Syrian rebels

Elderly Jewish woman in Damascus passes away

Hadaya Shatakh, one of the last members of the ancient Jewish community in Damascus, passes away at 92, leaving no children.

Syria foils ISIS attack on Shiite shrine near Damascus

Syria's new government says it successfully foiled a plan by ISIS to detonate a bomb at a Shiite shrine in Sayyida Zeinab, a suburb of Damascus. Members of the cell arrested.

Biden to leave decision on Syria sanctions to Trump

US officials say the Biden administration is expected to leave the decision on lifting sanctions against Syrian rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and its leader to the incoming Trump administration.

US eases some sanctions on Syria

US issues six-month general license allowing specific transactions with the Syrian government, including certain energy sales and related activities, to facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid to the country.

Syria's new curriculum: Jews are 'damned and have gone astray'

Syria’s newly formed government under fire following proposed changes to the school curriculum which some perceive as introducing an Islamist bias.

Syrian FM optimistic about stronger ties with Saudi Arabia

Syria’s new Foreign Minister, Asaad al-Shibani, visits Saudi Arabia, the first foreign trip by Syria’s new leadership following their rise to power last month.

Syria:

Rebel military leader confirmed as country's new defense minister

Syria's newly formed transitional government confirms appointment of Murhaf Abu Qasra, the Islamist military commander who led the offensive against Assad, as the country's new defense minister.

Report:

US expressed concern over violent attacks in Syria

US officials tell Axios that Washington has raised concerns with Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, the new foreign minister in Syria’s transitional administration, over recent reports of violent attacks carried out by groups across the country.

Syria appoints foreign fighters to military leadership roles

Syria’s new leadership integrates individuals from the Uyghur community, a Jordanian, and a Turkish national into the country’s armed forces, part of effort to unify rebel groups into a professional military structure.

Syrian rebel leader:

'Holding elections could take up to four years'

Syria’s de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, explains that drafting a new constitution might require up to three years and it will take around a year for Syrians to witness significant changes.

Foreign Minister:

New Syrian government is a gang of terrorists, not a stable gov't

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar discusses situation in Syria, noting threats to Israel and instability of new government.

Syria launches crackdown following deadly attack in Tartus

Syria’s newly established authorities initiate major security operation in Tartus province, a day after 14 policemen were killed by Assad supporters.

Syrian rebels demand compensation from Iran

In light of Iran's support for the Assad regime over the years, the rebels in Syria are demanding compensation of hundreds of billions of dollars from Iran.

Syrian rebel groups agree to dissolve to join government

Ahmed Al-Sharaa, the de facto leader of the post-Assad Syria, announces that he reached an agreement with the leaders of the various rebel groups to consolidate their forces under the new Defense Ministry.

Prominent rebel figure appointed Syrian defense minister

Syria's new leadership appoints Murhaf Abu Qasra, a prominent figure in Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham, as defense minister in the interim government.

US lifts bounty on leader of Syrian rebels

Top US diplomat for the Middle East meets Syria's de facto leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa, tells him that Washington would no longer pursue a reward for his arrest.

Syrian rebel leader:

'Syria is no longer a threat to the West, lift the sanctions'

Ahmed Al-Sharaa, head of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and de facto leader of Syria, says the country is exhausted by the ongoing war and is no longer a threat to its neighbors or to the West.

Syrian rebel group:

'We'll dissolve the militia and integrate with national forces'

Military leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham announces they will be "the first" to disband their armed wing and merge with the Syrian national forces.

CNN blunder:

Released Syrian prisoner - notorious Assad regime torturer

CNN admits prisoner it helped free from Syrian prison was actually notorious lieutenant for Assad regime, not civilian as he claimed.

Netanyahu on Mt. Hermon:

'IDF will remain here until another arrangement is found'

Netanyahu reviews IDF's deployment on Mount Hermon and sets deployment rules. Minister of Defense Katz emphasizes that the IDF must complete its ground entrenchment.

Jewish man plans to return Torah scrolls to Syria

American-Israeli philanthropist who saved Jewish treasures at the beginning of the Civil War in Syria, plans to lead a delegation of Syrian Jews to return the artifacts.

Syrian rebel leader meets UN envoy

Abu Mohammed al-Julani, leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, tells UN envoy it is necessary to update a 2015 United Nations Security Council resolution on the Syrian civil war.

British Foreign Secretary:

'UK had diplomatic contact with Syrian rebel group'

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy confirms the British government established "diplomatic contact" with rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which recently overthrew Assad’s regime, even though it is a proscribed terrorist organization.

Blinken confirms:

'We’ve been in contact with Syrian rebel group HTS'

Secretary of State confirms the US has engaged in direct communication with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the Syrian rebel group now holding de-facto control of the country and which was designated a terrorist organization by Washington.

