan Bishara
Al Jazeera's senior political analyst
After 60 years, more than six decades of dictatorship and repression, it’s certainly earth-shattering the way everything fell apart in a dozen days.
This has been long in the making. The regime, while maintaining the appearances of bravado and an attempt at confidence, turned out to be so empty – such an empty shell, it’s beyond belief.
If you want a bit of honesty, none of us, no one, no one that I know, expected the regime to fall so fast that the contagion would be within days and the breakdown within hours – that the fall of Damascus would come after those two decades of horrors and fears that the al-Assad regime instilled in people.
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5h ago (16:10 GMT)
What Syrians lived through under the al-Assad government
Bashar al-Assad and his father Hafez al-Assad ruled Syria for more than 50 years.
Under their regime, thousands were forcibly displaced, killed and tortured.
Scroll through the slides below to get a look at what Syrians lived through:
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5h ago (16:05 GMT)
Analysis
US might defer to regional allies to ‘police things’ in Syria, to avoid involvement
Robert Geist Pinfold, a professor of peace and security at Durham University, says that even if the United States wants to stay out of Syria’s affairs, Syria “may end up drawing in” Washington.
“What we might see under a [President-elect Donald] Trump administration is Trump working closely with [President Recep Tayyip ] Erdogan in Turkiye. We know they got along very well previously,” Geist Pinfold told Al Jazeera.
“Trump likes his autocratic strongmen. Erdogan was one of those and remains one of those, so the question is how much will the US exert agency in a post-regime Syria and how much will they defer to Turkiye …to basically police things locally and stop the US from getting involved,” he explained.
Geist Pinfold added that the West’s response to the fall of al-Assad, despite being a welcomed event, is still apprehensive as the leader of HTS has a “$10 million US bounty on his head” as the group is considered a “terrorist organisation”.
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5h ago (16:00 GMT)
Analysis
Transition process unclear but ‘we should dare to hope’
H A Hellyer, a senior associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, said now the situation is settling down on the ground in Syria, questions will turn to the political transition process and whether the disparate groups that make up the opposition can work together.
“There was certainly coordination over the last week and before that in order to accomplish the advance that we’ve seen quite dramatically unfold,” he told Al Jazeera from Doha, Qatar.
“The real questions are going to be: OK there’s going to be a transitional government, there’s going to be a transitional process – is everybody buying into that process straight away? How do you bring people in? How do you make sure the tent is wide enough so there aren’t spoilers from the outside?”
Hellyer said any transition process will have to involve all of Syria’s minority communities, and that it was encouraging to see that large-scale disorder or major attacks on minorities have so far not taken place.
“If people can perceive the transition going forward as one that takes on board all of these communities, and isn’t just for one or two, then that’s going to be positive for any eventual transition,” he said.
“The problem in every transition from a dictatorial, autocratic, or authoritarian regime is that people don’t feel that they have buy-in into the process. The more buy-in there is from the wide breadth of the pluralism that makes up Syria, the better. And I think we should dare to hope.”
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5h ago (15:55 GMT)
5h ago (15:55 GMT)
Thousands of Syrians take to the streets after fall of al-Assad
As the al-Assad family’s 50-plus-year rule over the country comes to a close, Syrians are celebrating and looking to the future.
Watch AJ+’s short video for some scenes from the ground:
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5h ago (15:50 GMT)
Israeli defence minister says fall of al-Assad a ‘severe blow’ to Iranian axis
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has welcomed the fall of al-Assad’s regime.
“The arms of the octopus are being severed one by one,” Katz said, adding that he, alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, had instructed the army to seize the buffer zone between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
He said this was done “to ensure the protection of all Israeli settlements in the Golan Heights – Jews and Druze – so that they are not exposed to threats from the other side”.
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5h ago (15:45 GMT)
UK’s Starmer says Syrians suffered under al-Assad’s ‘barbaric regime’ for too long
The British prime minister calls for peace and stability in Syria following the fall of Bashar al-Assad.
“The Syrian people have suffered under Assad’s barbaric regime for too long, and we welcome his departure,” the prime minister said in a statement.
“Our focus is now on ensuring a political solution prevails, and peace and stability is restored,” Starmer added, calling for “civilians and minorities” to be protected.
