Syria

Chief of Staff to rebels:

We have no intention of managing Syria

'We are not intervening in what is happening in Syria - we are here to Stop terrorist elements from establishing themselves here,' IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi says.

Critical blow:

Hezbollah leader admits terror group lost weapons supply route

Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Qassem says his group was 'victorious' and will continue on, but admits that it lost its weapons supply route, which ran from Iran to Lebanon via Syria.

Al-Julani: We don't want conflict with Israel

Syrian rebel leader Abu Mohammad al-Julani says Israel is using Iranian presence as excuse to invade Syria, claims Iranians have left the country.

Report: Israel working to locate body of legendary spy

Lebanese report claims Israel holding negotiations with Syrian and international bodies, in attempt to reach burial site of legendary Israeli spy Eli Cohen.

Watch:

IDF continues operations in Syria and along the border

IDF paratroopers locate a variety of weapons, including anti-tank missiles, military vests, ammunition, and additional military equipment, during scans in Syrian territory and along the border.

'Tremendous fear' that Jewish sites in Syria may have been looted

What happened to relics of Syria’s Jewish history? Assad’s collapse spurs efforts to assess the damage.

Circulating the web:

Syrian Druze ask to be annexed to Israel's Golan Heights

Druze community of al-Hader in Syria decides annexation to Israel is 'the lesser evil' in face of potential takeover by Syrian rebels. 'We are with those who preserve our dignity.'

Defense Minister:

We'll remain in the Hermon area during the winter months

Defense Minister Israel Katz instructs IDF to remain in conquered areas of the Hermon during the winter months. 'Enormously important for security.'

UN chief concerned over 'extensive violations' in Syria

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres criticizes Israel’s military operations in Syria, calls on it to refrain from any action "that would undermine the ceasefire and stability in Golan".

John Kirby:

'No one is coming to rescue Hamas'

White House National Security Communications Adviser says the toppling of the Assad regime should send a signal to Hamas that it needs to move forward with a hostage release deal: Given where they are and how weakened they are, this is the moment to make this deal.

Global watchdog:

'Strikes on Syrian chemical weapons bring risks with them'

Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons says strikes on Syrian chemical weapons sites may risk contamination and the destruction of critical evidence.

IDF estimates:

Syrian regime collapse opened the way to Iran's nuclear sites

Defense officials believe that the elimination of 85% of the anti-aircraft systems in Syria which threatened Israeli jets, there is an opportunity to tend to Iran's nuclear program.

Watch:

IDF destroys Syrian strategic weapons

Hundreds of IAF aircraft struck Syrian fighter jets and helicopters, Scud missiles, UAVs, cruise missiles, surface-to-sea precision-guided missiles, surface-to-air missiles, surface-to-surface missiles, radars, rockets, and more.

US citizen found near Damascus after 7 months in prison

Travis Timmerman, who was arrested after entering Syria on foot earlier this year, freed by men with a hammer as prisoners of the Assad regime have been set fee.

Operation Bashan Arrow

Navy Commander in Chief: 'It was a historic day'

Commander in Chief of the Israeli Navy VADM David Saar Salama praised the strikes on the Syrian fleet. 'It's not over till it's over.'

Prime Minister pushes back on Syria takeover allegations

Collapse of Syrian regime created vacuum on Israel's border, deployment temporary until force committed to 1974 agreement is established in Syria, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clarifies.

A proactive Israel must seize the day

The left’s dangerous plans ignore a critical truth about the Middle East: things change rapidly, and no peace agreement can be relied upon. Only the strong survive in this neighborhood. Opinion.

BBC reporter implies Jews still live in Syria in large numbers

BBC chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet sparked an outcry after she suggested that Syrian Jews want to return to Damascus following the fall of Assad, despite the fact that only a handful of Jews remain in the entire country.

Footage from the buffer zone:

IDF seizes Syrian tank and weapons

A brigade-level operation has concluded on the peak of Mount Hermon in the Buffer Zone. Forces located a Syrian army outpost containing a cache of weapons.

Danon on MSNBC:

'Israel will take all necessary steps to neutralize threats'

Israel’s Ambassador to the UN in interview with MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell: We are not getting involved in the fight within Syria, but we are taking the measures to protect ourselves. We will not allow the Iranians to come back to our border.

