Israel has carried out dozens of air strikes on military sites across Syria, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based human rights organisation, has claimed.
The organisation said Israel targeted military sites in Damascus, Daraa, Latakia and Hama, including research centres, weapons, warehouses and airports.
The organisation reported that “raids were launched on scientific research in Barzeh”.
It comes as Israel told a United Nations security council meeting that the strikes in Syria would be “limited and temporary”.
Russia, one of the Assad regime’s key allies, is now scrambling to ensure the security of its own military bases in Syria, saying it is “premature” to discuss what the future holds.
Meanwhile, the Syrian White Helmets were investigating reports of prisoners trapped in hidden underground cells in the notorious Saydnaya. There is so far “no evidence confirming the presence of detainees other than those who were released yesterday [Sunday],” it said in an update on Monday afternoon.
KEY POINTS
- Israel strikes Syrian targets after Assad regime falls
- UK may rethink proscription of Syrian rebel group
- Pictured: Syrian opposition flags raised in Moscow embassy
- ‘No evidence’ of prisoners in basements but search continues - White Helmets
- Assad family’s 50-year long regime toppled
How a lightning assault by Syrian rebels toppled Assad’s regime
04:00
Tom Watling
Syrian rebels ask Assad’s security forces to register
03:45
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
The Syrian rebels led by Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham have called on security forces who worked for exiled president Bashar al-Assad to register with what they are calling “a settlement centre”.
The rebel coalition announced the opening of a “settlement centre for members of the criminal regime in Homs” after Assad’s regime fell and he reportedly fled to Russia.
“All Assad regime forces need to visit the centre to complete settlement procedures and receive a temporary ID before Saturday 14 December 2024,” a statement from the rebels read.
The officials will be required to provide documents, regime-issued equipment and official belongings or they will be prosecuted for providing incomplete information.
Top Syrian military officials charged with war crimes
03:15
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Two top Syrian military officials have been reportedly charged with war crimes committed against people, including American nationals, at a heinous prison in Damascus during the Syrian civil war.
The US justice department has charged Jamil Hassan and Abdul Salam Mahmoud with a litany of human rights abuses, the New York Times reported, citing an indictment unsealed yesterday.
While the whereabouts of both officials were not known the US aims to hold to account those who were at the highest echelons of the Syrian government, it added.
According to the indictment, the officials “sought to terrify, intimidate and repress any opposition, or perceived opposition, to the regime”.
Mr Hassan was the head of the air force intelligence directorate, while Mr Mahmoud served as a brigadier general in the air force’s intelligence unit.
How Assad’s downfall could turn Syria into a new haven for extremists
03:00
Tom Watling
Labour pledges ‘swift decision’ on lifting Syrian group ban
02:47
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
The UK government will make a swift decision on whether to lift the ban on Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) after it ousted president Bashar Assad’s regime, Labour’s Pat McFadden has said.
HTS is banned in the UK because of its past association with al Qaida, the terrorist organisation once led by Osama bin Laden.
More here.
US hostage envoy in Beirut to seek information on missing journalist Austin Tice
02:00
Tom Watling
Syrians crowd Assad’s most notorious prison in hunt for loved ones
01:00
Tom Watling
Israel tells UN: action in Golan Heights 'limited, temporary'
00:00
Tom Watling
Israel told the United Nations Security Council on Monday that it has taken “limited and temporary measures” in a demilitarized strip bordering Syria to counter any threats, particularly to residents of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
“It is important to emphasize, however, that Israel is not intervening in the ongoing conflict between Syrian armed groups; our actions are solely focused on safeguarding our security,” Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon wrote in a letter to the 15-member council.
He said Israel remained committed to the framework of a 1974 Separation of Forces Agreement.
Israeli forces manouvre near Alpha Line near occupied Golan Heights
Monday 9 December 2024 23:30
Tom Watling
Blinken warns Isis will try to re-establish capabilities in Syria
Monday 9 December 2024 23:00
Tom Watling
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned on Monday that Isis will try to use this period to re-establish capabilities in Syria, but said the United States is determined not to let that happen.
