Moscow enforces stringent limitations on Bashar al-Assad nearly 12 months following his Syrian departure, with curtailed mobility and prohibited public visibility, multiple outlets indicated to Euronews.

Moscow placed severe requirements on Assad's residence when providing refuge in April 2025, Russian Ambassador to Iraq Elbrus Kutrashev revealed to Euronews. Assad must avoid all media visibility and political involvement, Kutrashev informed the Islamic Republic News Agency, according to Euronews.

Russian intelligence agencies maintain Assad under exceptionally severe protection, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated to Euronews. His mobility remains highly constrained, and he has ceased to give public addresses, Euronews reported.

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G. has spent recent days arranging his departure. Family members already established in his destination country have secured his entry. From his father's rural home, he transmits images of breathtaking terrain: verdant valleys, encircling peaks, rushing streams, dense woodlands, and modest Alawite sanctuaries crowned with pale stone domes. "These memorialize the pre-Ottoman Levant, before the 16th century," he explained. That ancient world has vanished irrevocably. Turkish influence, however, has returned. During an earlier conversation, he detailed how Turkish investors are acquiring Alawite properties, exploiting the community's vulnerable position.

Weeks ago, the Alawite population rallied behind Sheikh Razzal Razzal, a religious authority previously aligned with Assad's apparatus. Today, Syrian contacts inform Israel Hayom that he advocates normalizing ties with Israel. When times grow harsh, it seems no one enjoys the luxury of selective partnerships.

Demonstrations against Ahmed al-Sharaa centered on demands for Syrian federalization – greater regional autonomy. Unlike previous crackdowns, regime forces initially refrained from violent suppression of protesters. The violence came later, after darkness fell, delivered by neighborhood enforcers.

Reaping the PR harvest

"Regime operatives instructed Sunni Muslims to assault Alawite districts in Latakia," G. detailed. "They hurled stones, attempted arson against residences and automobiles. Palestinian militants living in Syria participated in these raids. The Palestinian quarter teems with criminals and gangs. Assad's government routinely deployed them against opponents. The current administration employs identical tactics. They shattered storefronts, ransacked shops, torched vehicles."

Fabricated social media profiles emerged during the unrest, alleging Iranian backing for Sheikh Razzal Razzal. Competing narratives link him instead to Israel and the United Arab Emirates. None of these assertions has been verified – pure speculation at this stage – though Reuters documented how former Assad cronies are channeling millions from Russian sanctuary to destabilize Syria and compete for Alawite leadership. Billionaire Rami Makhlouf leads this faction, a onetime Assad intimate who broke with the regime in recent years. According to Reuters, he envisions himself as a redemptive figure for the community.

Al-Sharaa (previously Abu Mohammad al-Julani), meanwhile, capitalizes on Qatar's public relations offensive. His White House visit – unprecedented for any Syrian head of state – delivered the primary objective: eliminating the majority of sanctions choking his country. Trump went further, presenting him a personal commendation declaring he will prove "a great leader."

Simultaneously, he commands near-universal Sunni endorsement. Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and additional powers have staked everything on his success. Minority massacres? Compromised al-Qaida connections? Such inconveniences disappear beneath the diplomatic carpet, dismissed as trivial aberrations.

Does al-Sharaa benefit Jews?

Internal regime tensions have nonetheless surfaced regarding al-Sharaa's trajectory. Hardline Islamist factions oppose any Israeli accommodation, including territorial concessions in southern Syria occupied since December. From their theological perspective, Jews and other religious communities constitute apostates.

Furthermore, his security architecture remains fragile. A former Syrian military officer told the Syrian Center for Human Rights: "Syria's defensive capabilities are profoundly inadequate. No functioning regular forces exist, nor advanced armaments. The previous government neglected this dimension entirely – Syria lacks even a single operational helicopter. HTS (Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham) perpetuated this decay, dismantling what remained of the military. The justification claimed reconstruction was necessary to attract investment and shelter Syrians exhausted by warfare and Israeli bombardment."

