Syrian rebels

Despite 'reconciliation'

New Syrian regime confiscates Jewish properties

New Syrian regime transfers homes belonging to Jews who left the country to local residents.

Amid reconstruction

Trump open to lifting Syria sanctions

US President Donald Trump says he is considering lifting sanctions on Syria to support the country's post-civil war reconstruction. Syria's foreign ministry welcomes the move as a step toward peace and prosperity.

Body of former Syrian President reportedly dug up

Footage shows what appears to be the mausoleum of Hafez al-Assad with a hole in the center where the grave marker once stood. It is unknown what befell the former leader's remains.

Push for diplomatic support

Syria’s new President to visit UAE, Turkey

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is set to visit the UAE and Turkey as part of a diplomatic drive to bolster international backing for his administration.

Report:

US sets demands for Syria to gain sanctions relief

Reuters reports that the US has presented Syria with a set of conditions for partial sanctions relief.

Calls for stability

Germany reopens embassy in Damascus

Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock reopens her country’s embassy in Damascus, marking the first time in 13 years that Germany has had a diplomatic presence in Syria.

Amid transition

Syria’s interim leader signs Islamist constitution

Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, approves temporary constitution that will place the country under Islamist rule for the next five years.

Syria's interim President announces new National Security Council

Syria's interim President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, issues presidential decree establishing a National Security Council aimed at bolstering security coordination and ensuring political stability.

Dramatic agreement in Syria

Kurdish institutions to be incorporated in new government

Syria’s interim government announces an agreement with the leadership of the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to incorporate the institutions of the autonomous Kurdish administration in the northeast into the national government.

Syria launches probe of alleged massacre of Alawite civilians

Syria’s interim government announces an investigation after the killing of Alawite civilians in clashes in the coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus.

Syria:

Dozens dead in clashes between regime forces and Assad loyalists

Clashes in Latakia result in the deaths of at least 28 fighters loyal to ousted President Bashar Al-Assad, along with 16 security personnel and four civilians.

Syrian President demands immediate Israeli withdrawal from south

Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa urges international community to pressure Israel into an "immediate" withdrawal from the south of the country.

Europe rolls back sanctions on Syria amid leadership change

European Union rolls back energy, transport, and banking sanctions against Syria, provided its new leadership remains committed to peace.

IAF strikes three tanks belonging to Assad's army in Syria

IAF strikes three Syrian tanks belonging to the old Syrian regime which contained weapons and constituted a security threat.

Post-Assad:

Syria's new government to take power March 1

Syria's Foreign Minister, Asaad al-Shaibani, announces that a new government will take over next month which "will represent the Syrian people as much as possible and take its diversity into account."

Syria:

Transitional president sets 4-5 year timeline for elections

Syria's transitional president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, estimates it would take between four and five years to organize presidential elections, cites need for vast infrastructure which needs to be re-established.

Assad's cousin who led deadly 2011 crackdown arrested

Syria’s new leadership announces the arrest of Atif Najib, a cousin of ousted President who is accused of leading a deadly 2011 crackdown on rebels in Daraa.

Ahmed al-Sharaa named Syria's interim president

Syria's new leadership announces that Ahmed al-Sharaa, who became the country's de facto leader after his rebel group ousted Bashar Al-Assad, has been appointed interim president.

First time in two decades

PA cabinet leader visits Syria, meets Al-Sharaa

PA cabinet leader Mohammad Mustafa meets Ahmed Al-Sharaa during a visit to Damascus, the first by a high-level PA delegation to Syria in nearly two decades.

Syria's new government intercepts weapons intended for Hezbollah

Border authority of Syria's new government says it intercepted weapons intended for smuggling to Hezbollah in Lebanon.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.