Blinken said Syrians have to choose their future, adding that statements by rebel leaders toward building inclusive governance are welcome but that the real measure will be in the action they take, not just what they say.
Syrian rebels seized the capital Damascus unopposed on Sunday after a lightning advance that sent President Bashar al-Assad fleeing to Russia after a 13-year civil war and more than five decades of his family’s autocratic rule.
“The end of this regime is a defeat for all who enabled its barbarity and its corruption, none more than Iran, Hezbollah and Russia. So, this moment presents a historic opportunity, but it also carries considerable risks,” Blinken said at an event at the State Department.
“History shows how quickly moments of promise can descend into conflict and violence. Isis will try to use this period to re-establish its capabilities, to create safe havens. As our precision strikes over the weekend demonstrate, we are determined not to let that happen.”
Israel hits Syrian air bases, destroying dozens of helicopters and planes, Syrian security sources say
Monday 9 December 2024 22:30
Tom Watling
Israeli planes bombed at least three major Syrian army air bases that housed dozens of helicopters and jets in the biggest such wave of strikes on air bases since Bashar al Assad was toppled, two Syrian security sources said.
Qamishli air base in north east Syria, Shinshar base in the countryside of Homs and Aqrba airport southwest of the capital Damascus were all hit, the sources said.
It has also waged several strikes on a research centre on the outskirts of Damascus and a centre for electronic warfare near Sayeda Zainab area of the capital.
In Assad's Alawite hometown, Syria rebels win statement of support
Monday 9 December 2024 21:56
Tom Watling
The Sunni-led Islamist rebels who toppled Syria‘s Bashar al-Assad met elders in the former president’s Alawite hometown on Monday and received their support, in what residents said was an encouraging sign of tolerance from the country’s new rulers.
How the rebels treat the sizeable Alawite population, who widely backed Assad and from whom he drew his personal presidential guards, is seen in Syria as a lithmus test of whether the takeover of Damascus on Sunday leads to violent revenge against former loyalists of a hated five-decade regime.
The rebel delegation visited Assad’s hometown of Qardaha in the mountains of Latakia province in northwest Syria, meeting with dozens of religious men, elders and others at the town hall for a discussion, before the Alawite notables signed a statement of support, three residents said.
The acquiescence of the elders was striking sign of regime change in a town that, locals told Reuters, for many years hosted continuous funerals due to the numbers of loyalist fighters who were dying to defend Assad in the country’s 13 year civil war.
“We affirm the unity of the Syrian Arab Republic’s territory and religious and cultural diversity and diversity of thought,” said the statement signed by around 30 of the town’s notables. It was not signed by the rebels.
Israel launches more than 100 air strikes in Syria, human rights organisation claims
Monday 9 December 2024 21:29
Tom Watling
Israel has carried out dozens of air strikes on military sites across Syria, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based human rights organisation, has claimed.
The organisation said Israel targeted military sites in Damascus, Daraa, Latakia and Hama, including research centres, weapons, warehouses and airports.
The organisation reported that “raids were launched on scientific research in Barzeh”.
In pictures: Syrian rebels hold Aleppo
Monday 9 December 2024 21:15
Tom Watling
Saudi Arabia says Israel undermines Syria's security with buffer zone seizure
Monday 9 December 2024 20:46
Tom Watling
Saudi Arabia believes Israel’s seizure of a buffer zone in Syria shows its will to “ruin Syria‘s chance of restoring its security”, the kingdom’s foreign ministry said in a statement on Monday.
In pictures: Syrians celebrate end of Assad regime
Monday 9 December 2024 20:30
Tom Watling
The prisoners released from Assad’s notorious jails
Monday 9 December 2024 20:00
Tom Watling
US and Turkey reach deal to withdraw Kurdish forces, says source
Monday 9 December 2024 19:40
Tom Watling
US and Turkey have reached a deal for US-backed Syrian forces to withdraw from the besieged town of Manbij, a Syrian opposition source has claimed.
