Syrian civil war: US strikes ISIS, IDF take Mount Hermon peak
Homs and Damascus captured by rebels • IDF strikes Syrian chemical weapons factory
Assad's fall a direct result of Israel's strikes on Iran and Hezbollah, Netanyahu says
Netanyahu labels Assad's fall a 'milestone' for Israel: "The Assad regime is a central link in Iran's axis of evil - this regime has fallen."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stood along the Syrian border with Israel on Sunday afternoon, hailing the end of Syria's Bashar al-Assad's 14-year rule and claiming Israel's "blows inflicted on Iran and Hezbollah" had a direct impact on the Syrian revolution.
On a visit to the area near the border with Syria, the prime minister said he had ordered Israeli forces to seize areas in the buffer zone to ensure Israel's security and said: "We will not allow any hostile force to establish itself on our border."
This is a historic day for the Middle East. The collapse of the Assad regime, the tyranny in Damascus, offers great opportunity but also is fraught with significant dangers.
— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) December 8, 2024
We send a hand of peace to all those beyond our border in Syria: to the Druze, to the Kurds, to the… pic.twitter.com/yJZE3AZZJn
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IDF takes over Syrian Hermon, strikes Syrian chemical weapons factory
The military also stated it would not get involved in any internal occurrences in Syria, provided that no forces in Syria endanger Israeli security interests.
The IDF, on Sunday afternoon, took over the Syrian side of the Mount Hermon mountain range to expand a demilitarized buffer zone along the border with Syria and also at several other points of significance for defense.
The Hermon range has always been thought of as providing a strategic advantage because it provides high ground for the entire area, enabling Israel to anticipate any potential invading force further in advance.
The military also stated it would not get involved in any internal occurrences in Syria, provided that no forces in Syria endanger Israeli security interests.
Go to the full article >>President Biden is 'closely monitoring extraordinary events in Syria'
President Joe Biden and his administration are "closely monitoring the extraordinary events in Syria," according to a White House announcement on Sunday evening.
Moreover, President Biden's team is "staying in constant touch with regional partners," the announcement read.
This is a developing story.
Go to the full article >>Syrian rebels enter northern city of Manbij, Turkish source says
Manbij city is some 30 km (19 miles) south of the Turkish border and to the west of the Euphrates River.
Turkey-backed Syrian rebels entered the northern Syrian city of Manbij after taking control of most of the surrounding area from US-allied Kurdish forces there, a Turkish security source said on Sunday.
Syrian rebels in the south declared President Bashar al-Assad's ouster on Sunday after seizing control of Damascus. The Turkey-backed rebels in the north are aligned with the rebels in the south, sharing the same goal of defeating Assad.
"The fight against the YPG/PKK is very close to victory. Both air and land interventions are ongoing to take Manbij from the hands of the YPG/PKK," the source said, referring to the Kurdish militia, which has long been in control of Manbij.
Turkish attacks on Manbij
The source said the Turkish-backed forces controlled 80% of the Manbij region, an area covering some several hundred square kilometers, and had entered the city itself.
However, the US-backed Syrian Kurdish forces, who control northeast Syria and have been the target of several Turkish incursions in the past, said they were still fighting the Turkish-backed rebels in the city.
Manbij city is some 30 km (19 miles) south of the Turkish border and to the west of the Euphrates River.
The Turkey-backed Syrian rebels earlier said they had started an attack on Manbij.
The YPG has been a central element of US-allied forces in a coalition against Islamic State militants. Turkey says the YPG is a terrorist group, closely tied to Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants who have fought the Turkish state for 40 years.
Go to the full article >>Israel carries out airstrikes on security complex, research centre in Syria's Damascus
Israel conducted three airstrikes against a major security complex in the Kafr Sousa district of the Syrian capital along with a research centre where it had previously said Iranian scientists developed missiles, two regional security sources told Reuters on Sunday.
Go to the full article >>Syrian rebel supporters enter embassies in Athens, Madrid, hoist opposition flag
Syria's Foreign Ministry said its diplomatic missions abroad will serve all citizens in a "new page" of national history that would unite people without one opinion dominating.
Supporters of the Syrian rebels that ousted President Bashar al-Assad entered the Syrian embassy in Athens on Sunday and hoisted the rebel flag from the rooftop, police and a Reuters reporter said.
Police entered the embassy compound and detained four people but left the flag flying, said a Reuters reporter at the scene.
Go to the full article >>IDF issues 'stay home' notices for five Syrian border towns
IDF Arabic Spokesperson Avicahy Adraee issued warnings to five Syrian border towns, telling them to stay home as the IDF is considering operating in these regions and does not intend to harm them.
#عاجل ‼️ تحذير عاجل الى السكان في جنوب سوريا في القرى والبلدات التالية:
— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) December 8, 2024
🔴أوفانية
🔴القنيطرة
🔴الحميدية
🔴الصمدانية الغربية
🔴القحطانية
القتال داخل منطقتكم يجبر جيش الدفاع على التحرك ولا ننوي المساس بكم.
من أجل سلامتكم عليكم البقاء في منازلكم وعدم الخروج حتى إشعار آخر pic.twitter.com/nvY95182j5
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US-backed Syrian Kurdish forces still fighting Turkish-backed forces in Manbij, SDF says
The US-backed Syrian Kurdish forces (SDF) said on Sunday they were still fighting Turkish-backed rebels in the northern Syrian city of Manbij.
The Golan Heights on the day the Assad regime was overthrown
'Jerusalem Post' reporter Seth J Fratnzman reported live from the Golan Heights, near the abandoned Syrian town of Quneitra, where a lone regime flag still stood.
The small hill of Tel Saki is littered with debris from previous wars. There is a tank perched near the top of the hill, concrete steps, and entrances to an old Israeli bunker. This was the site of a difficult battle in the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
Go to the full article >>HTS leader Muhammed al-Julani arrives in Damascus
Hayat Tahrir al-Shams leader Abu Mohammed al-Julani arrives in Damascus according to local Syrian media.
القائد أحمد الشرع يسجد لله شكرا فور وصوله دمشق#القيادة_العامة pic.twitter.com/8jfZxhita6
— Nedaa Post نداء بوست (@NEDAAPOST) December 8, 2024
What you need to know: Operation 'Deterrence of Aggression'
• Syrian opposition groups launched operation 'Deterrence of Aggression' on November 27, 2024
• SInce the start of the Syrian Civil War in 2011, around half a million people have been killed and millions of other have been displaced.