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5h ago (15:40 GMT)
Air strikes on Damascus ‘likely’ targeting ammunition depots
Air strikes in Damascus have likely targeted fuel or military ammunition depots in the capital, our correspondent at the scene is reporting.
“The entire security headquarters is engulfed by massive fire very likely to be fuel reservoirs,” he explained.
Israel is suspected to be conducting air strikes on Syria and has issued a warning to residents of five southern Syrian villages, saying that they should stay at home.
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5h ago (15:35 GMT)
‘This victory is for all Syrians,’ al-Julani says
HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Julani has made a victory speech in the Umayyad Mosque in the old city of Damascus.
“The [al-Assad] regime has imprisoned thousands of its own civilians unjustly and without them committing any crimes,” he said in comments filmed by Al Jazeera Mubasher.
“We are the rightful owners [of this country], we have been fighting, and today we have been rewarded with this victory.”
Al-Julani, the leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) rebel group, called for prayers to give thanks for the triumph.
“God will not fail you,” al-Julani said. “This victory is for all Syrians; they were all part of this victory.”
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5h ago (15:30 GMT)
Editor’s Choice: What to read and watch right now
Here’s a selection of stories that we’ve published on this historic day in Syria’s long-running war:
From the ground: Joyous celebrations across Syria after al-Assad’s fall
World reaction: Statements pour in after opposition forces seize Damascus
Taking Syria: The opposition’s battles shown in 11 maps for 11 days
Video: How Syria’s opposition fighters overthrew al-Assad
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5h ago (15:25 GMT)
Israeli military tells residents in southern Syrian towns to stay at home
The Israeli military is issuing warnings in five towns in southern Syria, calling on residents to stay at home “until further notice” due to ongoing combat in the area.
“The fighting inside your area is forcing the [Israeli army] to act, and we do not intend to harm you,” Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said on X. “For your safety, you must stay at home and not go out until further notice.”
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5h ago (15:20 GMT)
‘It’s time to demolish all the refugee camps all around the world for Syrians’
Thousands of Syrians in Sweden are celebrating al-Assad’s removal. Many arrived there after 2011 when the country’s civil war began, according to Al Jazeera’s Paul Rhys.
“People here are very happy. Everybody [is] willing to get back home,” said Muhammad al-Kudaymi, an architect who arrived to Sweden 12 years ago, and who spoke to Rhys in the city of Malmo.
“It’s time to demolish all the refugee camps all around the world for Syrians,” al-Kudaymi added.
Al-Kudaymi said his mother was already packing her bags this morning, preparing to head back to Syria.
“Everybody [is] ready to get back to [a] free Syria, to build our Syria, our future,” he said.
“[I] never thought that I could get back home because of the al-Assad regime, and Iran, and Russia. And now we have the hope that we can get back home, and we hope that all the Ukrainians, soon as well, will get back home to their homes.”
Al-Kudaymi said he had to flee Syria when he refused to serve in al-Assad’s army.
“We have hope that we’re going to build a new Syria … with human rights and gender equality,” he said.
Play Video
Video Duration 02 minutes 43 seconds
02:43
How Syria's opposition fighters overthrew Assad
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5h ago (15:15 GMT)
5h ago (15:15 GMT)
Cars stolen from Italy ambassador’s residence in Syria: Foreign minister
Italy’s foreign minister says an “armed group” had entered the garden of the Italian ambassador in Damascus and stolen three cars, after opposition forces said they had seized the city.
“This morning an armed group entered the garden of the residence of Italy’s ambassador… they took away three automobiles,” Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told journalists following a Foreign Ministry crisis meeting on the Syria situation.
He said there was no violence during the incident.
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6h ago (15:10 GMT)
Egypt calls for consensus, reconstruction in Syria
Egypt urged all Syrian parties “to unify objectives and priorities and initiate a comprehensive and inclusive political process that lays the groundwork for a new phase of consensus and internal peace”, its Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The country will work with regional and international partners to help the Syrian people, facilitate reconstruction efforts and support the safe return of refugees, it said.
Cairo stands “alongside the Syrian state and people and supports them in preserving Syria’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity”, the ministry added.