Earlier today, Turkish backed forces captured Manbij from the US-backed forces.
Israeli strike targets air defence installation near Syria's Mediterranean Latakia port
Monday 9 December 2024 19:20
Tom Watling
An Israeli strike targeted an air defence installation near Syria‘s Mediterranean Latakia port, Syrian security sources said on Monday.
Turkey to open border gate for safe return of Syrians, Erdogan says
Monday 9 December 2024 19:01
Tom Watling
Turkey is opening its Yayladagi border gate with Syria to manage the safe and voluntary return of the millions of Syrian migrants it hosts, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday, after President Bashar al-Assad’s sudden ouster by rebels.
In one of the biggest turning points for the Middle East in generations, rebels seized the Syrian capital Damascus and Assad fled to Russia, following 13 years of civil war and more than 50 years of his family’s brutal rule.
“We are opening the Yayladagi border gate to crossings to prevent any congestion and ease traffic,” Erdogan said, speaking after a cabinet meeting in Ankara.
The Yayladagi crossing close to the northwest edge of Syria has been closed since 2013 due to fighting near the border.
“We will also manage the processing of immigrants’ voluntary returns in a way befitting our hosting,” Erdogan said.
Earlier on Monday, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Turkey would work for the safe and voluntary return home of the Syrian migrants it hosts.
Turkey - which said it gave no support and had no involvement in the offensive by the Syrian opposition forces it has backed for years against Assad - said on Sunday it wanted the new Syrian administration to be inclusive and for Syrians to determine their own future.
Explosions heard in Syria’s Damascus
Monday 9 December 2024 18:42
Tom Watling
At least two explosions were heard in Syria‘s Damascus on Monday, Reuters reporters said.
UK pauses decisions on Syrian asylum claims
Monday 9 December 2024 18:19
Tom Watling
Britain paused decisions on Syrian asylum claims on Monday, a government spokesperson said, after rebel forces seized the capital of Damascus over the weekend.
“The Home Office has temporarily paused decisions on Syrian asylum claims whilst we assess the current situation,” a spokesperson from the interior ministry said in a statement.
“We keep all country guidance relating to asylum claims under constant review so we can respond to emerging issues.”
The UK decision comes after Germany, Austria and other European countries ordered a halt to asylum applications by Syrians after President Bashar al-Assad fled to Russia following 13 years of civil war.
Speaking separately, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy warned that events in Syria could trigger more migration into European states depending on what comes next in the country.
In pictures: Life in Damascus and Aleppo after Assad regime toppled
Monday 9 December 2024 18:01
Tom Watling
How Assad’s downfall could turn Syria into a new haven for extremists
Monday 9 December 2024 17:41
Tom Watling
Former Syrian PM says he has agreed to hand over power to rebels
Monday 9 December 2024 17:20
Tom Watling
Former Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Jalali told Al Arabiya TV on Monday that he had agreed to hand over power to the rebel “Salvation Government”.
Watch: Inside Syrian President Bashar al Assad’s trashed private residence
Monday 9 December 2024 17:05
Alex Croft
Rebel opposition fighters stormed the presidential palace in the capital Damascus on Sunday (8 December) after the fall of Syria’s government.
Footage shows the deserted palace with armed men inside. It also shows people walking out with appliances allegedly taken from the palace.
David Lammy: Fall of Assad is ‘humiliation for Russia and Iran’
Monday 9 December 2024 16:53
Alex Croft
David Lammy has described the collapse of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad’s government as a “humiliation for Russia and Iran”.
He added: “Iran’s so-called axis of resistance is crumbling before our eyes.
“Vladimir Putin’s attempts to prop-up Assad for more than a decade, and all he’s got for this is a fallen dictator filing for asylum in Moscow.”
David Lammy: ‘Assad is the rat of Damascus'
Monday 9 December 2024 16:49
Alex Croft
David Lammy has described ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad as the “rat of Damascus” in comments delivered to the House of Commons.
