World

Israel Helped to Topple Assad, But It Wasn't Planned, Analysts Say
SpotlightIsrael Helped to Topple Assad, But It Wasn't Planned, Analysts Say

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday claimed the fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria as a direct outcome of Israel's actions in the region, something analysts in Israel said was only partially true. Speaking while under growing domestic pressure over the fate of Israeli hostages in Gaza and a corruption trial, Netanyahu said Assad's ...

Biden Calls For Assad To Be 'Held Accountable'
Biden Calls For Assad To Be 'Held Accountable'

US President Joe Biden on Sunday said deposed Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad should be "held accountable" but called the nation's political upheaval a "historic opportunity" for Syrians to rebuild their country. In the first full US reaction to Assad's overthrow by an Islamist-led coalition of rebel factions, Biden ...

Assad and Family Take Refuge in Moscow After Fleeing Damascus
Assad and Family Take Refuge in Moscow After Fleeing Damascus

Syria's ousted president Bashar al-Assad and his family are in Moscow, a Kremlin source told Russian news agencies, hours after he fled the country as Islamist-led rebels entered Damascus. The announcement comes as Russia, a key Assad ally, called for an emergency meeting of the UN security council on the fast-changing situation on the ground in ...

What Political Governance for Post-Assad Syria? (1/2)
SpotlightWhat Political Governance for Post-Assad Syria? (1/2)

Sunday, December 8, marks a historic turning point for Syria and, more broadly, for the Middle East. The dictatorial regime of Bashar al-Assad has fallen! After decades of authoritarian rule, defined by brutal repression and years of devastating civil war, a new chapter of freedom is beginning to unfold. At dawn on Sunday, rebel forces took ...

Across Europe, Syrians Hold Joyful Rallies to Celebrate Fall of Assad
Across Europe, Syrians Hold Joyful Rallies to Celebrate Fall of Assad

Thousands of jubilant Syrians rallied in Berlin and cities across Europe on Sunday, waving flags and singing with joy to celebrate the fall of President Bashar al-Assad. "Finally we are free!" exclaimed a smiling Bassam Al-Hamada, 39, among 5,000 people at an exuberant rally in the capital of Germany, the country home to the largest ...

Syrians Enter Bashar al-Assad's Looted Damascus Home
Syrians Enter Bashar al-Assad's Looted Damascus Home

Dozens of Syrians explored President Bashar al-Assad's luxurious Damascus home after it was looted on Sunday, an AFP correspondent said, following the fall of the capital to rebel forces. Women, children and men could be seen touring the home and its large garden, with the rooms completely empty, save some furniture and a portrait of Assad ...

Biden To Meet With National Security Advisors on Syria
Biden To Meet With National Security Advisors on Syria

US President Joe Biden will meet Sunday with his national security advisors over Syria, where Islamist-led rebels declared they had taken Damascus and overthrown President Bashar al-Assad. The United States so far has been muted in its response, as other world leaders have weighed in to urge peace, hailing the fall of Assad and encouraging a ...

Syria: Various Indicators of an Imminent Collapse
Syria: Various Indicators of an Imminent Collapse

A new dawn breaks over Syria, liberated from the man who has been known at times as “the tyrant of Damascus,” and at other times as “the executioner.” After the fall of Homs on Saturday night into the hands of opposition rebels, the collapse of Damascus and Bashar al-Assad’s regime was just a matter of hours. Since the surprise ...

Notre-Dame de Paris: The Organ’s Rebirth
Notre-Dame de Paris: The Organ’s Rebirth

How can one condense five years of relentless dedication, sacrifice, and hope into words? The profound emotions of this moment, the sight of a scarred yet triumphant cathedral, and the collective awe of those present transcend the limits of language. Some milestones defy articulation; they must be felt, shared, and celebrated. The rebirth of ...

Post-Assad Syria: Political and Institutional Prospects
Post-Assad Syria: Political and Institutional Prospects

The fall of Bashar al-Assad marks the beginning of a new era for Syria, one that holds the promise of political and institutional transformation after 13 years of civil war. This prolonged conflict has devastated the country’s state institutions and torn its social fabric. Observers believe that the regime’s end could create an opportunity to ...

Hamas Tells Gaza Militant Groups to Identify Hostages They Hold
Hamas Tells Gaza Militant Groups to Identify Hostages They Hold

Sources within Palestinian militant groups in Gaza said Sunday that Hamas had told them to compile information on the hostages they hold in preparation for a ceasefire and hostage-release deal with Israel. Hamas told factions including Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front and the Popular Resistance Committees to prepare information such ...