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6h ago (15:05 GMT)
Developing
Fire breaks out in Damascus after a suspected air attack
Images show a building on fire in Damascus after a suspected air attack. It’s believed that the Israelis may have struck what is believed to be a munitions depot close to the airport.
The Israeli media reported earlier on Sunday that the Israeli air force has bombed weapons depots in southern Syria and Damascus to prevent opposition groups from seizing them.
We will bring more details on the blaze as they emerge.
Read more here.
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6h ago (15:00 GMT)
If you’re just joining us
Here’s a breakdown of the latest developments:
Opposition leader Abu Mohammed al-Julani has arrived in Damascus, after his forces declared victory there, according to a statement by the main Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) rebel group.
The whereabouts of President Bashar al-Assad, now removed from power, remain unknown. Russia says he left the country and gave orders for a peaceful transition of power.
Turkiye’s Foreign Ministry says Ankara is ready to help “guarantee security” in Syria. Iran and Iraq urge against interference in Syria’s internal affairs.
Syrian refugees in Lebanon are celebrating en masse, “jubilant” at the prospect of being able to return home for the first time in years.
Rights group Amnesty International urges opposition forces now in control to “break free from the violence” of the past, saying “the most important step is justice, and not retribution.”
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6h ago (14:55 GMT)
HTS says al-Julani arrived in Damascus: Report
Opposition leader Abu Mohammed al-Julani is now in Damascus, according to a statement from the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) opposition group cited by the AFP news agency.
After reaching the capital, which his forces first breached early this morning, al-Julani “knelt down prostrating to God in thanks”, said the HTS statement.
Earlier, al-Julani, whose real name is Ahmed al-Sharaa, urged opposition fighters to “protect and guard the public institutions and property”, which he stressed belong to the Syrian people, as they move into the capital.
Abu Mohamed al-Jolani, head of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a jihadist group led by Al-Qaeda's former Syria branch, speaks during a press conference in the area of Bab al Hawa crossing northern Syria late on March 12, 2024. (Photo by OMAR HAJ KADOUR / AFP)
Abu Mohammed al-Julani, head of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). [Omar Haj Kadour/AFP]
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6h ago (14:50 GMT)
Syria’s governing powers should not repeat past ‘atrocities’: UN commission
A UN commission responsible for probing war crimes in Syria has urged Syria’s new governing forces to avoid repeating atrocities it says were a hallmark of al-Assad’s rule.
“Today marks a historic new beginning for the Syrian people who have suffered unspeakable violence and atrocities over the past 14 years,” the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria said in a statement.
“It is incumbent on those now in charge to ensure that such atrocities are never again repeated within the walls of Sednaya (prison) or any other detention centre in Syria.”
As we reported earlier, opposition fighters claimed to have freed all the prisoners at the infamous Sednaya Prison as they stormed into Damascus.
Play Video
Video Duration 01 minutes 15 seconds
01:15
Detainees released from notorious Syrian prisons
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6h ago (14:45 GMT)
Photos: Syrians celebrate in Berlin, Germany
yrians celebrate in Berlin
People wave Syrian flags as they gather at Oranienplatz Square, after Syrian rebels announced that they had removed President Bashar al-Assad, in Berlin, Germany [Annegret Hilse/Reuters]
yrians celebrate in Berlin
[Annegret Hilse/Reuters]
yrians celebrate in Berlin
[Annegret Hilse/Reuters]
yrians celebrate in Berlin
[Annegret Hilse/Reuters]
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6h ago (14:40 GMT)
Important to be ‘cautiously optimistic’ about Syria, says activist Omar Suleiman
Usaid Siddiqui
Usaid Siddiqui
Reporting from Doha, Qatar
Palestinian American activist Omar Suleiman says it was vital to understand the “gravity of the moment” for the Syrian people amid al-Assad’s removal.
“There is a historic wrongdoing that has been undone, and that there’s cause for jubilation in that regard, and that we should celebrate with the Syrian people and centre the Syrian people,” Suleiman, founder and president of the Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research, said.
Nevertheless, like many others, he called for everyone to be “cautiously optimistic”.
“We should be calculated, careful and make sure that we see the revolution through,” Suleiman added.
“Much of the Arab Spring … was a cause of happiness followed by a cause of great disappointment.”
The Arab Spring was a series of popular uprisings which erupted in 2011 in the Middle East and North Africa including in Egypt, Tunisia, Syria and Libya.