“There were those who used to call Assad the lion of Damascus,” Mr Lammy told the Commons.
“Now we see the reality: Assad is the rat of Damascus, fleeing to Moscow with his tails between his legs. How fitting he should end up there.
“We see streets of Syrians cheering his demise, tearing down his statues, reuniting with loved ones who have been disappeared.
“We have long hoped to see him gone, and welcome the opportunity this brings for the people of Syria.”
Watch: David Lammy reacts as Assad’s brutal regime in Syria ends after 13 years
Monday 9 December 2024 16:44
Alex Croft
‘My son, I’m coming’: Desperate families wait outside Saydnaya prison
Monday 9 December 2024 16:38
Alex Croft
Thousands of desperate family members of people believed to be held in Syria’s notorious Saydnaya prison are waiting outside as search efforts continue.
Rumours circulated on Sunday and Monday that there were many people still trapped in hidden areas of the prison. The Syrian White Helmets have found “no evidence” of this, with one representative telling The Independent that there are “no prisoners left in Saydnaya”.
Search teams led by Syrian rebels and the White Helmets would occasionally reach a breakthrough - such as a hidden hallway - at which point gunshots would ring out, alerting the thousands waiting.
A crowd surged forward each time, with people hopeful that their loved ones may be discovered in the prison.
“My son, I’m coming, I’m coming,” screamed one woman according to Reuters news agency. “God, please don’t disappoint me,” said another.
US looking for abducted American journalist trapped in Syria for 12 years
Monday 9 December 2024 16:24
Alex Croft
US officials are communicating with Syria to seek information about an American journalist captured 12 years ago, a senior official said on Monday.
"This is a top priority for us - to find Austin Tice, to locate the prison where he may be held, get him out, get him home safely to his family," White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told ABC.
"We are talking through the Turks and others to people on the ground in Syria to say, ‘Help us with this. Help us get Austin Tice home.’"
Mr Tice was 31 when he was abducted in August 2012, while reporting in Damascus on the uprising against ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.
Joe Biden said on Sunday the US government believes Mr Tice is alive. "We think we can get him back, but we have no direct evidence to that yet. And Assad should be held accountable. We have to identify where he is,” he said.
Mr Tice’s parents, Marc and Debra Tice, said in a statement: "Austin Tice is alive, in Syria, and it’s time for him to come home. We are eagerly anticipating seeing Austin walk free and we are asking anyone who can do so to please assist Austin so he can safely return home to our family.”
Watch: Sniffer dogs search Saydnaya prison after Assad family regime toppled
Monday 9 December 2024 16:11
Alex Croft
Monday 9 December 2024 16:09
Chris Stevenson
Our correspondent in the region, Bel Trew, has been speaking to Ibrahim Olabi, a native of Aleppo who has family there and is on the board of the Syrian British Consortium
“The entire world and Syrians alike see how historic this is... It is also extraordinary as it was really Syrian led.
“No one can come and claim foreign leadership - there is definitely foreign backing but it felt like a Syrian victory. it is a rare moment we have closed the 54 year chapter of oppression and opened a new one .
“There will be challenges of course but we will deal with it. In fact what you're seeing is a political maturity because of the the last ten years, because they've seen what the fighting does, because they've seen that they cannot fully govern on their own, because they've seen what a proxy war does to you.They seen what the foreign interference does to you”.
In pictures: Huge crowds gather at Saydnaya prison
Monday 9 December 2024 15:56
Alex Croft
Huge crowds have gathered at Saydnaya prison, the notorious Damascus prison known as a “human slaughterhouse” during the dictatorship of former president Bashar al-Assad.
The Syrian civil defense group known as the White Helmets have been searching on Monday for possible hidden basements at the jail, where prisoners were said to be trapped.
But the group has as-yet found “no evidence” of the hidden basements during these searches, it said in an update on Monday afternoon. A representative of the group told The Independent that there are “no prisoners left in Saydnaya”.