This backdrop fuels widespread skepticism about long-term agreements with al-Sharaa's administration. "Jihadist doctrine includes 'tamkin,'" G. told Israel Hayom. "It permits concessions during vulnerability – but as strength accumulates, aggression follows. Consequently, when negotiating with Islamists without comprehending their strategic framework, refrain entirely."

"Al-Sharaa craves power retention," he elaborated. "Regarding his personal interests, he's profoundly cynical. He covets authority, wealth, and dominion over Muslims. He'll sacrifice any principle to maintain control. Yet this transcends individual character – it's systemic. It's embedded in educational curricula, ingrained in transformed thinking patterns. They've grown increasingly radical, increasingly rigid.

"The fundamental question persists: Can future arrangements with a Jihadist government provide security? What about extended timelines? I harbor serious doubts. I lived in Damascus before relocating to the coastal region. Their ideology cannot accommodate Jewish sovereignty in Jerusalem. They demand its liberation from Jews. I comprehend Israel might pursue security arrangements driven by strategic imperatives. But what about the future?"

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Iran had functioned as one of Damascus's most essential supporters throughout the civil war that ignited in 2011 after the regime's brutal response to pro-democracy demonstrations, sending military advisers and Revolutionary Guards forces to Syria, AFP reported.

Revolutionary Guards units and regional allies – chiefly Hezbollah fighters from Lebanon, plus combatants from Iraq and Afghanistan – had occupied strategic locations and propped up Assad's regime, only to vanish as Islamist-led forces charged toward the capital, according to AFP.

Syrian military officers and troops operated under Revolutionary Guards command, whose influence grew during the conflict while Assad's authority weakened, AFP reported.

A former Syrian officer posted at a Guards security facility in Damascus said that on December 5, 2024, his Iranian commander ordered him to an operations center in Mazzeh district the next day to address an "important matter," according to AFP. The ex-officer, requesting anonymity over safety concerns, said his commander – identified as Hajj Abu Ibrahim – delivered a bombshell announcement to about 20 Syrian officers and soldiers assembled for the briefing, AFP reported.

"From today, there will be no more Iranian Revolutionary Guards in Syria. We're leaving," those present were informed, according to AFP. "It's all over. From today, we are no longer responsible for you."

They were instructed to destroy or burn classified documents and extract hard drives from computers, AFP reported. The declaration came as Islamist forces secured massive gains, yet it still caught Syrian soldiers by surprise, he said, according to AFP.

"We knew things hadn't been going well, but not to that extent." They received advance payment covering one month and departed for home, AFP reported.

Within two days, Islamist forces captured Damascus without fighting after Assad escaped to Russia, according to AFP. Two Syrian staff members at Iran's Damascus consulate, requesting anonymity for security purposes, also recounted a hurried Iranian departure, AFP reported. The consulate stood empty by December 5 evening as Iranian diplomats scrambled across the border into Beirut, they informed AFP.

Multiple Syrian employees "who held Iranian nationality left with them, accompanied by senior Revolutionary Guards officers," one former employee stated, according to AFP. At Jdeidet Yabus – Syria's primary Lebanese border crossing – taxi operators and former staff documented enormous congestion on December 5 and 6, with eight-hour delays to cross the frontier, AFP reported.

Both ex-consulate workers said Iranians instructed Syrian personnel to remain home and compensated them three months' wages, according to AFP.

The embassy, consulate and all Iranian security installations were abandoned by December 6 morning, they said, AFP reported.

Throughout the conflict, forces under Iranian authority concentrated in critical Damascus zones and suburbs, especially Sayyida Zeinab district – site of a significant Shiite Muslim shrine – and around Damascus airport, plus near Lebanese and Iraqi frontiers, according to AFP.

Sections of northern Aleppo and other provincial sites also functioned as major deployment zones for personnel and combatants, AFP reported.

At a location that formerly operated as a crucial Iranian military base south of Aleppo, Colonel Mohammad Dibo said when the city fell early in the rebel campaign, "Iran stopped fighting," according to AFP.