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6h ago (14:35 GMT)
WATCH: Exiled Syrians celebrate the end of al-Assad’s rule
Syrian exiles, many displaced from their homes for more than a decade, have begun celebrating in cities across the world.
Watch their testimonies here:
Play Video
Video Duration 01 minutes 08 seconds
01:08
Exiled Syrians around the world celebrate the end of Assad’s rule
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6h ago (14:30 GMT)
7h ago (14:30 GMT)
Ukraine says ‘dictators who bet on Putin’ will fall
Ukraine has welcomed al-Assad’s removal in Syria, saying those who rely on Moscow are destined to fall.
“Assad had fallen. This is how it has always been and will always be for dictators who bet on [Russian leader Vladimir] Putin. He always betrays those who rely on him,” Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on social media, affirming Kyiv’s “support for the Syrian people”.
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7h ago (14:25 GMT)
Iraq affirms Syrians’ ‘free will’, urges non-interference
In a statement, Iraqi government spokesman Basim Alawadi urged “respect for the free will of all Syrians”, saying interfering in the country’s internal affairs would only lead to more conflict.
“The security, territorial integrity and independence of Syria are of paramount importance,” said Alawadi.
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7h ago (14:20 GMT)
Biden, Trump send separate messages on Syria
Patty Culhane
Patty Culhane
Reporting from Washington, DC
We are in a difficult, unique situation right now as we have the Biden administration of the current United States president, and the incoming president, Donald Trump.
They are both sending messages.
Joe Biden’s State Department says it is monitoring the situation closely, working with allies in the region.
It says 900 US soldiers in Syria, who are on a mission to defeat ISIS (ISIL) or keep it at bay, are to stay.
We also heard from incoming President Donald Trump on social media. He is defending Russia, saying Moscow lost its interest in Syria.
He also said the US should stay out of what is going on in Syria.
We are in this murky area, and Trump will take over a month from now.
It seems clear and likely that he will pull the troops in Syria out, saying it is not a US problem.
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7h ago (14:15 GMT)
‘Most important step is justice, not retribution,’ says Amnesty
Amnesty International has reacted to the removal of al-Assad, saying the development represents a “historic opportunity” to redress decades of rights violations.
“After over five decades of brutality and repression, the people of Syria may finally have an opportunity to live free of fear with their rights respected,” said the rights group’s Secretary-General Agnes Callamard, noting decades of “horrifying” abuses committed by Bashar al-Assad and his father Hafez al-Assad.
Callamard urged opposition forces that have seized Damascus to “break free from the violence of the past”.
“The most important step is justice, and not retribution,” said Callamard. “We urge all parties to the present conflict to fully respect the laws of armed conflict. This includes the obligation not to attack anyone who clearly expresses an intention to surrender, including government forces, and to treat anyone taken into custody humanely.”
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7h ago (14:10 GMT)
‘Jubilant’, Syrian refugees in Lebanon congregate near border
Zein Basravi
Zein Basravi
Reporting near the Lebanon-Syria border
We’re less than 9km (5.6 miles) from the border in the town of Bar Elias. It is impossible to travel anywhere close to the border on this road because of an absolute bottleneck of traffic. So many people who have lived as displaced refugees in Lebanon for more than a decade are out and celebrating.
They are raising their voices, making a great deal of noise. People are firing celebratory gunfire in the air, setting off fireworks, revving their engines, chanting slogans and singing songs.
This is a community that has had a pressure valve released. They are simply jubilant, not just at the prospect of being able to return home, but at being able to remake their country. And to remake it not just in the image of one man or one family, but in the image of the Syrian people.
There are enormous geopolitical ramifications from the events of the last 24 hours, but every one of these people [celebrating] has a story. We spoke to one man, a doctor from Damascus, who said the first thing he’s going to do [in Syria] is visit the grave of his deceased father.
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7h ago (14:04 GMT)
7h ago (14:04 GMT)
Houthi
Netanyahu says ordered Israeli army to ‘seize’ buffer zone in occupied Golan Heights
The Israeli prime minister says he has ordered the military to “seize” a UN-patrolled buffer zone between the Israeli-occupied and Syrian-controlled Golan Heights.