Blinken:

'We will support Syrian government that renounces terrorism'

Secretary of State says US committed to recognizing and supporting a new Syrian government that rejects terrorism, eliminates chemical weapons stockpiles, and safeguards the rights of minorities and women.

Netanyahu's warning to Syria:

'We want good relations but will respond strongly to threats'

PM issues statement to the new regime that will assume power after the fall of the Assad regime, says it must not allow Iran to reestablish itself in Syria or to smuggle weapons to Hezbollah through Syria.

Operation Bashan Arrow:

320 targets struck, 80% of Syrian military capabilities destroyed

IDF publishes new details on the operations in Syria to prevent Assad's weapons from falling into the hands of Islamists who toppled his regime.

US official backs Israeli operations in Syrian territory

A US administration official expressed support for Israel's advance into Syrian territory telling Kan News: 'No nation can tolerate terror groups being right on their doorstep'

US sanctions Assad's father-in-law

US Treasury announces sanctions against Fawaz al-Akhras, father-in-law of former Syrian President, whose registered address is in London.

Blinken warns:

'ISIS might exploit the situation in Syria'

US Secretary of State cautions that ISIS might exploit the current situation in Syria to regain strength, but stresses the United States' resolve to prevent that from happening.

US envoy seeking info on missing journalist Austin Tice

Roger Carstens, US special envoy for hostage affairs, arrives in Beirut to intensify efforts to locate Tice, who disappeared in Syria in 2012.

Reports:

Israeli tanks are about 20 km from Damascus

In the wake of the toppling of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, Israel has struck more than 250 targets across Syria. Reports say the IDF has taken control of nine villages in the southern suburbs of Damascus.

Saudi Arabia:

'Israel determined to sabotage Syria's security'

Saudi Arabia continues recent trend of criticism of Israel, this time denouncing IDF operations at the UN-patrolled buffer zone in the Golan Heights.

Report:

IRGC leaders ‘at war with themselves’ over fall of Assad

The Telegraph reports that IRGC commanders are pointing fingers at one another “in angry terms” for the collapse of Assad’s regime. Some are calling for the dismissal of Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani.

Amb. Danon to UN: Israel's presence in Syria is temporary

IDF will safeguard Israel's security, Israel is not intervening in the Syrian conflict, Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon tells UN Security Council Pres. Linda Thomas-Greenfield.

Israeli source:

Indirect talks being held with sources in Syrian rebel groups

'There is someone to speak to on the other side, and messages were passed,' Israeli source says. The US is supportive of Israel's actions in Syria; Egypt condemns.

Watch: Paratroopers enter Syrian territory

IDF publishes first footage of paratroopers entering Syrian territory in order to distance threats from border towns in the Israeli Golan Heights.

Sa'ar to foreign journalists:

'Israel temporarily took over areas in Syria to prevent a 10/7'

Foreign Minister holds briefing for foreign media explaining Israel's actions following the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, calls for international action to protect minorities in Syria such as the Kurds.

Zvi Yechezkeli on Assad's fall:

'This is a golden hour for Israel, a chance that won't return'

Analyst Zvi Yechezkeli says Israel made the right move in taking over the Syrian Golan Heights, stresses that 'the Shiite axis has collapsed,' Syria will take many years to recover from civil war.

At Defense Minister's instruction:

IDF takes control of additional sites in Syria

Defense Minister Israel Katz orders IDF to destroy terror infrastructure, heavy weapons in southern Syria- including in the area beyond the buffer zone.

After Assad's fall

Syrian soccer changes its logo and colors

Syrian Soccer Federation announces redesign of the team’s logo and kit, changing their color from red to green.

Ten critical questions post-Assad Syria collapse

The DF is deployed along the border and on the Syrian side of Mt. Hermon in order to protect Israel, but there is much uncertainty about how the situation eastward will play out.

Photos:

Sayeret Shaldag soldiers operate in the Syrian Hermon region

IDF Spokesperson's Unit publishes photos from Sunday's operation by the 5101st Unit (Sayeret Shaldag) in the Syrian Hermon region, after the toppling of the Assad regime.

