Assad leaves as Syrian PM prepares to hand over power to armed groups

The tomb of the late Syrian President Hafez Al-Assad, father of ousted President Bashar Al-Assad, was set on fire in his hometown of Qardaha, located in the coastal Latakia province.

Syrian opposition leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani vowed the country would not face another war, telling Sky News on Tuesday that its citizens were already "exhausted" by years of conflict.

"People are exhausted from war. So the country isn't ready for another one and it's not going to get into another one," he said in Damascus where he visited a mosque.

Syrian armed opposition factions who ousted president Bashar al-Assad said on Tuesday that they had taken the eastern city of Deir Ezzor, while a war monitor confirmed Kurdish forces had withdrawn.

"Our forces have seized the entire city of Deir Ezzor," the rebels said in a statement, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said that Kurdish forces had withdrawn to other localities.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi spoke today with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken regarding the developments in the Middle East.

The discussion focused on efforts to achieve a lasting ceasefire to end the aggression against Gaza and ensure sustainable humanitarian aid throughout the region, as well as the current circumstances in Syria.

The ministers addressed various bilateral issues, emphasizing the importance of enhancing cooperation and strengthening relations between their countries across multiple sectors.

They highlighted the need for a peaceful transfer of power in Syria in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254, advocating for an inclusive political process that preserves Syria's unity, security, and sovereignty while addressing the aspirations of the Syrian people and facilitating the voluntary return of refugees.

Both ministers stressed the necessity of bolstering counter-terrorism efforts.

Safadi also condemned "Israel's" occupation of Syrian territories, calling it a violation of international law and a serious escalation.

The Jordanian Hashemite Charity Organization (JHCO) announced it will send 200 tons of food and relief supplies to Syria.

Hussein Al-Shebli, the JHCO's Secretary-General, stated on Tuesday that the trucks will depart by land in the coming hours once the necessary arrangements are finalized.

This initiative follows royal directives to support our brothers in Syria and provide essential assistance to ease their suffering amid challenging circumstances.

The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) announced that it conducted strikes on approximately 320 targets throughout Syria, ranging from Damascus to Tartus.

During the operation, the IOF reported the destruction of fighter jets, combat helicopters, radar systems, surface-to-air missile batteries, ships, surface-to-surface missiles, cruise missiles, Scud missiles, anti-ship missiles, weapon production sites, ammunition depots, and drones.

Around 350 fighter jets participated in the operation.

The IOF described this as part of the "main phase" of the operation which aims to eliminate the strategic capabilities of the Syrian army, claiming that 70-80 percent of its military capabilities were destroyed to prevent them from being accessed by hostile entities.

Following the downfall of Bashar Al-Assad's regime, users shared images on social media, claiming they showed a detainee in Sednaya Prison before his release.

One caption misleadingly stated, "At first glance one would think this is a scene from a horror movie?! But in fact it is Sednaya prison in Damascus… And what hidden is greater!!"

However, reverse image searches confirmed that the photo depicts a model in Vietnam's War Remnants Museum.

Human rights organizations have documented various torture methods at Sednaya Prison, including secret mass hangings that affected 13,000 detainees.

Newly-appointed Syrian Prime Minister, Mohammed Al-Bashir, announced that the General Command has tasked the transitional government with managing the country’s affairs until March 1.

This decision was made following a meeting between Al-Bashir and armed opposition leaders, including Commander Ahmad Al-Sharaa.

Syria must never be divided again and Turkey will act against anyone seeking to compromise its territory, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday.

"From now on, we cannot allow Syria to be divided again... Any attack on the freedom of the Syrian people, the stability of the new administration, and the integrity of its lands will find us standing against it," he said.

The UN special envoy for Syria on Tuesday called on Israel to halt its military movements and bombardments inside Syria, days after the fall of president Bashar al-Assad.

"We are continuing to see Israeli movements and bombardments into Syrian territory. This needs to stop. This is extremely important," Geir Pedersen told reporters in Geneva.

Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported that the Syrian defense research centre was completely destroyed following “Israeli” strikes.

The Syrian pound continued its upward trend against the US dollar, reaching 16,000 pounds to the dollar in Damascus on Tuesday.

The exchange rate had risen to 17,000 pounds on Monday, up from 22,000 pounds per dollar, which had been recorded on the day the regime of Bashar al-Assad fell.

Osama Bashir Al-Bataineh, a Jordanian citizen held in Syria's Sednaya Prison for 38 years, returned to Jordan on Tuesday, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates.

Syria's White Helmets rescue group announced Tuesday the end of search operations at the notorious Sednaya prison without finding further detainees.

"The White Helmets announce the conclusion of search operations for possible remaining detainees in potential undiscovered secret cells and basements" at the facility, said a statement. "The search did not uncover any unopened or hidden areas within the facility."

Iran has condemned “Israel's” incursion into a UN-patrolled buffer zone in the Golan Heights on the border with Syria as a "violation" of the law.

"This aggression is a flagrant violation of the United Nations charter," foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said in a statement published Monday night.

A monitor of Syria's war said Tuesday it had recorded more than 300 “Israeli” strikes since rebels toppled the country's longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad over the weekend.

"The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has been able to document around 310 strikes" carried out by "Israeli warplanes" since the announcement of the fall of Assad on Sunday morning, the monitor said.

A Roya reporter confirmed that the Israeli Occupation targeted military sites across various Syrian provinces.

The reporter confirmed following reports from Syrian sources of heavy Israeli Occupation airstrikes on Damascus.

A Roya reporter indicated that panic is spreading on social media in Syria due to reports of attacks targeting sites containing chemical weapons.

King Abdullah II and US President Joe Biden discussed regional developments, particularly the situation in Syria, during a phone call on Monday.

King Abdullah emphasized the importance of safeguarding Syria's security and its citizens, urging swift action to ensure stability in the country.

The King also called for intensified international efforts to halt the 'Israeli' war on Gaza and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to the region. He highlighted the need for working towards a successful ceasefire in Lebanon.

Additionally, King Abdullah warned of the dangers posed by extremist settlers' violence against Palestinians in the West Bank and the violations of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.