LIVE UPDATES: Syrian Prime Minister Declares New Era for Country
On the morning of December 8, representatives of the armed opposition in Syria seized the state television and appeared on air, claiming they had taken control of the country. Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali stated that he, along with several ministers, remained in Syria and had established contact with the opposition.
“We are ready to cooperate with any government that Syrians choose,” al-Jalali said.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that after negotiations with various participants in the Syrian conflict, President Bashar al-Assad decided to step down and leave Syria, giving instructions for a peaceful transfer of power. Russia, however, did not participate in the negotiations.
29 minutes ago
UN OHCHR Ready to Support Transition Process in Syria – Head
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is ready to support the transition process in Syria, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said on Monday.
It is vital that the human rights of all Syrians be at the center of such a process, through meaningful and inclusive participation, including of women and youth, Turk told reporters, adding that his office stands ready to support the transition process.
54 minutes ago
Iran Open to Dialogue With Opposition That Came to Power in Syria – Reports
Iran is open to dialogue with the opposition that came to power in Syria, Reuters reported on Monday, citing a senior Iranian official.
Tehran has established direct channels of communication with a number of groups pf the Syrian opposition to “prevent a hostile trajectory” between the countries.
55 minutes ago
New Syrian Flag Displayed on Building of Country’s Diplomatic Mission in Moscow
A new Syrian flag was displayed on the building of the country’s diplomatic mission in Moscow, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported on Monday.
Earlier, the national flag was removed from the flagpole on the embassy building, and a sign with the name of the diplomatic mission was also removed from the building.
6 hours ago
Syria’s Armed Opposition Informed Turkey of Plans for Offensive 6 Months Ago – Reports
Syria’s armed opposition informed Turkey of its plans to carry out an offensive operation against the official Syrian authorities about six months ago and believed that it had secured its “tacit approval,” media reported, citing sources in Syria.
Opposition representatives briefed Turkey on the details of the planned operation after Ankara’s unsuccessful attempts to contact former Syrian President Bashar Assad, the publication said. According to the agency’s sources, the armed opposition could not begin its actions without notifying Turkey of them in advance.
According to the publication, the message was “that other path hasn’t worked for years – so try ours. You don’t have to do anything, just don’t intervene.”
In turn, a US official told the agency that Washington was not aware that Turkey had allegedly “tacitly approved” the plans of the armed Syrian opposition to advance on Aleppo in northern Syria.
6 hours ago
Iranian President Condemns Israel’s Actions in Syria Amid Change of Power in Damascus
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned the presence of the Israeli army in Syria amid Bashar Assad’s departure from the post of head of the Syrian state and called on Middle Eastern countries to be vigilant regarding Israel’s steps concerning the peoples of this region, Pezeshkian’s office said in a statement.
“He [Pezeshkian] categorically condemned the actions of the Zionist regime in violating Syrian territorial integrity. He also called on all Syrian parties as well as neighboring states to be vigilant about the Zionist regime’s misuse of the situation to further its expansionist and illegal policies regarding regional nations,” the Iranian president’s office said.
6 hours ago
Syrian Opposition Tells US It Will Not Allow ISIS* Members Join Damascus Offensive – Reports
The armed Syrian opposition has informed Washington via Turkey that it will not allow members of ISIS terrorist group to join their actions against the overthrown Syrian government, The New York Times reported on Sunday, citing unnamed US and Turkish officials.
The US allegedly asked Syrian opposition groups via Turkey not to allow IS members to join their offensive on Damascus, and the opposition assured Washington through Turkey that they had no such plans, the report said.
The messages were committed through diplomatic, intelligence and military channels established in Turkey, the newspaper added.
*A terrorist group outlawed in Russia and many other countries.
6 hours ago
US Will Judge Syrian Opposition Based on Their Actions – Administration Official
Washington is ready to provide assistance to Syria in the process of power transition, but concrete decisions will be made based on the actions of the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham’s (HTS, banned in Russia for terrorism) and other groups, a senior US administration official said on Sunday.
“The United States can provide a helping hand, and we are very much prepared to do so, and we will make judgments again based upon the actions and behaviors of various groups,” the official said.
6 hours ago
Oman Supports Need to Preserve Syrian People’s Will – Foreign Ministry
Oman supports the need to respect the will of the Syrian people and the territorial integrity of the country, the Omani Foreign Ministry said on Sunday.
“The Sultanate of Oman is closely monitoring the current developments in the Syrian Arab Republic and reaffirms the need to respect the will of the fraternal Syrian people and preserve the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria in full,” the statement read.
Oman called on all stakeholders in Syria to “remain calm, avoid escalation and violence, and focus on the implementation of national interests that will help the Syrian people fulfill their desire to achieve security, stability and development.”
7 hours ago
Future EU Council Chair Poland Expects Increased Migration From Syria – Foreign Ministry
Poland, as the future EU Council president, expects increased migration from Syria in connection with the latest events in that country, Deputy Foreign Minister Maciej Duszczyk said.
Poland will hold the rotating presidency of the European Union in the first half of 2025.
“As the future EU Council president, we are analyzing various migration scenarios following the political changes in Syria that are happening before our eyes. Ensuring security is key,” Duszczyk said on X.
9 hours ago
Iran Knew About US, Israeli Plans to Activate Opposition in Syria – Foreign Minister
Iran knew about US and Israeli plans related to the activation of armed opposition groups in Syria, all intelligence data was passed on to the Syrian government, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said during a special interview on Iranian state television.
“Everything was clear. Both analytics and news reports indicated in advance that such a movement would emerge. Both from an analytical and intelligence perspective, we knew that there was a behind-the-scenes plan on the part of the US and the Israeli regime that would create problems for the ‘axis of resistance,'” Araghchi said.
“From the perspective of [what was happening] ‘on the sidelines’ and intelligence, the intelligence services in our country and in Syria were fully aware of the movements in Idlib. And all information was passed on to the Syrian government and the Syrian army,” the minister added.
9 hours ago
US to Support Efforts to Hold Accountable Those Who Helped Assad – Blinken
The United States will support international efforts to hold accountable those who helped ousted Syrian leader Bashar Assad, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.
“We will support international efforts to hold the Assad regime and its backers accountable for atrocities and abuses perpetrated against the Syrian people, including the use of chemical weapons and the unjust detention of civilians such as Austin Tice,” Blinken said in a statement.
US President Joe Biden previously said that “Assad should be held accountable.”
11 hours ago
Syrian Opposition Tells US It Will Not Allow ISIS Members Join Damascus Offensive – Reports
The armed Syrian opposition has informed Washington via Turkiye that it will not allow members of ISIS (banned terrorist group) to join their actions against the overthrown Syrian government, The New York Times reported on Sunday, citing unnamed US and Turkish officials.
The US allegedly asked Syrian opposition groups via Turkiye not to allow IS members to join their offensive on Damascus, and the opposition assured Washington through Turkiye that they had no such plans, the report said.
The messages were committed through diplomatic, intelligence and military channels established in Turkiye, the newspaper added.
15 hours ago
Biden: US Will Work With Syrian Opposition on Power Transition, as Syria Needs New Constitution, Gov’t
US President Joe Biden said that Syria is at a turning point, acknowledging the risks and uncertainties but also the potential for a better future.
He highlighted that some groups in Syria have previously committed terrorist attacks and human rights violations, and that the US will judge them by their actions, not their words.
Biden also warned that the ISIS (banned terrorist group) may try to exploit the situation for its own benefit.
The US plans to collaborate with the Syrian opposition on the power transition, emphasizing the need for a new constitution and government in the country.