Iranian forces "had to withdraw suddenly after the quick collapse" of Assad's military, stated Dibo, who participated in the rebel offensive and currently serves in Syria's new armed forces, AFP reported. On severely damaged walls at the deserted base, an AFP journalist observed Iranian and Hezbollah slogans plus a mural showing a sword slicing through an Israeli flag, according to AFP.

Israel – Tehran's foe – had conducted hundreds of airstrikes on Syria during the war, primarily claiming it targeted Assad's forces and Iran-backed organizations, AFP reported. The anonymous former Syrian army officer said that on December 5, a high-ranking Iranian military official known as Hajj Jawad and several Iranian troops and officers were transported to Russia's Hmeimim base on the Mediterranean coast, then airlifted to Tehran, according to AFP.

At the deserted site near Aleppo, Dibo said following the city's collapse, "some 4,000 Iranian military personnel were evacuated via Russia's Hmeimim base" where they had sought refuge, AFP reported. Additional personnel escaped overland through Iraq or Lebanon, he stated, according to AFP.

The departure proved so hurried that "when we entered their bases" in Aleppo province, "we found passports and identity documents belonging to Iranian officers who didn't even have time to retrieve them."

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This represents the first arrest warrant by the Syrian state against the dictator living in exile, based on accusations of war crimes in Daraa province in 2011. The rebellion against Assad's regime erupted in March of that year after three children in Daraa province spray-painted graffiti against the government and were murdered. November 2011 was one of the bloodiest months, during which hundreds of civilians were killed.

The judge in the case, Tawfiq al-Ali, explained to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) that the arrest warrant includes charges of premeditated murder and responsibility for torture that led to death and deprivation of liberty. According to the judge, the arrest warrant opens the door to an Interpol warrant and international involvement in the case. Those who filed the lawsuit were families of victims from the Daraa events in November 2011.

Against this backdrop, the head of the Syrian Authority for Justice, Abdul al-Basit al-Latif, said that communication channels were opened with Interpol and other international bodies to pursue Assad family members. He emphasized that this primarily concerns Bashar and his brother Maher Assad (former commander of the Fourth Division), on charges of serious violations against the Syrian people.

Multiple cases are proceeding simultaneously against Bashar Assad and his associates related to his crimes in the civil war. Just at the beginning of the month, the French justice system issued new arrest warrants for the tyrant and six former senior officials in his regime, including his brother Maher. The basis for these warrants was the bombing of Homs city on February 22, 2012. Two foreign journalists were killed in the attack: Marie Colvin (56), an American working for the British Sunday Times, and Remi Ochlik (28), a French photographer.

The former Syrian president resides in Moscow after being overthrown in December 2024. His regime collapsed in an attack by the Islamist rebel coalition of Ahmed al-Sharaa (also known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani), who became Damascus' ruler. Following this, Assad fled to Russia and has since remained in exile under the protection of Russian ruler Vladimir Putin. Al-Sharaa recorded a historic achievement in recent days when he spoke as Syria's president at the UN podium after more than six decades.

The collapse of Assad's regime ended an era of more than 50 years during which the Assad family ruled Syria with an iron fist. The rule of Hafez Assad and his successor Bashar, was known for boundless cruelty. Countless Syrians were murdered, tortured, kidnapped, humiliated, and oppressed by the terror regime's agents. One of the notorious symbols of Assad's rule was Sednaya prison in the Damascus area. With the regime's collapse last year, the prison was breached by rebels, revealing facilities for destroying bodies and records of executions.

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The organization has worked since that time to reach a final determination, and during intensified efforts last year, managed to collect environmental specimens from three undisclosed sites "that were allegedly functionally related" to Deir al-Zor, according to the confidential document reviewed by Reuters.

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One – and this is clear – it would be possible to control Syrian skies, and from them interdict on its soil any terrorist organization, weapons shipment or military armament directed against Israel. Two, and here's the genius, the understanding that flight paths between Israeli Air Force bases in Israel to the reactor in Natanz, for example, would be dramatically shortened and become much safer. These days the base is closed to civilian entry, so only through phone conversations can one understand what is happening there. It turns out that even though the Iranians are trying to target Israeli Air Force bases, operational continuity has not been affected for a moment.