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:

Rebels in Syria avoiding confrontation with Israel

The rebel forces who toppled Assad's regime are concentrating their efforts on stabilizing the country, rebuilding its establishments, and bringing reconciliation between the various sects.

Leading Syrian rebel group fears Israel and US, report says

Hayʼat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) wants international recognition - clashes with Israel mean it won't receive that, Sky News Arabia reports.

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.

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.

Syrian rebels, al-Qaeda ties, and why Israel should worry

For Israel, the rise of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham represents a dangerous development. Op-ed.

A Road Map to Syria’s prominent rebel groups

Dozens of groups and factions are currently active in Syria, but there are four main ones, each functioning as a meta-coalition. Report.

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.

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.

Drama in Syria:

Rebels announce: We have toppled the Assad regime

Syrian rebels enter the capital Damascus, having earlier taken control of the city of Homs. Assad flees to an unknown location.

Report:

Syrian rebels may cut off weapons to Hezbollah

The rapid rebel advance towards Damascus is threatening one of the key routes from Iran into Lebanon.

Rebel commander in Syria:

'We're fighting against a common enemy'

Commander of Syrian rebels in Aleppo tells Israeli journalist that they 'expect cooperation in order to eliminate the enemy.'

'We urge de-escalation'

US, France, Germany, and UK 'monitoring' situation in Syria

Governments of the US, France, Germany, and the UK issue statement on the situation in Syria, after rebels launched an offensive against the Syrian army, taking over Aleppo.

Russia announces:

'We're assisting Syrian army in fending off rebels'

Russia says it is assisting the Syrian army in fending off rebel forces who launched an assault in the provinces of Idlib, Hama and Aleppo.

Amid rebel advances

Assad stresses resolve 'in the face of all terrorists'

Syrian President speaks to leaders from UAE and Iraq as rebels reportedly take over Aleppo from the Syrian army.

After just four days:

Syrian rebel forces make significant gains in Aleppo

Syrian rebel forces nearing Hama as the country's military retreats towards Homs, reports say.

Discussion of Syria

Netanyahu to hold rare Friday night security consultation

The discussion comes after Syrian rebels entered the city of Aleppo, three days after launching a surprise offensive against Assad’s troops.

IRGC general killed in clashes with rebels in Syria

Fighting between rebels and government forces reignited in the northwest Aleppo province.

Israel supplying weapons to Syrian rebels, says ex-IDF chief

Outgoing Israeli army chief says Israel armed Syrian rebels in ongoing civil war.

Russia attacks Syrian rebels after suspected chemical attack

Russian warplanes attack rebel-held areas in northern Syria following suspected poison gas attack in Aleppo.

Russia accuses Syrian rebels of planning chemical attack

Russia claims Syrian rebels are preparing a chemical attack in the Idlib province.

Britain ends funding for some aid to Syrian rebels

British government announces it is ending funding for some aid programs in rebel-held areas of Syria.

Washington to Syrian rebels: Don't expect support from us

Washington tells main Syrian rebel factions they should not expect military support to help them resist government offensive.

PFLP official: Israel sent Syrian rebels to find missing bodies

Senior terror official claims Israel sent armed Syrian rebels to find remains of soldiers whose bodies have been missing since 1982 battle.

Analysis: The Syrian War is now threatening world peace

The U.S. strategy now is to undo the land corridor leading from the Iranian border to the Golan Heights and the Mediterranean Sea.

Syrian Islamists down Russian warplane

Russian pilot killed after jihadist rebels down his warplane over Idlib.

Syria: 23 dead in explosion at jihadist base

At least 23 people, including seven civilians, killed in car bomb at a base for Asian jihadists in Idlib.

Syrian rebels near Israel border negotiating with government

Rebels near where the Syrian, Lebanese and Israeli borders meet negotiating a deal to leave for other rebel-held areas.

Syrian rebels down military jet

Jihadist rebels from Tahrir Al-Sham down military jet in northern Hama, killing pilot.

Assad: Western countries must cut ties with terrorism

Syrian President says countries that want to reopen embassies in Damascus must end their support for Syrian rebels.

Trump ends program to train Syrian rebels

Trump ends CIA’s covert program to arm and train moderate Syrian rebels battling the government of President Bashar Al-Assad.

Netanyahu denies Israel is aiding Syrian rebels

Prime Minister denies Wall Street Journal report claiming Israel regularly provides financial aid to rebel groups in Syria.

Report: Israel giving secret aid to Syrian rebels

Sources tell Wall Street Journal Israel has been supplying Syrian rebels with cash, food, fuel and medical supplies.

Assad vows to continue fighting

Syrian President says he will continue to fight the rebels trying to oust him.

Syrian rebels call to 'ignite the fronts'

Syrian rebels vow to avenge the deaths of dozens of people in gas attack in Idlib.

Syrian rebels take military airport from ISIS

U.S.-backed Syrian alliance takes military airport near ISIS capital.