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Ahmed al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, became Syria’s interim president after leading the offensive that toppled Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Born in 1982 in Damascus to a wealthy family, al-Sharaa’s radicalization began after the September 11 attacks. He joined al-Qaeda in Iraq, fought under Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, and was later detained by U.S. forces. In 2011, he founded Al-Nusra Front, which later became Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group tied to al-Qaeda. Despite being labeled a terrorist by the U.S., al-Sharaa distanced himself from al-Qaeda in 2016 and rebranded HTS as a nationalist entity. In recent years, he has adopted a more pragmatic approach, promising inclusive governance and women’s rights, while also adopting a more moderate public image. His past leadership of HTS, known for suppressing dissent, has raised concerns about his ability to govern effectively and fairly in post-Assad Syria.
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Sharaa was also empowered to form a temporary legislative council for a transitional period and the Syrian constitution was suspended, according to an announcement made by the military command which led the offensive against Assad.
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The mandate was issued on Jan. 20 as part of an investigation into the case of Salah Abou Nabour, a Franco-Syrian national, who was killed on June 7, 2017 in a bombing raid in Syria.
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The French airstrike followed a similar military strike by the United States in Syria, which the US said had killed two Islamic State operatives.
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Asma al-Assad, wife of ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, has filed for divorce and seeks to relocate to London, according to reports from Turkish and Arab media. She filed the divorce request in a Russian court and is awaiting approval for her move to the UK, expressing dissatisfaction with her life in Moscow. Asma holds dual British-Syrian citizenship and spent her early years in London before relocating to Syria in 2000, where she married Assad. The couple met when Assad was studying in London, and Asma was working at JP Morgan. In addition to her personal struggles, Asma has faced significant health issues, including two cancer diagnoses, with leukemia discovered in May 2023 after overcoming breast cancer in 2019. The reports emerge as Bashar al-Assad, recently ousted by rebel forces, remains in exile in Russia, where his assets have been frozen, including gold, cash, and property.
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On December 18, 2024, a Syrian Air plane took off from Damascus International Airport, marking the first domestic flight since the ousting of Bashar al-Assad on December 8. The flight, bound for Aleppo, symbolizes a significant moment in post-Assad Syria. Saad Kheir Beik, director of internal flights at the airport, confirmed that all staff and planes were ready for operations, and international flights would soon follow. The flight was filled with technical operators and members of the ‘This is our life’ youth group, highlighting the involvement of the younger generation in Syria’s future. Passengers, including Safa Othman, expressed joy over being part of this historic event, hoping it would lead to more travel opportunities for Syrian youth. The international community is closely watching Syria’s new rulers to ensure stability and avoid further violence, as the country struggles to recover from a devastating 13-year civil war.
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The comment, in a statement that was published on the Syrian presidency's Telegram channel and dated Dec. 16 from Moscow, was Assad's first in public since he was toppled more than a week ago by a rebel offensive.
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Unless extraordinary effort is made into transition of power, power-sharing, handling of various interest groups within and outside, and dealing with jihadist elements firmly, the possibility of Syria descending into an unchartered territory of chaos is very real-- and very troublesome for the region
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On December 8, 2024, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his family arrived in Russia, where they were granted asylum by Russian authorities on humanitarian grounds. This follows the sudden overthrow of Assad's regime by Syrian rebel fighters, who entered Damascus unopposed, marking the end of nearly 60 years of rule by the Assad family. The rebel advance reversed the course of Syria's 13-year civil war, eliminating a stronghold that had allowed Iran and Russia to exert influence in the Arab world. In a symbolic gesture, a Syrian rebel flag was displayed outside the Syrian consulate in St. Petersburg, though the identity of those responsible for this act remains unknown. The fall of Assad’s government represents a significant geopolitical shift in the Middle East, as Russia’s support for Assad had played a key role in maintaining his regime. This development highlights the changing political landscape in the region.
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Assad had managed to endure the popular uprising against him for more than 13 years. But the message from his one-time allies and foes was clear: You’re on your own.
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Launched barely two weeks ago, the operation's speedy success in achieving its initial goal - seizing Syria's second city, Aleppo - took almost everybody by surprise
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Assad’s fall marks the end of more than 50 years of Baath Party rule in Syria.
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Designated a terrorist outfit by the UN, US, and Turkey, HTS originated in 2011 as Jabhat al-Nusra, an al-Qaeda affiliate.
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Eight days after the fall of Aleppo the rebels have taken most major cities and enter Damascus, driving Assad from power.
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The capital city broke out in celebrations as residents poured into the streets, indicating the end of Assad's rule.
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Syrian Kurdish fighters had captured eastern Deir el-Zor on Friday, jeopardising Assad's land connection to allies in Iraq.
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Trump, speaking to reporters during a visit with Kuwaiti ruler Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, also said that if there is a slaughter in the Idlib province of Syria, the United States will be very angry.
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A new book by Watergate reporter Bob Woodward, "Fear: Trump in the White House", says Trump told his defense secretary that he wanted to have Assad assassinated in response to a chemical attack on Syrian civilians in April 2017.
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The army said nearly 110 missiles hit targets in the capital Damascus and other territory, and air defence systems brought most of them down
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Putin had hosted Assad for a surprise summit at which the Syrian leader thanked the Kremlin strongman for his military support.
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Putin was paid a rare visit by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Monday. Greeting Assad at his Black Sea residence of Sochi, Putin said he would follow up the meeting with telephone calls to Trump and to Middle Eastern leaders including the Emir of Qatar.
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Trump, standing alongside NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, called on allies to "work together to resolve the disaster" in Syria and thanked them for condemning Assad's suspected sarin attack in Khan Sheikhun.
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President Donald Trump's top advisers took to today television talk shows to set the stage for a diplomatic confrontation in Moscow this week when US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
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US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley, who is President of the Council for this month, said Washington was "fully justified" in carrying out the missile strikes and was prepared to take further action.