Here too, the end of the deed was in the beginning of the thought. The campaign plan was built on the assumption that perhaps missiles would fall on bases during confrontation with Iran. And the plan works. And so the aircraft take off without pause, turn north to the Israeli Golan, break east to Syria, continue to Iraq, and then to Iran. About three hours round trip. The hands don't believe the words they are writing, but the Israel-Iran route is "as busy as Highway 6," the pilots are already joking. One of them, with whom a conversation was scheduled for me, was forced to postpone it because "he had a trip." To Tehran.

The flight is only the tip of the process. It is made possible as a result of preparation work stretched beyond the limit, sometimes under fire, by thousands of ground personnel. The cockpit occupants make it clear at every opportunity that without the technicians, armaments specialists, maintenance crews, refuelers and other role holders – nothing would have happened.

Ground crews, for their part, know that the responsibility placed on them this time is greater than ever. So that God forbid no pilot encounters a mechanical problem in Iraqi or Iranian skies, the technical crew maintains the most stringent level of preparations, maintenance, inspections and treatments.

The aircraft too, F-35 ("Adir") F-15i ("Ra'am"), some of which are no longer young, are working overtime compared to routine. Gaza, Syria or Lebanon are located within air striking distance of Israel. Iran, and it also depends which region in it, is a completely different story. The wear rate is higher. In addition, aerial refueling is required, sometimes twice. This is a sensitive and complex procedure in enemy skies. Above all this, from the moment of crossing the border, the danger of a missile from the ground or air still exists along the entire route.

"These are long hours of absolute concentration and high adrenaline," says a senior Israeli Air Force official the day after his second sortie to Iran. He is not just a pilot, but fills a senior role in the "Air Force family," as they like to define it in the force. And like in a family, on his way to Iran or returning from it, he and his comrades identify each other on communications by voice alone – a surrealistic experience in Middle Eastern skies.

Another experience, significant and much more motivating, is the justification. While they were in the air on their way to Iran, one of the squadron commanders at his base saw the Iranian missiles on their way to the country.

"They saw the missiles launching, pillars of fire on the way to Israel. There is nothing clearer that shows our need to defend the home front, to take risks and defend Israel, than this sight. I too on the way there think about my wife and children, whom I left in central Israel, in the shelter. And I know that when I attack a missile base in western Iran – I am protecting her, them, and of course all the families of the people in Israel. The bond is visceral."

Almost all his years in the force he dealt with preparations for striking Iran. In the past as a regular pilot, and in recent months he filled a central role in planning the programs. They were and remain very complex, dangerous and sensitive, and at the same time meticulous and precise. The plans began to be written from when it was clear that action in Iran was not a question of "if," but of "when." Of course there were also abundant training sessions and exercises.

All these preparations drained into the fateful hours between Thursday night and Friday morning. The aircraft were fueled and armed just beyond the edge of capability. And what happened at his base occurred at others too. Now it can also be revealed that the entire Israeli Air Force was in the skies on that historic night. "Personally I went to watch the takeoffs from the control tower, and also from the command and control center. All the preparations and exercises and training are now being implemented. Everyone reports mission readiness. You hear them on communications, and then it all rises into the air. The excitement is enormous," the senior official says.

Several hours passed, and the first wave returned. "A feeling of euphoria. We already knew in the first hours that we had eliminated the top of the Iranian military, that the operation succeeded, but that now the enemy is also exposed and will begin to act. We prepared for this. The goal now is to continue carrying out all the missions, and we are meeting it. And with each passing day achievements accumulate," he says.

Naturally, many parts of his story are forbidden for publication right now. Their time to be written will still come. But what can and is important to tell about is the spirit. It is the driving force of the tens of thousands of soldiers standing behind this fantastic operation.