One woman, Intsar al-Jaber, sat outside to wait for news during the search. Her brother and cousin had been imprisoned in Saydnaya, but she ws not permitted to see them since 2014. “They told me then that my brother was dead and not to come back. [They said] ‘Your brother is a terrorist, and he died, so there’s nothing for you here. Don’t come’,” she told Reuters news agency.
UK commits £11m in humanitarian aid for Syria
Monday 9 December 2024 15:43
Alex Croft
Sir Keir Starmer has announced £11 million in additional humanitarian aid funding for Syria after Bashar al-Assad’s regime was toppled.
The money will help NGOs and the UN meet the needs of the “most vulnerable” people in the country, including the estimated 370,000 people who have been displaced by recent events.
The prime minister said in a statement: "From cutting the cost of living for hardworking British people, to building resilient supply chains or supporting communities in Britain, what happens in the Middle East matters at home.
"That is why we are strengthening our defence partnership with Saudi Arabia, protecting the most vulnerable in Syria, supporting our partners in Lebanon and working with the international community to push for a ceasefire in Israel and Gaza, secure the return of all hostages and accelerate aid into Gaza.
"To deliver on my plan for change, we need a strong foundation of security but that cannot just be built at home, it requires us to play our part on the world stage to support stability and protect partners from threats, both now and in the future."
Explainer: How a lighting assault by Syrian rebels toppled Assad’s regime in less than two weeks
Monday 9 December 2024 15:29
Steffie Banatvala
Half a century of the Assad family ruling Syria have collapsed in less than two weeks, in a seismic moment for the Middle East.
Opposition forces swept across the country and entered Damascus with little or no resistance as the Syrian army melted away. President Bashar Assad, Syria’s ruler for 24 years — succeeding his father, Hafez Assad — fled the country.
Anti-government protests in 2011 met with a brutal crackdown, escalating into a civil war that has killed more than half a million people and displaced half of Syria’s prewar population of 23 million. Assad, backed by Iran and Russia, gradually regained control of more than two-thirds of Syria, leaving the rebels with one stronghold in the northwest of the country.
Steffie Banatvala provides a run-down of how the insurgency unfolded:
Syria’s banks to reopen on Tuesday
Monday 9 December 2024 15:15
Alex Croft
Syria’s banks will reopen on Tuesday and staff have been asked to return to their offices, a Syrian central bank source and two commercial bankers told Reuters.
The currency of Syria - the Syrian pound or lira - will continue to be used, they added.
NATO calls for peaceful transition of power
Monday 9 December 2024 14:54
Alex Croft
NATO secretary general Mark Rutte has called for a “peaceful transition of power” after this “moment of joy” for the Syrian people.
In a statement, Mr Rutte said: “This is a moment of joy but also uncertainty for the people of Syria and the region. We hope for a peaceful transition of power and an inclusive Syrian-led political process.”
Syrian rebel leaders must uphold the rule of law, protect civilians and respect religious minorities during the transition, Mr Rutte added.
He criticised Russia and Iran for their role in the conflict, saying they abandoned former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad once he no longer served their interests.
Who is Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the leader of the insurgency that toppled Syria’s Assad?
Monday 9 December 2024 14:40
Tom Watling
Watchdog urges Syria to fulfill chemical weapons obligations
Monday 9 December 2024 14:20
Tom Watling
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said on Monday it had reminded Syrian authorities of their obligation to destroy banned toxic munitions amid ongoing political changes in the country.
No request made for Assad’s British wife to come to UK, government says
Monday 9 December 2024 14:07
Tom Watling
Rescuers search for Syrian regime prisoners
Monday 9 December 2024 13:46
Tom Watling
Rescue workers are frantically searching for prisoners of the Syrian regime following the toppling of the government.
You can read more about the story here.
White House adviser due to visit Israel for talks on Syria, Gaza hostage and truce deal
Monday 9 December 2024 13:35
Tom Watling
White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan is expected to visit Israel on Thursday for talks on Syria and efforts to broker a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal, Axios reporter Barak Ravid stated in a post on X, citing Israeli officials.