Benjamin Netanyahu said a 1974 disengagement agreement with Syria “has collapsed”, so he “directed the [military] yesterday to seize the buffer zone and the commanding positions nearby”.
“We will not allow any hostile force to establish itself on our border,” he said.
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7h ago (14:00 GMT)
Syria’s fate should be decided by Syrians, says Iran
Syria’s fate is the sole responsibility of the Syrian people and should be pursued without foreign imposition or destructive intervention, Iran’s Foreign Ministry has said.
“Achieving this requires ending military conflicts as soon as possible, preventing terrorist acts, and starting national talks with the participation of all segments of Syrian society to form an inclusive government that represents all Syrian people,” the ministry said in a statement.
Tehran continues to support international mechanisms, particularly United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254, for pursuing the political process in Syria, it added.
The longstanding and friendly relations between the Iranian and Syrian nations are expected to continue based on the “wise and farsighted approach” of both countries, the ministry also said.
Iran will continue its consultations with all influential parties, especially in the region, and will spare no effort in helping to establish security and stability in Syria, the ministry concluded.
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7h ago (13:55 GMT)
Turkiye offers to help ‘guarantee security’ in Syria
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan says his country wants to help “guarantee security” in Syria.
“Turkiye is ready to take responsibility for all that is necessary to heal Syria’s wounds and guarantee its unity, integrity and security,” he said in a message on X.
Fidan speaks earlier on Sunday at the Doha Forum in Qatar
Turkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speaks at the Doha Forum in Qatar [Urooba Jamal/Al Jazeera]
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7h ago (13:51 GMT)
Photos: Syrians celebrate in Madrid, Spain
Syria
Supporters of the Syrian opposition demonstrate outside the Syrian embassy in the Spanish capital [Chema Moya/EPA]
Syria
[Chema Moya/EPA]
Syria
[Chema Moya/EPA]
Syria
[Chema Moya/EPA]
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7h ago (13:50 GMT)
Let’s bring you up to speed
Here’s a quick reminder of what has happened today:
Syrian opposition fighters have captured the capital Damascus and declared victory on state television.
Russia says Bashar al-Assad has left the country but does not specify where he is.
Opposition groups have declared a curfew in Damascus from 4pm (13:00 GMT) until 5am (02:00 GMT).
Opposition leader Abu Mohammed al-Julani says all state institutions will remain under the supervision of al-Assad’s prime minister until they are handed over officially.
Crowds of Syrian refugees abroad are celebrating al-Assad’s fall and planning to return home for the first time in years.
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7h ago (13:49 GMT)
Welcome to our live coverage
It’s been a whirlwind day in Syria and we ae’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speaks at the Doha Forum in Qatar [Urooba Jamal/Al Jazeera]
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7h ago (13:51 GMT)
Photos: Syrians celebrate in Madrid, Spain
Syria
Supporters of the Syrian opposition demonstrate outside the Syrian embassy in the Spanish capital [Chema Moya/EPA]
Syria
[Chema Moya/EPA]
Syria
[Chema Moya/EPA]
Syria
[Chema Moya/EPA]
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7h ago (13:50 GMT)
Let’s bring you up to speed
Here’s a quick reminder of what has happened today:
Syrian opposition fighters have captured the capital Damascus and declared victory on state television.
Russia says Bashar al-Assad has left the country but does not specify where he is.
Opposition groups have declared a curfew in Damascus from 4pm (13:00 GMT) until 5am (02:00 GMT).
Opposition leader Abu Mohammed al-Julani says all state institutions will remain under the supervision of al-Assad’s prime minister until they are handed over officially.
Crowds of Syrian refugees abroad are celebrating al-Assad’s fall and planning to return home for the first time in years.
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7h ago (13:49 GMT)
Welcome to our live coverage
It’s been a whirlwind day in Syria and we are bringing you all the latest developments.
Syria’s armed opposition says President Bashar al-Assad’s rule has ended with the capture of Damascus earlier today, and as al-Assad fled the country.
The fall of the Syrian leader’s political dynasty came swiftly, as opposition forces waged a lightning offensive in recent days.
Stay with us as we bring you all the details of what comes next, in real time.
Click here for all of our updates on the situation in the last 24 hours.
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Source: Al Jazeera and news agencies
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