"Everything is connected to October 7, and if looking further back, then also to the past of the Jewish people and the Holocaust. The most important lesson is initiative. Not to wait for threats to develop and become established, but to bring them to a state where they are incapable. This is the realization of 'If someone comes to kill you, rise up and kill him first.' This is a war to remove threats, a war of no choice, and you feel it in everything you do."

From everything he went through in the past week, there is one special moment that he preserved in his heart, and it is connected to the hard failure of the Israeli Air Force on the day of the massacre. After the first aircraft returned from Iran, one of the reserve officers serving at the base approached him.

"He hugged me and said 'Commander, you restored to us the lost honor of October 7.' For me it was as if someone pulled out a knife that was stuck in my stomach and heart. I really hope that this operation will begin to heal the wound and restore the trust that was cracked on that black day. And we also believe and hope that what was done in Iran will help in advancing the release of the hostages." Amen.

"CNN's beloved conservative"

Although he has never visited the country, for many years Scott Jennings (47) has been defending Israel in American media. In his youth he filled a senior position in the Bush administration. In recent years he has been the "beloved conservative" at CNN.

In panels composed only of Trump-hating Democrats, Jennings is the one who "presents what half of Americans think, or even a bit more," as he phrases it. Anyone who loves American politics will be delighted to watch him. "It's better to light a candle than to leave the room dark," he summarizes his motivation, and also gives credit to CNN for giving him the platform. This isn't taken for granted in these years in America.

And here, after years in which he speaks about us from afar, fate willed it and Jennings found himself here on one of the most fateful days in Israeli history. As is customary with influencers like him, in the week before the war he toured the battle sites of the war, in Nir Oz, at the Nova festival massacre site and on the Lebanese border. All this was just the preview.

"We went down to Tiberias, and then the war began. This is the first time I'm experiencing something like this. You are accustomed, but I saw many missiles and aircraft, heard the booms and photographed a lot. It was powerful. I never experienced anything like this, and it's something I'll carry with me forever."

He didn't keep the experiences to himself, but shared them with his millions of followers on social networks. He updated about alerts, told about running to protected spaces. In particular he was impressed "by the strength among the Israeli population to defeat Iran and radical terror at the end of the war, once and for all. For Israel this is existential. It cannot live with these madmen around it."

On Saturday he was supposed to fly home, but this was not possible, of course. Only on Monday did he manage to escape. A moment before he crossed the border to Jordan through the Allenby Bridge, I managed to catch him for a conversation about his experiences from the war and about his unique role in American media.

"I don't regret that I came," he said at the opening of our conversation, even though the war stuck him here for three days.

Q: What will you take with you to America? What will you tell your readers and viewers?

"My position has always been to defend Israel in the media, because I know how to distinguish between the good guys and the bad guys. But I wanted to experience this and to be able to say to many people in America that I was here and saw it, and that many of the opinions they have about what's happening here are not correct, because they simply lied to them."

Q: If Donald Trump calls you, would you recommend that he get involved in the war or not?

"My private opinion is that the battle for the future of the West is taking place here and now. There are more isolationist people who think this has no bearing on us, but that's not true. This is connected to America and to the entire world.

"Regarding US involvement in the war, I think Trump's functioning until now has been genius. The question is what's the fastest way to do this in a way that reduces harm to American lives. Is the way to neutralize the threat when the US bombs or when Israel does it, or perhaps through negotiation? Only the president has all the information, and I trust his judgment.

"And another important thing to say – Trump is the only one who speaks about the Middle East in positive and optimistic language. He already deserves a Nobel Peace Prize for the Abraham Accords, and all the more so he would be worthy of it if he removes the Iranian nuclear threat from above all civilization."

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It should be noted that the former Syrian leader's wife is battling leukemia. In the days before the Assad regime's collapse, she was staying in Moscow. This followed her husband's visit, who had to return to Damascus before fleeing when his army collapsed.

According to these rumors published in Turkish media – a country that extended its protection to the rebels who ultimately brought down the Assad regime – Asma was dissatisfied with life in Moscow and intended to relocate to Britain. She had lived there before meeting Assad, who studied ophthalmology in the country before inheriting power from his father, Hafez Assad.

