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Ambush kills 14 interim govt officers, wounds 10
Syrian armed groups agree to disband, merge under defense ministry
China supports Syria in finding plan to rebuild country through inclusive dialogue: FM
GENEVA -- The special envoy of the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General for Syria on Tuesday urged Israel to cease its military operations in Syria, emphasizing the urgent need to halt all conflicts across the Middle East.
"A very troubling development is that we are continuing to see Israeli movements and bombardments into Syrian territory. This needs to stop," Geir Pedersen said at a press conference.
Pedersen emphasized that Syria is controlled by a patchwork of groups lacking formal unity, adding that the ongoing challenges with law and order require immediate attention.
He also called for broad representation of all Syrian factions in the country's political transition process. "There need to be inclusive arrangements that ensure the representation of the broadest possible spectrum of Syrian society and parties. If this does not happen, then there will be a new conflict in Syria," he warned.
Pedersen described Syria as being at a crossroads, with great opportunities but also great risks. Nobody could have foreseen some of the recent developments, and the situation is still moving fast, he added.
JERUSALEM -- Israel's military said Tuesday that it had struck "most" of Syria's advanced weapons in 350 airstrikes across the country, including in Damascus, over the past 48 hours.
A Xinhua correspondent reported that Israeli armored personnel carriers were seen on Tuesday in the demilitarized zone, a United Nations-monitored buffer area established between the two countries under the 1974 Disengagement Agreement.
Israeli forces entered the area on Sunday, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasizing that he had ordered the move to prevent "hostile forces" from seizing the territory after the fall of Syria's Bashar al-Assad's government.
The large-scale operation dismantled "most of the strategic weapons stockpiles in Syria," the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement, adding that the aim was to prevent those weapons from "falling into the hands of terrorist elements."
"Manned aircraft flew hundreds of hours over Syrian airspace, conducting over 350 aerial strikes together with fighter jets," the military said, noting that the strikes targeted anti-aircraft batteries, Syrian Air Force airfields, and dozens of weapons production sites in Damascus, Homs, Tartus, Latakia, and Palmyra.
According to the statement, "numerous strategic weapons were neutralized," including Scud missiles, cruise missiles, surface-to-sea, surface-to-air and surface-to-surface missiles, drones, fighter jets, attack helicopters, radars, tanks, hangars, and other military assets.
Overnight, Israeli Navy missile ships struck two Syrian naval facilities simultaneously, hitting the ports of Al-Bayda and Latakia. The military said 15 Syrian naval vessels were docked there, and "dozens" of sea-to-sea missiles with ranges of 80 to 190 km were destroyed.
Israel is closely monitoring developments in Syria. On Tuesday evening, Netanyahu, in a video statement from the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv, said he hoped for ties with Syria's new government.
However, he warned that if the new leadership "allows Iran to re-establish itself in Syria, or allows the transfer of Iranian weapons, or weapons of any kind, to Hezbollah, or attacks us -- we will respond forcefully, and we will exact a heavy price."
Earlier on Tuesday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel was establishing a new "sterile defense zone" in the buffer.
The incursion has faced criticism from regional countries, including Iran, Iraq, Türkiye, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, and prompted calls from the international community for respect for Syria's sovereignty.
Israel launched the large-scale operation while continuing its offensive in the Gaza Strip and maintaining ground forces in southern Lebanon, where a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah took effect in late November.
As efforts begin in Syria to assemble an opposition-led government following the overthrow of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad, hopes for a reset within the crisis-torn nation are getting clouded by fresh turbulence as Israel expands its attacks in the country, including the capital Damascus.
On Monday, Mohammad Ghazi Al-Jallali, al-Assad's prime minister, said he had agreed to hand power to the "Syrian Salvation Government".
Al-Jallali told Al Arabiya TV on Monday that the handover could take days to carry out.
The main opposition commander Ahmed al-Sharaa, better known as Abu Mohammad Al-Jolani, met with Al-Jallali and Vice-President Faisal Mekdad to discuss the transitional government, a source familiar with the discussions told Reuters.
Al Jazeera television reported the transitional authority would be headed by Mohamed al-Bashir, born in 1983 and an electrical engineer. Al-Bashir has been appointed caretaker prime minister of the transitional Syrian government until March 1, 2025, he said in a televised statement on Tuesday.
Formed in 2017 by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, and other Syrian opposition groups during the Syrian civil war, the "Syrian Salvation Government" wielded administrative and service-related authority in areas under HTS control in Syria.
