Dec 10 U.S. airstrikes in Syria meant to prevent Islamic State from taking power in leadership void By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press Officials say that while the group is vastly weaker than in 2014, it still has thousands of militants in Syria. Continue reading
Dec 09 Watch 5:31 Syria seeks to build functioning government after fall of autocratic Assad dynasty By Nick Schifrin After 13 brutal years of war, Syrians breathe free after the fall of the autocratic Assad dynasty. Bashar al-Assad and his family are now in Russia, which extended them asylum. The seizure of the nation by insurgents rocked the region… Continue watching
Dec 09 Watch 6:06 White House says future of Syrian people depends on ‘choices they make’ By Geoff Bennett, Stephanie Kotuby, Alexa Gold U.S. officials say they are closely monitoring the situation in Syria after the fall of the Assad regime. It could have widespread ramifications for the region and the world. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon… Continue watching
Dec 09 Watch 6:20 What to expect from the Syrian opposition coming to power after toppling Assad By Amna Nawaz, Dan Sagalyn For perspective on the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria and the opposition that's coming to power, Amna Nawaz spoke with Murhaf Jouejati. He’s a distinguished visiting professor at the U.S. Naval Academy and the former chairman of The… Continue watching
Dec 09 How will Assad’s downfall affect Russia and Putin? By Associated Press The Kremlin’s failure to prevent Assad’s swift downfall has exposed limits of Russia’s power and dented its international clout at a pivotal stage of its war in Ukraine. Continue reading
Dec 09 Syrian rebels free prisoners from Assad’s notorious dungeons, celebrate in Damascus streets By Kareem Chehayeb, Abdulrahman Shaheen, Associated Press Tens of thousands of people held in Syria's notorious prisons have been freed in the 10 days since the insurgents began their lightning advance across the country that ended with the toppling of President Bashar Assad. Continue reading
Dec 09 Syrian prime minister says government is still functioning but challenges loom By Sarah El Deeb, Bassem Mroue, Tia Goldenberg, Associated Press Syria's prime minister said Monday that most cabinet ministers are still working from offices in Damascus after rebels entered the capital over the weekend and overthrew President Bashar Assad. Continue reading
Dec 08 Analysis: Syria faces risky new moment after fall of the Assad dynasty By Steven A. Cook, Council on Foreign Relations The swift collapse of Syria’s regime brings a humiliating end to Russia’s and Iran’s sway and opens the door for greater Turkish influence. But the Islamist movement that seized power has yet to show its full intentions. Continue reading
Dec 08 Watch 8:24 Half-century of iron rule ends in Syria as rebels seize Damascus. What’s next? By John Yang, Lorna Baldwin, Kaisha Young For more than half a century, Syria had been ruled with an iron fist by the Assad regime. It all came to an end this weekend with lightning speed, as rebels took control of the capital city of Damascus, and… Continue watching
Dec 08 WATCH: Biden delivers remarks on the ouster of Syrian President Assad by opposition forces By Will Weissert, Associated Press President Joe Biden said Sunday that the sudden collapse of the Syrian government under Bashar Assad is a “fundamental act of justice” after decades of repression, but it was “a moment of risk and uncertainty” for the Middle East. Continue reading