The Kremlin spokesperson also denied reports of any restrictions being placed on the former Syrian leader, who is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of his own people and received asylum in Moscow.

This isn't the first denial coming from Assad. In a statement released in his name several days ago, he addressed reports about his requests for assistance from the United States and Arab entities, firmly denying them: "At no point during these events did I consider stepping down from the stage or seeking asylum, nor was such an offer made by any

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Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei claimed Tehran possesses evidence that the United States and Israel orchestrated the collapse of Syria's Assad regime, according to Iranian state news agency IRNA.

The comments come just days after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad fled to Moscow following the rapid capture of Damascus by opposition forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its leader Abu Mohammad al-Jawlani, marking a dramatic end to the Assad family's decades-long rule over Syria.

"There should be no doubt that what happened in Syria is the result of a joint American and Zionist plan," Khamenei said, according to IRNA, in his first public comments since the fall of his longtime regional ally.

In his remarks reported by IRNA, Khamenei alleged that while a neighboring country – presumably Turkey – has played an evident role in Syria's situation, the primary responsibility lies with Western powers. "Yes, the neighboring country of Syria has played a clear role in this matter and continues to do so – this is evident to all – but the primary conspirator, the main planner, and the central command room are in the United States and the Zionist regime," he said.

The Supreme Leader further claimed to have definitive proof of these allegations, stating: "We have evidence. This evidence leaves no room for doubt." The statement marks Iran's first official response to the fall of Assad's government, which Tehran had supported militarily and financially throughout Syria's civil war.

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As we witness the unfolding events in Syria, one stark lesson emerges from the rebels' surprise offensive – and it's one that should make us all pause and think. The strategic logic driving the Middle East operates, unlike anything we see in the West, functioning more like a complex ecosystem where the smallest change can trigger cascading effects throughout the region.

Consider this: Just as cattle populations in an ecosystem can affect climate patterns, a shift in one regional power dynamic reverberates across the entire Middle East. It's a far cry from the engineered precision of a modern railway system, where every movement is calculated and controlled. Instead, we're dealing with a delicate balance that can tip any moment.

Take what's happening now. The Sunni rebels' offensive against Assad's forces and Shiite militias in northern Syria didn't emerge in a vacuum. It's a direct response to the changing regional dynamics following Israel's military campaigns against Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. This is exactly how the Middle East's ecosystem works – one event triggers another in an endless chain of action and reaction.

Here's what many Western policymakers fail to grasp: In this region, periods of calm aren't seen as stepping stones to lasting peace but as temporary pauses – "hudnas" – in an ongoing cycle. While Western minds might hope these pauses will eventually solidify into permanent peace, they're missing a crucial point: You can't negotiate away deeply held religious aspirations.

Video: Toppling of Hafez Assad's statue in Latakia / Credit: Arab media

Look at Turkey's current ambitions, for instance. They're not just about modern geopolitics; they're deeply rooted in Ottoman history. Aleppo, with its historic connections to the Harran Valley cities, including my own hometown of Urfa, represents more than just a strategic location. It's a symbol of past glory that still resonates today. The region's history – from Napoleon's campaigns to the Egyptian-Ottoman wars of 1839-1841 – isn't just ancient history; it's a living blueprint for current ambitions.

I saw this mindset firsthand at the Iranian pavilion in a Shanghai exhibition, where a massive map of the ancient Persian Empire under Darius dominated the entrance. This wasn't mere decoration – it was a statement of aspiration, a dream waiting for its moment to become reality.

For American strategists still seeking to impose stable order in the region, perhaps it's time for a different metaphor: Think of the Middle East less like a chess board and more like a weather system, where hurricanes form and strike with a force beyond human control. Yes, conflicts can be temporarily contained, but even the most promising peace arrangements remain vulnerable to sudden, unpredictable shifts.

The tactical implications of recent events are equally sobering. The rebels' offensive, much like the October 7 attacks, demonstrates how modern warfare has evolved. Using everyday vehicles – motorcycles, jeeps, pickup trucks – mobile fighting units can launch devastating surprise attacks. It's a sobering reminder that even a supposedly demilitarized Palestinian state could quickly mobilize such civilian resources for military purposes.