Al-Jolani on Tuesday vowed to pursue former senior government officials responsible for "torture and war crimes".
Following the latest developments in Syria, the international community has expressed concern over peace and stability in the country, as United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday called for calm and "avoiding violence at this sensitive time".
"We will need the support of the international community to ensure that any political transition is inclusive and comprehensive and that it meets the legitimate aspirations of the people of Syria," said Guterres.
As the efforts to form a new government in the country pick up speed, Israel launched large-scale attacks on targets in Syria on Monday night, hitting military bases, airports and research centers.
A war monitor said on Tuesday that Israel had conducted 300 strikes on Syria since the fall of al-Assad, adding the raids had "destroyed the most important military sites" in Syria.
Three security sources told Reuters on Tuesday the Israelis had advanced beyond the demilitarized zone. One Syrian source said they had reached the town of Qatana, several kilometers to the east of the buffer zone and a short drive from Damascus airport.
Incursion slammed
Turkiye, Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia have condemned the Israeli incursion. Saudi Arabia said the move would "ruin Syria's chances of restoring security", calling for respect for Syria's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.
Israel said its airstrikes would carry on for days but told the UN Security Council that it was not intervening in Syria's conflict. It said it had taken "limited and temporary measures" solely to protect its security.
An Israeli military spokesperson on Tuesday denied that Israeli forces had penetrated into Syrian territory beyond the buffer zone with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
"It's not true, the forces have not left the buffer zone," the spokesperson said.
Gokhan Batu, an analyst on Israel studies at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies in Turkiye, told China Daily that Israel's seizure of its buffer zone with Syria marked a significant escalation in its regional posture.
Despite widespread international support for Syria's territorial integrity, Israel continues to "adopt a stance that accentuates ethnic, religious and sectarian divisions within Syria", Batu said.
"This approach not only undermines Syria's stability but also poses long-term risks for its territorial and political cohesion," said Batu.
Meanwhile, according to the United Nations, more than 16 million people already require humanitarian assistance in Syria, with the global body's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs saying there "is an urgent need for more shelter, food, and sanitation facilities".
The office said the recently displaced were primarily women and children from Aleppo, Hama, Homs and Idlib governorates. The situation is very fluid, with reports of more people returning in the last couple of days. Transportation routes were disrupted, limiting the movement of people, goods and humanitarian aid.
Xinhua and agencies contributed to this story.
WASHINGTON -- The top commander of the US military in the Middle East visited the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Syria on Tuesday to be briefed on ongoing efforts to prevent the resurgence of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the US military said.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a post on X that General Erik Kurilla, the CENTCOM commander, "visited US military commanders and servicemembers, as well as our Defeat-ISIS partners, the Syrian Democratic Forces, at several bases in Syria."
"He received a firsthand assessment of force protection measures, the rapidly evolving situation, and ongoing efforts to prevent ISIS from exploiting the current situation," CENTCOM said.
The United States has long partnered with the SDF in the fight to defeat ISIS. The SDF is separate from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the main rebel group that toppled the government of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Later, Kurilla visited Baghdad, where he met with the Iraqi prime minister and military leaders, along with the US commander of the Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve "for an assessment of the D-ISIS mission inside Iraq and Syria," CENTCOM said.
WASHINGTON -- The top commander of the US military in the Middle East visited the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Syria on Tuesday to be briefed on ongoing efforts to prevent the resurgence of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the US military said.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a post on X that General Erik Kurilla, the CENTCOM commander, "visited US military commanders and servicemembers, as well as our Defeat-ISIS partners, the Syrian Democratic Forces, at several bases in Syria."
"He received a firsthand assessment of force protection measures, the rapidly evolving situation, and ongoing efforts to prevent ISIS from exploiting the current situation," CENTCOM said.
The United States has long partnered with the SDF in the fight to defeat ISIS. The SDF is separate from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the main rebel group that toppled the government of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Later, Kurilla visited Baghdad, where he met with the Iraqi prime minister and military leaders, along with the US commander of the Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve "for an assessment of the D-ISIS mission inside Iraq and Syria," CENTCOM said.
DAMASCUS -- Mohammed al-Bashir announced Tuesday that he has been tasked with heading a transitional government in Syria until early March 2025 following the collapse of the government of Bashar al-Assad.
In a brief televised statement, al-Bashir said he would lead the transitional authority until March 1.
