Syrian civil war

UN official:

Nearly 200,000 Syrian refugees have returned since Assad's fall

UN refugee chief Filippo Grandi says that, between December 8 and January 16, approximately 195,200 Syrians made their way back home.

Erdogan threatens:

If Israel doesn't withdraw from Syria, impact to affect everyone

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan holds party meeting, discussing progress on Gaza ceasefire deal and the situation in Syria.

Tanks, intelligence documents, and weapons seized in Syria

Over 3,300 weapons confiscated from Syrian territory so far, IDF spokesperson confirms.

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.

Red Cross President:

'Identifying the missing in Syria could take years'

President of International Committee for the Red Cross says that uncovering the fate of those who went missing during Syria's civil war will be a monumental undertaking that could span several years.

'Protect remaining Jews'

The unordinary letter from the rabbi to Syria's new leader

Rabbi Binyamin Hamra, the spiritual leader of the Syrian community in Israel, sent a letter to Ahmad al-Sharaa asking him to protect the country's remaining Jews and Jewish holy sites.

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.

Dramatic footage:

100 Shaldag soldiers raided, dismantled Syrian missile factory

In September, troops from the Shaldag Unit raided and destroyed an underground compound for manufacturing precision missiles in the Masyaf area, deep in Syrian territory.

Golan Heights:

Foreign Minister Sa'ar meets with UNDOF command

Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa'ar visited the Syrian border where he met with the command of UNDOF and IDF soldiers.

Minister Avi Dichter:

'Turkey is becoming the new Iran in Syria'

Agriculture Minister speaks to Arutz Sheva about the war against Hamas and Hezbollah, warns not to place too much trust in Syria's new leaders given their associations with Al Qaeda.

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.

Watch:

IDF forces operate in Quneitra

For the first time, footage shows IDF forces operating in the southern Syrian town of Quneitra.

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.

Two relatives of Assad arrested while attempting to flee Lebanon

Wife and daughter of Duraid Al-Assad, a cousin of Syria’s deposed President Bashar Al-Assad, were arrested at Beirut's airport while attempting to leave the country using allegedly forged passports.

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.

Arab League warns Iran against ‘fuelling strife’ in Syria

Arab League urges Iran to avoid actions that could inflame tensions in Syria, following the ouster of Tehran's ally Bashar Al-Assad.

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.

Israel's message to Syria's new leader

Israel made clear to Ahmad al-Sharaa that as long as no trustworthy force comes to replace the IDF, it will take steps to ensure its own security.

Teacher Discovers:

Vanished student became Syrian foreign minister

As'ad al-Shaybani, who was appointed Foreign Minister of Syria after the fall of the regime, had been a student in Turkey until recently. His teacher had been looking for him for two weeks before he learned of his new post.

Khamenei claims:

'The Islamic Republic doesn’t have proxy forces'

In a long rant on X, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei attacked the US and Israel for their involvement in Syria and claimed: 'You Zionists haven’t won; you’ve been defeated.'

50 years later:

Part of crashed IDF helicopter found on Mt. Hermon

IDF soldiers found the rotor of Super Hornet 017, which crashed on the slopes of Mt. Hermon in 1974, shortly before the area was relinquished to the Syrians.

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.

Putin:

'Israel is the main beneficiary of the situation in Syria'

Russian President refutes claims that Russia's nine-year intervention in Syria was a failure, voices concerns about Israel's military activities in the region following the ousting of Assad.

Guterres:

'Israeli airstrikes are violations of Syria's sovereignty'

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for Israel to stop striking strategic weapons and military infrastructure in Syria and called on both sides to respect the buffer zone.

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.

Erdoğan:

'Turkey is bigger than Turkey, we can't limit ourselves'

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that history assigned Turkey a mission to expand its borders.

Minister Chikli:

'Kurds must be granted independence, Turkey expelled from NATO'

Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Minister Amichai Chikli calls for recognition of Kurdish independence, consequences for Erdogan as Turkish and Turkish-backed forces threaten Kurdish areas of northern Syria.

New Syrian government representatives meet with Druze leaders

Representatives of Syria's transitional government met with leaders in Sweida, the capital of the Jabal Druze region to discuss government services and the need to show that the new government is tolerant towards religious minorities.

'IAF not striking in that area'

PM assures mother of US journalist imprisoned in Syria

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assures Debra Tice, the mother of American journalist Austin Tice, who has been imprisoned in Syria since 2012, that Israel's airstrikes in Syria are not being conducted in areas where Tice might be held.

Defense Minister Katz comes full circle: 'It was very moving'

Defense Minister Israel Katz, a former paratrooper, shared the moment he came full circle during a visit to the peak of Mount Hermon.

PM Netanyahu instructs IDF:

Prepare to stay at summit of Mount Hermon until end of 2025

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructs IDF to prepare to remain in Syrian Golan Heights until Syria's political-security situation stabilizes.

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.

Khamenei's Hebrew warning:

'Enemies who think resistance over after Syria gravely mistaken'

Iran's Supreme Leader posts threat in Hebrew claiming his axis of resistance will surive recent setbacks such as the fall of the Assad regime.

Foreign Min.:

'Last country that can speak about occupation in Syria is Turkey'

Israeli Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Oren Marmorstein responded to the Turkish government's condemnations of Israel's recent military actions in Syria and noted the hypocrisy of Turkey's accusations.

US officials fear:

Turkish invasion of northern Syria imminent

Turkish has been building up forces, including commandoes and artillery, on the Syrian border, causing the US to fear that it will invade the Kurdish-controlled territories.

Danon to Arutz Sheva:

'Euphoria in Syria could turn to fear'

Israeli Amb. to the UN tells Arutz Sheva 'the world should thank us' for preventing Assad's weapons from falling into the wrong hands, slams Guterres for fighting to save UNRWA despite its corruption by Hamas.

Assad's 1st statement:

'I refused to flee and fought until the end'

In his first statement from Moscow since he was deposed, Bashar al Assad claims that he had not planned on fleeing Syria until Russia asked him to after the rebels had reached Damascus.

Western political models and Middle Eastern realities

In the Arab world, tribal, familial-clan loyalties are the most important, dictating and determining factors. They will decide the character of society, entity or state, and what path it will take. Op-ed.

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.

Netanyahu:

'I spoke to Trump about the need to complete Israel's victory'

The Prime Minister reemphasized that Israel does not seek confrontation with Syria: 'We will decide Israel's policies on Syria based on the reality on the ground.'

Watch:

What happens on the border of Israel and Syria?

IDF English Language Spokesman LTC Nadav Shoshani explains the areas between Israel and Syria and why the military is operating in the buffer zone.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Iranian Supreme Leader:

Not logical for Iranian army to fight in place of the Syrian army

In a series of posts on social media, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei excused Iran for failing to protect the Assad regime and attacked the west for Israel's military actions in Syria.

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.