For Israel, this should be a wake-up call. Imagine similar assault groups launching from Tulkarm and Qalqilya toward the coastal strip. While Israel may be watching Syria's current turmoil from the sidelines, we must acknowledge an uncomfortable truth: even the mighty IDF cannot guarantee absolute superiority in every scenario.

Originally published in Makor Rishon. 

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Syrian rebels declared President Bashar al-Assad's 24-year rule over on Sunday after seizing control of Damascus, while questions swirled about the fate of the longtime leader following reports of a mysterious flight from the capital, according to Reuters.

A Syrian Air plane that took off from Damascus airport around the time rebels entered the capital initially flew toward Syria's coastal region, a stronghold of Assad's Alawite sect, before making an abrupt U-turn and disappearing from radar, flight tracking data showed. Two Syrian sources told Reuters there was "a very high probability" that Assad may have been killed in a plane crash, though this could not be independently verified.

The dramatic collapse of the regime sent thousands of Syrians into the streets of Damascus, with witnesses telling Reuters that crowds gathered in a main square chanting "Freedom" from half a century of Assad family rule.

The IDF has assessed that Assad is no longer in Damascus, though they cannot confirm whether he has left the country entirely, according to information shared with Reuters. Military sources indicated that Syria is experiencing significant instability, with the army's dissolution indicating an internal collapse. They noted that the disruption of the Syrian axis, which began following events of October 8 in the northern theater, played a crucial role in current developments.

Video: Assad statue toppled in Damascus after rebels seize city / Credit: Arab social media

IDF officials emphasized to Reuters their close monitoring of Iranian activity in the region, focusing particularly on preventing military capabilities from moving from Syria to Lebanon. They noted that some Iranian entities are cutting ties with Syria, while warning that Israel would respond decisively if Hezbollah attempts to transfer or concentrate military capabilities along the Syria-Lebanon border.

Syria's army command officially notified officers that Assad's regime had ended, according to a Syrian officer who spoke to Reuters. However, the Syrian army later claimed it was continuing operations against what it called "terrorist groups" in key cities including Hama, Homs, and the Deraa countryside.

Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali called for free elections and said he had been in contact with rebel commander Abu Mohammed al-Golani to discuss managing the transition period. The Syrian rebel coalition said it is working to complete the transfer of power to a transitional governing body.

While Israel maintains a policy of non-intervention in Syrian internal affairs, the IDF is closely watching the rebel organization "Tahrir al-Sham" and assessing its governmental organization and potential impact on the border. Military officials stressed to Reuters that despite this non-intervention policy, Israel will strike against any threats, both ground and aerial.

The sudden power shift marks a major setback for Russia and Iran, which had propped up Assad during critical moments in the civil war but were weakened by other regional crises. The developments have stunned Arab capitals and raised fears of new regional instability.

Western governments now face decisions about how to engage with a new administration in which Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), formerly an al Qaeda affiliate, appears poised to have significant influence. The group's leader al-Jawlani broke ties with al Qaeda in 2016.

"The real question is how orderly will this transition be, and it seems quite clear that Golani is very eager for it to be an orderly one," Joshua Landis, Director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma, told Reuters. "They are going to have to rebuild... they will need Europe and the U.S. to lift sanctions."

In Homs, celebratory crowds poured into the streets after the army's withdrawal from the strategic central city. The rebels' capture of Homs gave them control of Syria's heartland and key crossroads, cutting off Damascus from coastal regions where Assad's Alawite sect holds sway and Russian forces maintain military bases.

Video: Syrians celebrate in Damascus after Assad regime falls // Reuters

The IDF General Staff is conducting frequent situational assessments and implementing forward defense in the buffer zone to keep threats away from the fence. They remain in contact with UN forces, who maintain their positions in Syria, while closely tracking weapons capabilities and ensuring air and ground superiority in the region. Yesterday, IDF forces worked to remove a threat to UN peacekeeping forces.

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