Al-Bashir, born in 1983, was an electrical engineer and head of the "Syrian Salvation Government (SSG)" in Idlib formed in 2017 by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and other Syrian militant groups during the Syrian civil war. The SSG wielded administrative and service-related authority in areas under the HTS control in northern Syria.
A militant alliance led by the HTS waged a major offensive from northern Syria since Nov 27 and had since swept southwards through government-held areas, capturing the capital Damascus within 12 days.
BEIJING -- Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government, Israel expanded its military operation in Syrian Monday, not least by launching airstrikes and occupying the buffer zone along the Syrian border.
According to the Britain-based war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Israel launched a series of airstrikes in Syria, targeting such sites as Syrian navy vessels docked at Latakia Port, military depots in coastal areas, and arms depots in Damascus.
In addition, the attacks hit the 112th Brigade between the cities of Sheikh Miskin and Nawa in the west of Daraa province, as well as military depots near the Mahja town in northern Daraa.
Two civilians were killed in the assaults on the 12th Brigade in the city of Izraa, the observatory added.
In Damascus, a Xinhua correspondent witnessed Israeli warplanes flying overhead.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar told reporters on Monday that the Israeli army launched strikes targeting "strategic weapons systems, residual chemical weapons capabilities, and long-range missiles and rockets" in Syria to prevent them from falling into the hands of "extremist elements," claiming that Israel does not aim to interfere in Syria's internal politics.
He also said that "the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) carried out a targeted and temporary operation to take control of areas near the border" with Syria because Syrian militants crossed into the buffer zone between the two countries over the weekend, violating the Agreement on Disengagement signed in 1974 between Israel and Syria.
Airstrikes are expected to continue in the coming days, an anonymous Israeli official told Xinhua.
Multiple regional countries, including Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, among others, condemned the occupation, calling for respecting Syria's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.
Also on Monday, Syrian online media outlet Sawt al-Asima reported that Muhammad al-Bashir, born in 1983 and an electrical engineer and head of the "Syrian Salvation Government" opposition group in Idlib under the aegis of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has been tasked with forming a new Syrian government.
Following the latest developments in Syria, the international community has voiced concern about peace and stability in the country, as United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday called for calm and "avoiding violence at this sensitive time."
"We will need the support of the international community to ensure that any political transition is inclusive and comprehensive and that it meets the legitimate aspirations of the people of Syria," said Guterres.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that his country would continue diplomatic consultations with relevant parties as well as the United Nations to help stabilize the situation, highlighting the necessity to hold dialogue among different segments of the Syrian society.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Monday voiced readiness to support and coordinate efforts with all stakeholders to secure Syria's territorial integrity and stability, saying that Türkiye will make efforts for the safe return of over 3.5 million Syrian refugees residing in the country back home.
China hopes all parties concerned will proceed from the fundamental interests of the Syrian people and find a political solution to restore stability in Syria as soon as possible, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters on Monday, stressing that the future of Syria should be decided by the Syrian people.
Outgoing US President Joe Biden said that Washington "will engage with all Syrian groups, including within the process, led by the UN, to establish a transition away from" the Assad government, while President-elect Donald Trump said on social media that "The United States should have nothing to do with" the situation in Syria.
UNITED NATIONS -- UN humanitarians on Monday described the situation in Syria as chaotic and fluid, with more than 16 million people in the country requiring assistance.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said 1 million people were displaced from their homes in the west and northwest alone from Nov 28 to Dec 8. "There is an urgent need for more shelter, food, and sanitation facilities."
The office said the recently displaced were primarily women and children from Aleppo, Hama, Homs and Idlib governorates. The situation is very fluid, with reports of more people returning in the last couple of days. Transportation routes were disrupted, limiting the movement of people, goods and humanitarian aid.
Some looting of civilian properties and factories, as well as warehouses holding humanitarian supplies, has been reported, according to OCHA.
"Despite the challenges and the volatile situation, we and our partners continue to provide emergency aid," the office said.
The office said that in northwest Syria, all humanitarian organizations in Idlib and northern Aleppo resumed regular operations and the three border crossings from Türkiye used to deliver aid into Syria remained open.
"In the northeast, we are providing supplies for those who recently fled Aleppo," OCHA said. "In Aleppo, we are providing basic assistance including food, health and nutrition services, and support for access to clean water."
However, the office said that health facilities are overwhelmed, with major hospitals operating at limited capacity due to shortages of staff, medicine and supplies.
