Beirut, Dec 9 (AP) Syrians poured into streets in celebration on Sunday after a stunning rebel advance reached the capital, ending the Assad family's 50 years of iron rule.
Russian state news agencies were reporting that President Bashar Assad and his family had arrived in Moscow and were given asylum. Russia said Assad left the country after negotiations with rebel groups and that he had given instructions to transfer power peacefully.
Joyful crowds gathered in central squares in Damascus, waving the Syrian revolutionary flag. Others ransacked the presidential palace and residence.
Abu Mohammed al-Golani, a former al-Qaida commander who cut ties with the group years ago leads the biggest rebel faction in Syria and is poised to chart the country's future.
He made his first public appearance since fighters entered the Damascus suburbs Saturday, at the capital's sprawling Umayyad Mosque, and called himself by his given name, Ahmad al-Sharaa. He said Assad's fall was “a victory to the Islamic nation”.
The rapidly developing events have shaken the region. Lebanon said it was closing all its land border crossings with Syria except for one that links Beirut with Damascus.
Jordan closed a border crossing with Syria, too. Israel has issued warnings to villages in southern Syria and its forces seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights.
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Israel releases images of work on a new barrier with Syria
The Israeli military said on Sunday it was reinforcing a barrier along its border with Syria as part of its “enhanced preparedness” in the area following the fall of the Assad regime.
Israel released images of the construction, which showed bulldozers digging what appeared to be a trench. The army said in a statement that the barrier was named “New East”.
Satellite images analysed by The Associated Press show that as early as September, Israel began building what could be a new road right along the so-called Alpha Line that separates the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from Syria.
The United Nations confirmed that Israeli troops entered the demilitarised zone during the work.
Over the weekend, the Israeli military sent additional troops to the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights to bolster Israel's presence along the border with Syria.
Russian news agency reporting that Assad has arrived in Moscow
Russian state news agencies reported that ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad has arrived in Moscow with his family and been given asylum.
The agencies, Tass and RIA, cited an unidentified Kremlin source. The Associated Press was not immediately able to verify the reports but had contacted the Kremlin for comment.
Arab League condemns Israel for seizing territory in Golan Heights
CAIRO — The Arab League on Sunday condemned Israel for taking advantage of Syrian President Bashar Assad's downfall by moving into more Syrian territory.
Hours after Assad's overthrow, Israel announced it had seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights that was established by a cease-fire agreement with Syria in 1974.
In a statement, the Arab League said Israel illegally sought to occupy more territories.
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the 50-year-old agreement regarding Syrian territory had collapsed and that Syrian troops had abandoned their positions, necessitating Israel taking over as a “temporary defensive position”.
United Nations secretary-general marks the fall of the dictatorial regime' in Syria
UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations secretary-general is marking the “fall of the dictatorial regime” in Syria and says the future of the country is “is a matter for the Syrians to determine”.
A statement by Antonio Guterficance: All About Jumu’atul-Wida or Alvida Jumma – the Last Friday of Ramadan" /> Jumat-Ul-Vida 2025 Date, Meaning, Significance: All About Jumu’atul-Wida or Alvida Jumma – the Last Friday of Ramadan