Hayat Tahrir al-Sham

December 31, 2024 9:01 AM

Syria eyes ‘strategic’ ties with Ukraine, Kyiv vows more food aid shipments

Syria hopes for strategic partnerships with Ukraine, its new foreign minister told his Ukrainian counterpart on Monday, as Kyiv moves to build ties with the new Islamist rulers in Damascus amid waning Russian influence. Russia was a staunch ally of ousted President Bashar al-Assad and has given him political asylum. Moscow has said it is in contact with the new administration in Damascus, including over the fate of Russian military facilities in Syria. "There will be strategic partnerships bet...

December 17, 2024 10:18 AM

Bashar al-Assad gives account of last hours before leaving Syria

Syria's Bashar al-Assad issued his first statement since being toppled from power, saying he was evacuated to Russia from the Hmeimim base on Dec. 8 as it came under drone attack, after leaving Damascus that morning with rebel fighters closing in. His written statement was published on the Syrian presidency's Telegram channel and dated Dec. 16 from Moscow, where he has been granted asylum. He was ousted after insurgent forces led by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham swept through Syria in a ...

December 12, 2024 9:28 AM

Syria’s rebel leader vows to dissolve Assad regime security forces, close prisons

The main commander of the fighters who toppled Bashar al-Assad said on Wednesday that he would dissolve the security forces of the former regime, close its prisons and hunt down anyone involved in the torture or killing of detainees. Syrian rebel leader Ahmad al-Sharaa - better known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani - said in a statement to Reuters he will "dissolve the security forces of the previous regime and close the notorious prisons." Syria ran one of the most oppressive police states in the M...

December 11, 2024 9:41 AM

India successfully evacuates 75 nationals from Syria after rebel forces overthrow Assad regime

India evacuated 75 of its nationals from war-torn Syria after rebel forces, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), overthrew President Bashar al-Assad's authoritarian regime. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed on Wednesday that all evacuees, including 44 ‘zaireen’ from Jammu and Kashmir, have safely reached Lebanon and will soon return to India via commercial flights. The evacuation operation was executed against the backdrop of escalating violence and instability in Syria, where ...

December 11, 2024 10:05 AM

Refugees return to Syria as caretaker prime minister appointed

Refugees from Syria's long civil war were making their way home on Wednesday, as a new interim prime minister said he had been appointed with the backing of the rebels who toppled President Bashar al-Assad. U.S. officials, engaging with rebels led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), urged them not to assume automatic leadership of the country but instead run an inclusive process to form a transitional government. The new government must "uphold clear commitments to fully respect the rights of min...

December 10, 2024 10:46 AM

Syria’s rebels work to form government, restore order after Assad ouster

The lightning overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad left Syrians, countries in the region and world powers nervous on Tuesday about what comes next as the rebel alliance took its first steps in a government transition. The United Nations Security Council met behind closed doors late on Monday, and diplomats said they were still in shock at how quickly Assad's overthrow unfolded over 12 days, after a 13-year civil war that was locked in stalemate for years. "Everyone was taken by surprise,...