"Our health partners continue to provide critical services in impacted areas, including providing trauma care kits." OCHA said. "They have also deployed medical units in reception centers and schools across Raqqa, Tabqa and Al-Hasakeh."
The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) deployed mobile teams and established fixed clinics in Homs. In northwest Syria, all 24 health facilities that had suspended operations recently resumed services, although others remain non-functional.
"Syria is at a crossroads between peace and war, stability and lawlessness, reconstruction or further ruin," UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi said in a statement.
"There is a remarkable opportunity for Syria to move toward peace and for its people to begin returning home. But with the situation still uncertain, millions of refugees are carefully assessing how safe it is to do so. Some are eager, while others are hesitant," he said.
"UNHCR's advice is to remain focused on the issue of returns," Grandi said. "Patience and vigilance will be necessary, hoping that developments on the ground will evolve in a positive manner, allowing voluntary, safe and sustainable returns to finally occur -- with refugees able to make informed decisions."
Grandi said that as the situation evolves, UNHCR will monitor developments, engage with refugee communities and support states in any organized voluntary returns.
Some voices have been heard in nations hosting refugees on forcing refugees to return to their homes in Syria as Bashar al-Assad's government has collapsed following a sweeping offensive by militant groups.
Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said the world body calls on donors to ensure that UNHCR and its partners have the resources to respond swiftly and effectively, including in neighboring countries still hosting millions of refugees.
"These countries need international support to sustain their exceptional solidarity and generosity," Dujarric said. "Resources need to be provided as flexibly as possible to allow for assistance to be provided where it is most needed."
China, the United Nations and the Arab League have called for efforts to peacefully resolve the situation in Syria, with due respect for the aspirations of the Syrian people, as the Middle Eastern country grapples with uncertainty on multiple fronts, including national security, following the departure and reported resignation of its president.
China hopes that relevant parties will bear in mind the fundamental interest of the Syrian people and find as soon as possible a political settlement that will restore stability in Syria, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Monday.
The future of Syria should be decided by the Syrian people, and the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity should be respected, Mao said, adding that China is paying close attention to the development of the situation in Syria.
Bashar al-Assad, who left the Syrian presidential palace after opposition forces stormed Damascus early Sunday, is currently in Moscow, according to Russian state media reports.
Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali said on Monday that most Cabinet ministers are still working from offices in the capital. Hundreds of Syrians have, meanwhile, returned home from neighboring countries.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin made the decision to grant Assad asylum. Peskov also said that it was premature to talk about the future of Russia's military facilities in Syria, adding that it would be "a subject for discussion with those who will be in power in Syria".
At Russia's request, the UN Security Council plans to hold an emergency closed-door meeting on Syria late Monday.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Sunday that the future of Syria is a matter for the Syrians to determine and his special envoy, Geir Pedersen, "will be working with them toward that end".
"There is much work to be done to ensure an orderly political transition to renewed institutions. I reiterate my call for calm and avoiding violence at this sensitive time, while protecting the rights of all Syrians," Guterres said in a statement.
"We remain committed to helping Syrians build a country where reconciliation, justice, freedom, and prosperity are shared realities for all," he posted on social media platform X.
Syria has been in turmoil for years after demonstrations that broke out in 2011 snowballed into a full-scale civil war.
The Arab League restored Syria's membership in May last year, ending 12 years of suspension and isolation.
The general secretariat of the Arab League issued a statement on Sunday, calling on all Syrians to uphold tolerance, engage in dialogue, safeguard people's rights, and work toward completing a peaceful and secure political transition.
It also reiterated its unequivocal condemnation of Israel's exploitation of the internal situation in Syria to illegally change the status quo in the Golan Heights, by either occupying additional land there or terminating the 1974 UN-monitored Disengagement Agreement.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Monday that the nation will work for the safe and voluntary return of Syrian migrants it hosts, and will help in the reconstruction of Syria.
Hussein Maklad, professor of international relations at Damascus University, told China Daily that Syria is at a crossroads, and this is an opportunity for the country to form a government that represents its ethnically and religiously diverse population, foster economic recovery, and allow refugees and internally displaced people to return home.
"A power vacuum in Syria could lead to regional instability" and risk turning Syria into a field for regional contest for hegemony, "potentially creating more chaos if not appropriately managed", Maklad added.
Meanwhile, Israeli tanks advanced on Monday into the southwestern Syrian city of Quneitra near the occupied Golan Heights, reaching the governorate building as drones circled overhead, a Syrian source told Xinhua News Agency.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar claimed at a news briefing that "Syrian militants" had crossed into the buffer zone over the weekend, violating the disengagement agreement between the two countries.