Egypt condemns Israel’s ‘further occupation’ of Syria
Monday 9 December 2024 13:25
Alex Croft
Egypt has condemned the “further occupation of Syrian lands” by Israel after it sent troops into a buffer zone in Syria.
Israel’s move into the buffer zone is an attempt to create a new reality on the ground, Egypt’s foreign ministry said in a statement on Monday.
Gideon Saar, Israel’s foreing minister, claimed it is a temporary measure to ensure Israel’s security following the collapse of the Assad regime.
Watch: Labour pledges ‘swift decision’ on lifting Syrian group ban after Assad regime falls
Monday 9 December 2024 13:15
Alex Croft
The UK Government will make a swift decision on whether to lift the ban on Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) after it ousted president Bashar Assad’s regime, Labour’s Pat McFadden has said.
HTS is banned in the UK because of its past association with al Qaida, the terrorist organisation once led by Osama bin Laden.
Speaking to Mishal Husain on BBC Radio 4 on Monday (9 December), the cabinet minister said “The situation is very fluid” but hoped if there was a need to hold talks with HTS “it should be a relatively swift decision”.
It came after a coalition of rebel groups seized Damascus on Sunday, with the former president fleeing to Russia, one of his main allies.
Read the full report by Holly Patrick:
Hamas congratulates Syrian rebels
Monday 9 December 2024 13:03
Alex Croft
Palestinian militant group Hamas has released a statement congratulating the people of Syria for achieving their aspirations for freedom and justice.
Hamas hopes that Syria’s national unity will allow it to continue its historical role in supporting the Palestinian people, it said in the statement.
Syrian refugees killed by unexploded mines upon returning to homes
Monday 9 December 2024 12:56
Alex Croft
Many Syrian refugees were killed by explosives in their homes after returning to Syria following many years in refugee camps, according to the Syrian White Helmets.
Farouq Habib, group deputy manager for the Syrian civil defense group, told The Independent: “Many civilians returned to their homes, and sadly speaking, they died when they arrived.
“Imagine someone who lived in a camp or a tent for five years, and they dreamed of the moment when they can return to their homes, but some of them, when they returned, they died because of explosives.”
The Syrian White Helmets are carrying out mine and unexploded ordnance clearing and aim to provide “essential rehabilitation” to hospitals in order to maintain the health sysem.
“It’s important to maintain stability and create the environment for the IDPs [internally displaced persons] and refugees to be able to return to Syria,” Mr Habib said.
Dozens of bodies littering the streets, says White Helmets
Monday 9 December 2024 12:44
Alex Croft
There are “tens of dead bodies” littering the streets in Syria following the lightning offensive which led to the fall of the decades-long Assad family dynasty.
“Our teams are burying the dead bodies. There are tens of dead bodies in the streets everywhere, especially for regime soldiers,” Farouq Habib, group deputy general manager of the Syrian White Helmets, told The Independent.
“We document and bury them with dignity, and hopefully in the future, we will deliver them to their families.”
Watch: Syrian buildings engulfed in flames after suspected Israeli airstrike
Monday 9 December 2024 12:34
Alex Croft
‘No prisoners left in Saydnaya’, Syrian White Helmets say
Monday 9 December 2024 12:24
Alex Croft
There are “no prisoners left in Saydnaya [prison]”, a senior member of the Syrian White Helmets has told The Independent.
Reports that there were prisoners trapped in underground cells in Saydnaya, in Damascus - one of the most notorious prisons of the Bashar al-Assad’s regime - sparked a major search operation led by Syria’s civil defense, known as the White Helmets.
Farouq Habib, the group deputy general manager of the Syrian White Helmets, said: “There are no prisoners left in Saydnaya. Five Helmet teams arrived there, fully equipped with sniffer dogs.
“We made contact with former regime officers who worked on the prison and researched everything. There are no hidden cells in the prison. There has been a lot of rumors and misinformation, but nothing there.
“What we are very worried about are the other secret prisons. There are secret prisons across Syria, in military bases, in Shabiha bases. There are private prisons, prisons made by shabiha.”
