Mena Today

Iran has opened a direct line of communication with rebels in Syria's new leadership since its ally Bashar al-Assad was ousted, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Monday, in an attempt to "prevent a hostile trajectory" between the countries.

Five soldiers were killed and another was critically injured in a military helicopter crash in southwest Turkey on Monday, the defence ministry said.

After 13 years of civil war, Syria's opposition militias sensed an opportunity to loosen President Bashar al-Assad's grip on power when, about six months ago, they communicated to Turkey plans for a major offensive and felt they had received its tacit approval, two sources with knowledge of the planning said. 

In a significant military operation on Sunday, the United States carried out "dozens of airstrikes" targeting over 75 positions held by the Islamic State (ISIS) in central Syria, according to a statement from US Central Command (Centcom).

The United States will work with partners and stakeholders in Syria to help seize the opportunity that has presented itself after rebel fighters' stunning overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, President Joe Biden said on Sunday.

Israel conducted three airstrikes in the Syrian capital on Sunday against a security complex and a government research centre which it has said in the past was used by Iran to develop missiles, two regional security sources told Reuters on Sunday.

The collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, after years of devastating conflict, might initially seem like a moment of celebration for Syria and the region. 

King Abdullah II of Jordan reaffirmed his country’s solidarity with the Syrian people on Sunday, emphasizing respect for their will and choices. Chairing a National Security Council meeting, the King highlighted the importance of safeguarding Syria’s security and ensuring the safety and stability of its citizens.

Syria's Bashar al-Assad and his family have arrived in Russia and have been granted asylum by the Russian authorities, Russian news agencies reported on Sunday, citing a Kremlin source.

Syria's fate is the sole responsibility of the Syrian people and should be pursued without foreign imposition or intervention, Iran's foreign ministry said on Sunday, after Tehran's ally Bashar al-Assad was toppled by rebels.

Syrian rebels declared they had ousted President Bashar al-Assadafter seizing control of Damascus on Sunday, forcing him to flee and ending his family's decades of autocratic rule after more than 13 years of civil war.

Israel has watched the rapid overthrow of the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad with a mixture of hope and concern as officials weigh the consequences of one of the most significant strategic shifts in the Middle East in years.