"In response, and given the threat to our communities in the Golan Heights, the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) carried out a targeted and temporary operation to take control of areas near the border," he added.
Wang Qingyun contributed to this story.
China, the United Nations and the Arab League have called for efforts to peacefully resolve the situation in Syria, with due respect for the aspirations of the Syrian people, as the Middle Eastern country grapples with uncertainty on multiple fronts, including national security, following the departure and reported resignation of its president.
China hopes that relevant parties will bear in mind the fundamental interest of the Syrian people and find as soon as possible a political settlement that will restore stability in Syria, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Monday.
The future of Syria should be decided by the Syrian people, and the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity should be respected, Mao said, adding that China is paying close attention to the development of the situation in Syria.
Bashar al-Assad, who left the Syrian presidential palace after opposition forces stormed Damascus early Sunday, is currently in Moscow, according to Russian state media reports.
Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali said on Monday that most Cabinet ministers are still working from offices in the capital. Hundreds of Syrians have, meanwhile, returned home from neighboring countries.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin made the decision to grant Assad asylum. Peskov also said that it was premature to talk about the future of Russia's military facilities in Syria, adding that it would be "a subject for discussion with those who will be in power in Syria".
At Russia's request, the UN Security Council plans to hold an emergency closed-door meeting on Syria late Monday.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Sunday that the future of Syria is a matter for the Syrians to determine and his special envoy, Geir Pedersen, "will be working with them toward that end".
"There is much work to be done to ensure an orderly political transition to renewed institutions. I reiterate my call for calm and avoiding violence at this sensitive time, while protecting the rights of all Syrians," Guterres said in a statement.
"We remain committed to helping Syrians build a country where reconciliation, justice, freedom, and prosperity are shared realities for all," he posted on social media platform X.
Syria has been in turmoil for years after demonstrations that broke out in 2011 snowballed into a full-scale civil war.
The Arab League restored Syria's membership in May last year, ending 12 years of suspension and isolation.
The general secretariat of the Arab League issued a statement on Sunday, calling on all Syrians to uphold tolerance, engage in dialogue, safeguard people's rights, and work toward completing a peaceful and secure political transition.
It also reiterated its unequivocal condemnation of Israel's exploitation of the internal situation in Syria to illegally change the status quo in the Golan Heights, by either occupying additional land there or terminating the 1974 UN-monitored Disengagement Agreement.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Monday that the nation will work for the safe and voluntary return of Syrian migrants it hosts, and will help in the reconstruction of Syria.
Hussein Maklad, professor of international relations at Damascus University, told China Daily that Syria is at a crossroads, and this is an opportunity for the country to form a government that represents its ethnically and religiously diverse population, foster economic recovery, and allow refugees and internally displaced people to return home.
"A power vacuum in Syria could lead to regional instability" and risk turning Syria into a field for regional contest for hegemony, "potentially creating more chaos if not appropriately managed", Maklad added.
Meanwhile, Israeli tanks advanced on Monday into the southwestern Syrian city of Quneitra near the occupied Golan Heights, reaching the governorate building as drones circled overhead, a Syrian source told Xinhua News Agency.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar claimed at a news briefing that "Syrian militants" had crossed into the buffer zone over the weekend, violating the disengagement agreement between the two countries.
"In response, and given the threat to our communities in the Golan Heights, the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) carried out a targeted and temporary operation to take control of areas near the border," he added.
Wang Qingyun contributed to this story.
DAMASCUS -- An opposition leader in Syria's Idlib province has been tasked with forming a new Syrian government, local media reported Monday.
Muhammad al-Bashir, born in 1983 and an electrical engineer and head of the "Syrian Salvation Government" (SSG) in Idlib under the aegis of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), will lead efforts to form a new cabinet following the rapid fall of President Bashar al-Assad's government on Sunday, online media outlet Sawt al-Asima reported.
Formed in 2017 by the HTS and other Syrian opposition groups during the Syrian civil war, the SSG wielded administrative and service-related authority in areas under the HTS control in Syria.
The militant groups led by the HTS waged a major offensive from northern Syria since Nov 27 and had since swept southwards through government-held areas, capturing the capital Damascus within 12 days.
GENEVA -- United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on Monday urged Syrian parties to engage in an inclusive dialogue to advance the country's transition process.
