Syria

Hundreds of Christians took to the streets of Damascus over the burning of a Christmas tree in central Syria. The protesters demanded the rights of Christians and marched to the residence of the Orthodox Patriarchate.

The Russian vessel Ursa Major, which was under U. S. sanctions, sank in the Mediterranean Sea. 14 crew members were rescued, two are considered missing.

Dmitry Peskov denied information about Asma al-Assad's plans to divorce Bashar al-Assad and leave Russia. The British Foreign Office earlier said that the wife of the former Syrian president was banned from entering the UK.

The UN investigation team visited Damascus for the first time since 2016 to investigate war crimes committed by the Assad regime. The new Syrian government has agreed to cooperate and help collect evidence.

the Russian merchant ship Ursa Major sinks in the Mediterranean Sea after an engine explosion. 14 crew members were rescued, two went missing, the ship was transporting equipment for a nuclear reactor.

The President instructed the Foreign Ministry to establish contacts with the new Syrian authorities. Ukraine is ready to support the food security of this country.

Zelenskyy chaired a meeting of the Council of State on the situation in Syria after the fall of the Assad regime. Ukraine is ready to support the Syrian people with food and help stabilize the situation in the region.

Iran has denied Putin's information about the evacuation of 4,000 Iranian troops from Syria. In fact, a smaller number of diplomats and advisors from different countries were evacuated using both Russian and Iranian aircraft.

Asma al-Assad has filed a request with a Russian court for permission to leave Moscow and plans to divorce her husband. Also, according to media reports, the former Syrian dictator is under strict surveillance in Russia, and his assets have been frozen.

The cargo ship Sparta, which was supposed to take Russian weapons out of Syria, broke down on the high seas due to an engine failure. Russian troops in Syria are to leave the country by February 2025 at the request of local authorities.

Syria's General Command has appointed two new ministers from the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham opposition group. Asaad Hassan al-Shibani became the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Markhaf Abu Qasra became the Minister of Defense.

Donald Trump urged Zelenskyy to think about a ceasefire and abandoning the occupied territories. The elected President of the United States stated that it is inexpedient to return the destroyed cities.

The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine have successfully evacuated 31 Ukrainians and 3 Syrian citizens from Syria via Lebanon. The evacuees, including 15 children, have already landed in Chisinau and are on their way to Ukraine.

The United States canceled the reward for the arrest of HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa after the first official meeting in Damascus. Syria's new leader promised to fight terrorism and promote regional peace.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is working in detail on a proposal to support Syria's food security. The specific details of the assistance to the Syrian people will be announced soon.

The American delegation arrived in Damascus to meet with various Syrian groups after the fall of the Assad regime. Diplomats plan to discuss the principles of the transition period and the fate of missing Americans.

The US National Security Advisor warns of a possible revival of ISIS due to the power vacuum in Syria after Assad's flight. Terrorists have become more active and may take advantage of instability in the region.

Satellite images show increased activity at the Russian bases of Khmeimim and Tartus in Syria. A massive movement of military equipment and transport aircraft has been recorded, which may indicate a reduction in the Russian contingent.

The President of Ukraine denied information about the support of Syrian rebels by drones and operators. Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine is preparing only humanitarian aid to Syria in the form of food.

Britain, France, and Germany accused Iran of building up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to unprecedented levels. The IAEA confirms that Iran is the only country that possesses uranium with a purity of 60%.

Israel's Prime Minister announced the maintenance of a buffer zone in Syria until a new agreement is reached. The statement was made from Mount Hermon amid the escalation of the conflict and the build-up of military presence in the region.

France restored its flag at the embassy in Damascus after a 12-year break. European countries begin to establish diplomatic contacts with the new Syrian government.

Syria's transitional government secretary, Obaida Arnaout, called on Russia to reconsider its military presence in the country after the overthrow of the Assad regime. The new government is negotiating with other countries and seeking to establish international relations.

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 European Union intends to raise the issue of closing Russian bases in Syria during meetings with rebel forces. This was stated by EU chief diplomat Kaja Kallas after a meeting of foreign ministers in Brussels.

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.

The IDF launched a massive air strike on military targets in the Syrian province of Tartus, destroying missile depots. The explosions were so powerful that they caused a magnitude 3 earthquake.

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.