US official:

'We're monitoring the status of Syria's chemical weapons'

After collapse of Assad regime, senior US official says the White House is focusing on the next steps in Syria, which include engaging with local groups, consulting regional leaders, and continuing efforts to combat ISIS.

Blinken on Assad regime:

'After 14 years, the Syrian people finally have reason for hope'

Secretary of State says the US strongly supports a peaceful transition of power in Syria.

After Assad regime collapses

US Army strikes over 75 ISIS targets in Syria

US Central Command says the strikes were meant to prevent ISIS from taking advantage of the current situation to reconstitute in central Syria.

Assad regime collapse:

FBI still offering reward for info on journalist Austin Tice

FBI offering a reward of up to $1 million for information leading to the safe return of American journalist Austin Tice, who disappeared in Syria in 2012.

Prof. Eyal Zisser:

'IDF should not deploy more forces in Syria'

Prof. Eyal Zisser says that the collapse of Assad regime is "a major blow and setback for Iran and Hezbollah" and agrees that it happened thanks to Israel’s military operations in Lebanon

Report:

Israel considering advancing further into Syria

The political echelon is discussing whether or not to take control of areas deeper in Syrian territory to prevent them from falling into the hands of Islamist rebels.

Watch:

IDF soldiers operate along Syrian border

Following the fall of the Assad regime, the IDF has released footage of its troops operating along the Syrian border as well as the work to fortify the engineering barrier along the border.

Netanyahu on northern border:

'Assad's fall opens new opportunities for entire region'

PM speaks near Syrian border, hails fall of the Assad regime as a "historic day" for the Middle East and vows that no hostile force will be allowed to establish itself on the Israel-Syria border.

Rabbi Meir Mazuz:

'Anyone who harms Israel will fall'

Rabbi Meir Mazuz commented on the fall of Assad's regime in Syria and emphasized the need for prayer.

IDF closes regions near Syrian border following regime's fall

Druze communities in the Golan area have moved to online classes, and new restrictions are in place to govern agricultural activity in the region.

Avigdor Liberman:

'We need to monitor how Assad's fall affects Jordan'

Former Defense Minister warns that Israel must be cognizant of the regional implications of the fall of the Assad regime, not merely what happens on the Israel-Syria border.

Final image of the Assad regime:

Syrian PM leaves home to transfer power to the rebels

Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalal evacuates with opposition members to a hotel in Damascus, where the transfer of power to the rebels will take place, in a symbol of the end of the Assad era.

Where's Assad? Did his plane crash?

Rumors abound as to the Syrian president's whereabouts following the fall of his government. Senior Syrian army officers claim he fled the country, but Israeli sources are uncertain.

Trump:

'Iran is weakened by Israel's fighting and success'

US President-Elect reacts to overthrow regime of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, says Russia lost interest in defending Assad due to being bogged down with the Ukraine War.

Watch:

Rebels announce overthrow of Assad on Syrian television

Syrian rebels declare 'the city of Damascus has been liberated and the dictator Bashar al-Assad has been overthrown' after Assad flees Damascus.

Intelligence Error

Israeli forces believed Syria's army would be able to stop rebels

Israeli intelligence agencies did not foresee the rapid advance of Syrian rebels and the collapse of the Assad regime.

Lapid on Assad's fall:

'More important than ever to create strong regional coalition'

Opposition Leader says the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in Syria demonstrates the need to create a strong regional coalition, with Saudi Arabia and the Abraham Accords countries to deal with regional instability.

Fall of the Assad regime:

IDF enters Golan Heights demilitarized zone

Significant infantry and tank forces enter buffer zone to prevent rebels who toppled the Assad regime from entering the zone and threatening northern Israel.

US National Security Adviser:

'We have no intention of intervening militarily in Syria'

As Syrian rebels take over Damascus, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan stresses the United States has no intention of intervening militarily in Syria’s civil war, but will continue taking necessary actions to prevent ISIS from capitalizing on the instability.

In first: Israel intervenes in Syrian conflict

IDF uses artillery fire to help United Nations forces repel rebel attack near Hader, opposite Israel's Majdal Shams; reports say rebels have taken the Syria-Israel border area.

Moving closer to the US?

Syrian President Assad to distance himself from Iran-Russia axis

Diplomatic source says Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has reached the conclusion that Russia and the Islamic Republic are no longer able to ensure his continued rule.