Speaking at the end-of-year press conference of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Turk expressed hope that the current circumstances would pave the way for such dialogue. "I hope that within this current environment, there will be this inclusive, very inclusive dialogue," he said.
"There is a huge opportunity for this to happen, and what we have seen initially is indeed cooperation," he added.
Turk also noted that hostilities continue in some parts of Syria and stressed that all parties must uphold their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law.
He further stated that his office "is ready to support the transition process".
WASHINGTON -- US President Joe Biden in remarks Sunday from the White House laid out a three-pronged policy forward as the opposition forces in Syria seized control of the capital, warning against any extremists' threats.
Bashar al-Assad has left Syria and resigned as the country's president while calling for a peaceful transfer of power, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday.
Speaking from the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Biden said his administration will help fend off potential threats against US partners in the region, including Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Israel, "during this period of transition."
Second, the president said, the United States will help ensure stability "in eastern Syria, protecting any personnel, our personnel, against any threats," and maintain the US mission against the extremist group known as Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
"We're clear-eyed about the fact that ISIS will try to take advantage of any vacuum to re-establish its capabilities and to create a safe haven. We will not let that happen," Biden said.
Third, the United States "will engage with all Syrian groups, including within the process, led by the United Nations, to establish a transition away from" the Assad government.
With less than two months in office, it's unclear, though, to what extent the Biden administration will fulfill the policy announced above.
Donald Trump, the incoming president who will assume office on Jan. 20, also reacted to the rapidly unfolding situation in Syria, calling for a hands-off approach from the United States.
"In any event, Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, & THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO NOT GET INVOLVED!" Trump wrote on Truth Social on Saturday morning.
Also on Saturday, Jake Sullivan, Biden's national security advisor, told a defense forum in California that the United States won't get involved militarily in the current fight in Syria.
DAMASCUS -- Armed opposition forces seized full control of Damascus on Sunday, ending over five decades of the Assad family rule.
The rapid fall of President Bashar al-Assad's government followed an intense rebel offensive spanning less than two weeks. The campaign culminated in the opposition's announcement that Assad had fled the capital and relinquished power.
Later in the day, Russian state media announced that Assad had landed in Moscow, and was granted asylum along with his family.
Russia's Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying Assad had "decided to leave the presidential post and left the country, giving instructions to transfer power peacefully."
In Syria, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) head Abu Mohammad Al-Jolani, spearheading the lightning assault, said Mohammad Ghazi Al-Jallali, appointed prime minister by al-Assad in September, would temporarily oversee public institutions.
Al-Jolani instructed opposition forces in Damascus to refrain from approaching public institutions and banned celebratory gunfire.
Al-Jallali, the prime minister, also called on Syrians to protect public facilities, saying they belonged to all citizens. "We extend our hands to every Syrian citizen committed to safeguarding the country's resources," Al-Jallali said in a televised address. "Syria belongs to all Syrians, and I urge everyone to think rationally about the nation's best interests."
However, crowds of people stormed the house of Assad and two presidential palaces amid recorded cases of looting. Abandoned arms left by Syrian soldiers were taken by young men. The Iranian embassy in Damascus was also stormed by armed militants.
The military command of the opposition imposed a curfew starting from afternoon till the next day while issuing warnings and threatening jail penalties against looters and those firing guns in the air.
In midst of the upheaval, Israel mounted a series of unprecedented airstrikes, hitting former Syrian security and military sites in Damascus and Quneitra repeatedly within a single day, according to local reports.
Some of these strikes targeted abandoned army positions and facilities previously associated with the now-defunct Fourth Division near Damascus. Israeli ground forces also reportedly pushed into parts of Jabal al-Sheikh, taking over old surveillance posts without opposition.
Meanwhile, the Syrian National Coalition, an alliance of opposition groups formed in exile following the 2011 uprising against Assad, vowed Sunday to continue working towards the transfer of authority to a transitional governing body with full executive powers, with the goal of ushering in a free, democratic, and pluralistic Syria.
DAMASCUS -- Armed opposition forces seized full control of Damascus on Sunday, ending over five decades of the Assad family rule.
The rapid fall of President Bashar al-Assad's government followed an intense rebel offensive spanning less than two weeks. The campaign culminated in the opposition's announcement that Assad had fled the capital and relinquished power.
Later in the day, Russian state media announced that Assad had landed in Moscow, and was granted asylum along with his family.
Russia's Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying Assad had "decided to leave the presidential post and left the country, giving instructions to transfer power peacefully."
