Damascus

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.

The Israeli Air Force carried out large-scale strikes on military targets in Syria's Tartus and Latakia. Air defense bases, surface-to-surface missile depots, and other military facilities near the Russian naval base were attacked.

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.

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.

Hundreds of Russian troops are unable to get from Homs province to the Hmeymim airbase because of the threat of shelling. Russia plans to use 25 military transport aircraft to evacuate troops and equipment from Syria.

Turkey has announced the reopening of its embassy in Damascus, which has been closed since 2012. Burhan Keroglu, who was previously the ambassador to Mauritania, was appointed as the charge d'affaires.

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.

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.

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.

During a night operation, the Israeli Navy completely destroyed the Syrian navy. Israeli troops are also creating a “sterile defense zone” in southern Syria and strengthening their positions near the Golan Heights.

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.

The G7 countries have expressed their readiness to support the new Syrian government after the change of power. A key condition for support is the observance of human rights and respect for religious and ethnic minorities.

The Israeli military has carried out 250 air strikes on Syrian military targets, including air bases and military facilities. IDF tanks are advancing to the suburbs of Damascus, and the Israeli Air Force is close to destroying the Syrian Air Force.

Turkey opens the Yayladagi checkpoint on the border with Syria for the return of migrants. The checkpoint has been closed since 2013 due to fighting, and its opening should facilitate the voluntary return of 3 million Syrians.

The president of Ukraine said that the combat-ready Russian army is now in Ukraine, so the Assad regime in Syria has fallen. According to him, if Ukraine falls, Putin will return to Syria and other regions.

Bundestag MP Jens Spahn offered to pay 1,000 euros each to Syrians who agree to return from Germany to Syria. He also suggests organizing a conference on the reconstruction of the country together with Austria, Turkey and Jordan.

Former Idlib Development Minister Muhammad al-Bashir has been appointed head of the Syrian Interim Government. He has already held meetings with the HTS leader and a former Assad-era prime minister to form a new cabinet.

Iranian officials have confirmed direct contacts with groups in Syria's new leadership. Tehran is seeking to maintain its influence in the region after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime.

Bashar al-Assad left Syria after the capture of Damascus by opposition forces and was granted asylum in Russia. The Syrian prime minister announced his readiness to transfer power to the new leadership.

The Syrian embassy in Moscow raised the flag of the opposition after the change of power in the country. Bashar al-Assad, who led the country for 24 years, was granted asylum in Russia after the capture of Damascus by rebels.

ISW reports on the possible loss of Russian bases in Syria, which will affect the Russian military presence in the region. The loss of bases will disrupt logistics and weaken Russia's operations in Africa and the Middle East.

Brent and WTI oil prices rose 0. 5% due to political tensions following the overthrow of the Assad regime in Syria. Saudi Aramco is cutting prices for Asia due to weak demand, while OPEC+ is delaying production increases until April 2025.

Russia has initiated an urgent closed meeting of the UN Security Council due to the fall of the Assad regime in Syria. Syrian rebels captured Damascus, and Israel took control of the buffer zone in the Golan Heights.

The rebels captured Damascus and released thousands of prisoners from Syrian prisons, including the Sedna military prison. Among those released are women and children who were held in harsh conditions for years.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine stated the possibility of restoring relations with Syria after the fall of the Assad regime. The new government should review relations with the Russian Federation and recognize the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

Gur reports that the loss of the signal of the IL-76T plane with Assad was a cover for his evacuation from Damascus. The Russian contingent is hurriedly leaving Syria by sea and air.

The Israeli military attacked a Research Center in Damascus, where Iranian long-range missiles were allegedly being developed. The headquarters of Customs and military intelligence in the Kafr Souza area was also shelled.

Rebels seized Damascus and the presidential palace, and Bashar al-Assad fled the capital. EU foreign policy chief Kaya Kallas called The Fall of the Assad regime evidence of the weakness of Russia and Iran.

Looters took out almost all the property from the Presidential Palace of Bashar al-Assad in Damascus. Local residents and rebels are trying to stop a wave of looting in the Syrian capital.