Shabiha militias are loosely-organised armed groups who were loyal to the Assad regime and were utilised in earlier phases of the Syrian civil war.
Putin personally gave Assad asylum, says Kremlin
Monday 9 December 2024 12:16
Alex Croft
Russian president Vladimir Putin personally gave asylum to former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad after his regime was toppled over the weekend.
There is no meeting scheduled between Putin and Assad, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
The Kremlin sees an international situation with high potential for conflict following recent developments.
"We see the situation around Ukraine, we see many contradictory statements in this regard, we see a growing conflict potential in other regions, we can say the burning Middle East," Peskov said.
Too early to discuss future of Russian military bases - Kremlin
Monday 9 December 2024 12:05
Alex Croft
Russia is holding talks about the security of its citizens in Syria, foreig intelligence chief Sergei Naryshkin said according to Interfax news agency.
It comes after the Kremlin said earlier today that it would be “premature” to discuss the future of Russian military bases in Syria.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "It's premature to talk about it yet. This is all a subject for discussion with those who will be in power in Syria.
"Of course, everything is being done now that is necessary and everything that is possible in order to get in touch with those who can deal with security. And, of course, our military is also taking all necessary precautions.”
Russia has a number of key military bases in Syria, including Hmeimim airbase in Syria's Latakia province and a naval facility on the coast at Tartous.
No request made for Assad’s British wife to come to UK, government says
Monday 9 December 2024 11:53
Millie Cooke, Political Correspondent
The Government has had “no contact or no request” for the British wife of Bashar al-Assad to come to the UK, a Cabinet minister has said.
Pat McFadden told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the issue is “not something that’s been raised” with the Government.
Asma Assad was born in London in 1975, and was raised and educated in the city. She is now believed to be in Moscow with her husband, where the ousted Syrian leader has fled.
The rapid collapse of the Assad regime saw a coalition of rebel groups seize control of Damascus on Sunday.
Read the full report by our political correspondent Millie Cooke:
New Syrian regime will be judged by treatment of minorities, says Berlin
Monday 9 December 2024 11:39
Alex Croft
The Syrian rebel group which spearheaded the lightning advance which toppled the Syrian regime will be judged by its treatment of minorities, Berlin has said.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former al-Qaeda affiliate, led the advance towards and into Damascus, forcing former president Bashar al-Assad to leave the country.
A spokesperson for the German foreign ministry said on Monday: "In recent months and years, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham HTS has endeavored to distance itself from its jihadist origins and to build up civilian structures.”
"Whether these efforts can now be taken seriously will be seen in particular in the treatment of civilians and especially minorities in the areas they now control.”
Accountability needed for Assad’s leadership - UN
Monday 9 December 2024 11:26
Alex Croft
The UN’s human rights chief has urged “accountability” for those within former president Bashar al-Assad’s regime who perpetrated abuse on the Syrian population.
Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, also said there was a real chance for an inclusive dialogue on Syria’s future.
"Any political transition must ensure accountability for perpetrators of serious violations, and guarantee that those responsible are held to account," he told a press briefing in Geneva.
"What needs to happen in Syria itself is to build up a domestic legal system that allows for fair trials, in relation to all those where there are serious grounds to believe that they have committed atrocity crimes.
“And that goes also for the former president of Syria and whoever was in senior leadership positions," he said.
There is a “huge chance” for an “inclusive, very inclusive dialogue," he added. “And what we have seen initially is indeed cooperation."
Watch: Moment Syrian rebels shoot down statue of former president
Monday 9 December 2024 11:16
Alex Croft
Who is Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the leader of the insurgency that toppled Syria’s Assad?
Monday 9 December 2024 11:05
Alex Croft
Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the militant leader whose stunning insurgency toppled Syria’s President Bashar Assad, has spent years working to remake his public image, renouncing longtime ties to al-Qaida and depicting himself as a champion of pluralism and tolerance.
In recent days, the insurgency even dropped his nom de guerre and began referring t