In Syria, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) head Abu Mohammad Al-Jolani, spearheading the lightning assault, said Mohammad Ghazi Al-Jallali, appointed prime minister by al-Assad in September, would temporarily oversee public institutions.
Al-Jolani instructed opposition forces in Damascus to refrain from approaching public institutions and banned celebratory gunfire.
Al-Jallali, the prime minister, also called on Syrians to protect public facilities, saying they belonged to all citizens. "We extend our hands to every Syrian citizen committed to safeguarding the country's resources," Al-Jallali said in a televised address. "Syria belongs to all Syrians, and I urge everyone to think rationally about the nation's best interests."
However, crowds of people stormed the house of Assad and two presidential palaces amid recorded cases of looting. Abandoned arms left by Syrian soldiers were taken by young men. The Iranian embassy in Damascus was also stormed by armed militants.
The military command of the opposition imposed a curfew starting from afternoon till the next day while issuing warnings and threatening jail penalties against looters and those firing guns in the air.
In midst of the upheaval, Israel mounted a series of unprecedented airstrikes, hitting former Syrian security and military sites in Damascus and Quneitra repeatedly within a single day, according to local reports.
Some of these strikes targeted abandoned army positions and facilities previously associated with the now-defunct Fourth Division near Damascus. Israeli ground forces also reportedly pushed into parts of Jabal al-Sheikh, taking over old surveillance posts without opposition.
Meanwhile, the Syrian National Coalition, an alliance of opposition groups formed in exile following the 2011 uprising against Assad, vowed Sunday to continue working towards the transfer of authority to a transitional governing body with full executive powers, with the goal of ushering in a free, democratic, and pluralistic Syria.
China said it is closely following the situation in Syria and hopes that stability will return to the country as soon as possible, after Syrian opposition forces pulled off a lightning 10-day offensive, capturing vast areas of government-held territory, and stormed into the capital, Damascus, early Sunday.
Several other countries joined the chorus for ending conflicts and restoring stability in the Middle East region, after Syrian state television aired a video statement of a man in military fatigues, flanked by armed fighters, who said that President Bashar al-Assad had been overthrown.
The statement came hours after a Syrian opposition war monitor said that Assad had left the country for an undisclosed location. Multiple media outlets also reported his departure from Syria.
Xinhua News Agency journalists in Damascus reported hearing intense gunfire reverberating through the streets, and said they witnessed heavy traffic with vehicles trying to leave the capital.
Three powerful explosions rocked Damascus on Sunday evening, with local media reports claiming these were Israeli airstrikes targeting abandoned military bases.
Abu Mohammed al-Golani, leader of the Islamist rebel alliance Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which engineered the offensive, said that Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali will oversee public institutions until an official transfer of authority is completed.
Jalali expressed his readiness to cooperate with any leadership chosen by the Syrian people. "We extend our hands to every Syrian citizen committed to safeguarding the country's resources," he said in a televised address. "Syria belongs to all Syrians, and I urge everyone to think rationally about the nation's best interests."
China is actively helping Chinese nationals who wish to leave Syria to do so in a safe and orderly way, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in a statement on Sunday. The Chinese government is also staying in contact with those still in Syria and offering them advice on how to stay safe, the spokesperson said.
"The Chinese embassy is still up and running and carrying out its duty in Syria. We will continue to give every possible assistance to Chinese nationals in need," the spokesperson added.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday that Assad resigned as Syria's president and departed from the country after calling for a peaceful transfer of power. It added that Russia did not participate in any talks related to the transfer of power.
United States President Joe Biden and his team "are closely monitoring the extraordinary events in Syria and staying in constant touch with regional partners", the White House said in a statement.
Israel said it has deployed forces in the United Nations-monitored buffer zone with Syria and in other areas deemed necessary for defense. "We will not allow any hostile force to establish itself on our border," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was quoted as saying by Reuters.
Iran called for "the swift end of military conflicts, the prevention of terrorist actions, and the commencement of national dialogue" with all sectors of Syrian society.
Turkiye called on all actors to act with prudence and to be watchful. A new Syrian administration must be established inclusively, and there should be no desire for revenge, the country's foreign minister said.
Qatar renewed its calls for ending the crisis in Syria, Jordan urged avoiding any conflict that could further destabilize the region, Saudi Arabia said it is determined to do "what is possible to avoid a chaotic outcome" for Syria, and Egypt affirmed its support for the Syrian people and the country's sovereignty and unity.
