U. S. officials report a buildup of Turkish troops and artillery along the border with Syria near the city of Kobani. The situation is reminiscent of the events of 2019 before the previous Turkish invasion.
A mass grave with the bodies of at least 100,000 people killed during the rule of Bashar al-Assad has been found in Syria. According to human rights activist Muaz Mustafa, this is one of five mass graves discovered near Damascus.
The NYT explains Putin's silence on Russia's military presence in Syria and the possible fall of the Assad regime. Russia is fully focused on the war in Ukraine, believing it is winning on the battlefield.
Bashar al-Assad said that he remained in Damascus until the evening of December 8 and had no plans to flee the country. Reuters and Bloomberg claim that the escape was organized by Russian intelligence without warning his family.
In 2018-2019, the Assad regime made 21 flights with cash to Moscow's Vnukovo airport. The funds were intended for deposits in sanctioned Russian banks and payment for services of the Russian Federation.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has a phone conversation with Donald Trump about the release of hostages in Gaza and the events in Syria. Trump threatens “hell” in the Middle East if the hostages are not released before his inauguration.
Four French diplomats will travel to Syria on December 17 to establish their first contacts with the new government. The mission aims to restore French influence and assess the humanitarian needs of the population.
Syrian Christians held their first Sunday services after the overthrow of the Assad regime. The new Islamist government has promised to protect the rights of religious minorities, although Christians remain concerned.
Israel is investing 40 million shekels to increase the population in the occupied Golan Heights due to threats from Syria. The plan was announced after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad and the coming to power of a new leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa.
British Foreign Secretary confirms diplomatic contacts with the HTS rebel group in Syria. Britain will allocate 50 million pounds of aid to Syrians and seeks to protect chemical weapons stockpiles.
The President of Ukraine discussed with government officials the program “Grain from Ukraine” on food aid to Syria. It is planned to provide wheat, flour and oil to ensure food security in the region.
Former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad secretly fled to Moscow after the rebels overthrew the regime. He took out about $135 billion and left a collection of luxury cars in Damascus.
Peter Pellegrini expressed concern about the possible entry of weapons and various groups of people into Slovakia after the war ends. The President is also considering a visit to Kyiv.
EU representatives are planning to contact Hayat Tahrir al-Sham to discuss the closure of Russian military bases in Syria. The United States is already engaged in a dialog with the new government after the overthrow of the Assad regime.
The Russian military in Syria is facing a critical shortage of water and food at the Tartus and Khmeimim bases. Moscow plans to keep up to 3,000 troops at these bases while the withdrawal from remote areas continues.
Enemy troops have begun to withdraw from advanced positions in northern Syria and the Alawite Mountains. moscow plans to maintain control over the Hmeymim air base and the naval facility in Tartus.
The former head of Damascus Central Prison is accused in the United States of torturing prisoners in 2005-2008. Samir Usman Alsheikh, 72, arrived in the United States in 2020 and was arrested in Los Angeles.
HTS rebels seized military bases and Captagon distribution centers, allegedly run by Bashar al-Assad's brother. Huge quantities of narcotic stimulants were found. They plan to destroy them.
The G7 countries reaffirmed their support for the political process in Syria and called for the formation of a new inclusive government. The leaders emphasized the need to bring the Assad regime to justice and destroy chemical weapons.
The Israel Defense Forces said it could strike Iran's nuclear facilities after weakening its allies in the region. The Israeli Air Force is increasing its readiness for potential strikes despite Iran's denial of developing nuclear weapons.
BILD journalists visited Bashar al-Assad's abandoned palace in Damascus after he fled the country. The luxurious residence was looted, partially burned, and a portrait of Putin was thrown and trampled.
Syrian rebels burned the tomb of former President Hafez al-Assad in the city of Qardaha. Statues and posters of both Assad presidents were destroyed across the country during the celebration of the regime's overthrow.
Dmytro Lytvyn reacted to Orban's statements about a “Christmas truce” with Russia. According to him, Ukraine has been negotiating a large-scale prisoner exchange for two weeks.
According to The Washington Post, Ukrainian intelligence provided Syrian rebels with about 150 drones and 20 operators. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebels captured Damascus, and Assad fled to Russia.
At the 35-minute meeting, Trump expressed his desire for an immediate cease-fire in Ukraine. Zelensky and Macron stressed the need for security guarantees and US support.
Two occupants who kidnapped and tortured the mother of a Ukrainian law enforcement officer have been identified in Izium. The woman was kept in a torture chamber for 10 days, where she was electrocuted, raped and tortured.
After the fall of the Assad regime and its flight to Russia, European countries have been massively suspending consideration of asylum applications from Syrian citizens. These countries include France, Germany, Britain, Sweden, and others.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that peace talks on Ukraine are likely to begin in the winter. Poland seeks to play a key role in resolving the conflict and will hold a number of important meetings.
The President of Ukraine commented on photos of Syrian prisons after Assad's escape. Zelenskyy drew parallels between the methods of the Assad and Putin regimes, pointing to the similarity of their crimes against humanity.
Mohamed al-Bashir is appointed acting Prime Minister of Syria until March 2025. Following the capture of Damascus by rebels and Assad's flight to Russia, the country is transitioning to a transitional government.