Yu Guoqing, a researcher at the Institute of West-Asian and African Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told China Daily that given Syria's important geographical location, any changes in its domestic political situation are bound to have an impact on the Middle East, as well as on other strife-torn regions.
Yang Yilin and Zhao Jia in Beijing contributed to this story.
Xinhua—Agencies
China said it is closely following the situation in Syria and hopes that stability will return to the country as soon as possible, after Syrian opposition forces pulled off a lightning 10-day offensive, capturing vast areas of government-held territory, and stormed into the capital, Damascus, early Sunday.
Several other countries joined the chorus for ending conflicts and restoring stability in the Middle East region, after Syrian state television aired a video statement of a man in military fatigues, flanked by armed fighters, who said that President Bashar al-Assad had been overthrown.
The statement came hours after a Syrian opposition war monitor said that Assad had left the country for an undisclosed location. Multiple media outlets also reported his departure from Syria.
Xinhua News Agency journalists in Damascus reported hearing intense gunfire reverberating through the streets, and said they witnessed heavy traffic with vehicles trying to leave the capital.
Three powerful explosions rocked Damascus on Sunday evening, with local media reports claiming these were Israeli airstrikes targeting abandoned military bases.
Abu Mohammed al-Golani, leader of the Islamist rebel alliance Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which engineered the offensive, said that Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali will oversee public institutions until an official transfer of authority is completed.
Jalali expressed his readiness to cooperate with any leadership chosen by the Syrian people. "We extend our hands to every Syrian citizen committed to safeguarding the country's resources," he said in a televised address. "Syria belongs to all Syrians, and I urge everyone to think rationally about the nation's best interests."
China is actively helping Chinese nationals who wish to leave Syria to do so in a safe and orderly way, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in a statement on Sunday. The Chinese government is also staying in contact with those still in Syria and offering them advice on how to stay safe, the spokesperson said.
"The Chinese embassy is still up and running and carrying out its duty in Syria. We will continue to give every possible assistance to Chinese nationals in need," the spokesperson added.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday that Assad resigned as Syria's president and departed from the country after calling for a peaceful transfer of power. It added that Russia did not participate in any talks related to the transfer of power.
United States President Joe Biden and his team "are closely monitoring the extraordinary events in Syria and staying in constant touch with regional partners", the White House said in a statement.
Israel said it has deployed forces in the United Nations-monitored buffer zone with Syria and in other areas deemed necessary for defense. "We will not allow any hostile force to establish itself on our border," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was quoted as saying by Reuters.
Iran called for "the swift end of military conflicts, the prevention of terrorist actions, and the commencement of national dialogue" with all sectors of Syrian society.
Turkiye called on all actors to act with prudence and to be watchful. A new Syrian administration must be established inclusively, and there should be no desire for revenge, the country's foreign minister said.
Qatar renewed its calls for ending the crisis in Syria, Jordan urged avoiding any conflict that could further destabilize the region, Saudi Arabia said it is determined to do "what is possible to avoid a chaotic outcome" for Syria, and Egypt affirmed its support for the Syrian people and the country's sovereignty and unity.
Yu Guoqing, a researcher at the Institute of West-Asian and African Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told China Daily that given Syria's important geographical location, any changes in its domestic political situation are bound to have an impact on the Middle East, as well as on other strife-torn regions.
Yang Yilin and Zhao Jia in Beijing contributed to this story.
Xinhua—Agencies
MOSCOW -- Bashar al-Assad has left Syria and resigned as the country's President while calling for a peaceful transfer of power, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday.
"After negotiations with some of the participants in the armed conflict within the Arab Syrian Republic, Bashar al-Assad decided to resign as president and leave the country, while instructing for a peaceful transfer of power," said the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The ministry added that Russia did not participate in any talks related to a transfer of power.
MOSCOW -- Bashar al-Assad has left Syria and resigned as the country's President while calling for a peaceful transfer of power, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday.
"After negotiations with some of the participants in the armed conflict within the Arab Syrian Republic, Bashar al-Assad decided to resign as president and leave the country, while instructing for a peaceful transfer of power," said the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The ministry added that Russia did not participate in any talks related to a transfer of power.
DAMASCUS -- Syrian opposition fighters announced a curfew in Damascus on Sunday, effective from 4 pm (1300 GMT) to 5 am local time, following their capture of the Syrian capital that led to the collapse of President Bashar al-Assad's government.
