Syria Israel Middle East Crisis Live Updates: Turkey's foreign minister meets HTS leader in Damascus

A Saudi delegation has met Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus, a source close to the government told AFP on Monday.

The delegation joins a list of visitors to the Syrian capital since the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, led by Sharaa, spearheaded the toppling of president Bashar al-Assad on December 8.

The "Saudi senior delegation met Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus yesterday discussing (the) Syria situation and captagon", the source said, referring to the illegal synthentic stimulant that has flooded the region from Syria.

Iran said Monday it had "no direct contact" with Syria's new rulers after the fall of president Bashar al-Assad, a longtime Tehran ally.

"We have no direct contact with the ruling authority in Syria," foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said at a weekly press briefing.

Top Jordanian diplomat Ayman Safadi was due to meet with Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa on Monday in Damascus, Jordan's foreign ministry said in a statement.

"Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi visits Damascus today and meets with the general commander of the new administration in Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, and several Syrian officials," the statement said.

Rebel forces this month swept through Syria and forced former President Bashar Assad out of the country where his family had ruled with an iron fist since the early 1970s.

The rapid offensive marked a dramatic breakthrough for the many factions that have been trying to unseat the president for more than a decade of civil war. Many fighters in Syria shared a desire to topple Assad's government, but not much else: Their ideologies, political beliefs and international backers are very different.

In the fallout created by Assad's downfall, there are big questions about who will step in.

Turkish authorities arrested nine people, including seven journalists, for taking part in banned demonstration in support of two Turkish-Kurdish journalists killed by a Turkish drone in northern Syria, media and rights groups said Sunday.

Nazim Dastan, 32, and Cihan Bilgin, 29, who worked for Kurdish media, were killed Thursday near the Tishrin dam, about 100 kilometres (60 miles) east of Aleppo, when their car exploded, the Dicle Firat Turkish journalists' association said.

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the journalists were killed by a Turkish drone, as did Kurdish media in Turkey and Syria.

The head of a UN investigative body for Syria, visiting the region, emphasized the possibility of finding "more than enough" evidence to convict individuals of crimes against international law, but stressed the urgent need to secure and preserve it. This comes as Syria’s prisons were opened after an Islamist-led rebel alliance ousted longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad, following over 13 years of war that began with his violent crackdown on anti-government protests and resulted in over 500,000 deaths. As families rush to former prisons, detention centers, and suspected mass graves in search of disappeared loved ones, there are growing concerns about safeguarding vital documents and evidence.

Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa announced on Sunday that all weapons in Syria will be under government control. This includes weapons held by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan was present during the announcement.

Sharaa stated during a press conference with Fidan that armed groups will disband and join the Syrian army. He said, "factions will begin to announce their dissolution and enter" the army. He added, "we will absolutely not allow there to be weapons in the country outside state control, whether from the revolutionary factions or the factions present in the SDF area". Sharaa's declaration signals a significant move towards centralizing military power in Syria.

Trump knows better than to back Kurdish fighters in Syria, says Turkey FM

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned on Saturday that Turkey will take necessary action to protect its security if the new Syrian government fails to address Turkey's concerns regarding U.S.-backed Kurdish groups. Turkey considers these groups terrorists. Fidan said Turkey will do "whatever it takes" to ensure its security.

Turkey's top diplomat met with a Syrian leader in Damascus on Sunday. Hakan Fidan, Turkey's Foreign Minister, met with Ahmed al Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Golan, leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group. Turkey's foreign ministry confirmed the meeting but didn't give further information. Pictures and video from the ministry show Fidan and Sharaa shaking hands and hugging. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday: "Fidan would be going to Damascus to discuss the new structure in Syria."

Iran's supreme leader blamed the US and Israel for causing unrest in Syria on Sunday. He also said young Syrians will fight against any government formed after President Bashar Assad is removed from power. Iran has backed Assad during Syria's almost 14-year civil war. The war began after Assad violently suppressed protests against his family's rule. Syria has been a main route for Iranian aid to Hezbollah in Lebanon. “young Syrians will resist the new government emerging after the overthrow of President Bashar Assad” the supreme leader said.

Turkey’s Defense Minister Yasar Guler expressed confidence that Syria’s new leadership, supported by the Syrian National Army (SNA), will eliminate Kurdish YPG fighters from northeastern Syria. Turkey views the YPG as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has waged a 40-year insurgency against the Turkish state and is classified as a terrorist group by Turkey, the US, and the European Union. The YPG leads the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which controls territory in northeastern Syria.

Following the fall of Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad, Turkish-backed forces have seized the city of Manbij from the SDF. Guler reiterated Turkey’s commitment to removing all terrorist threats beyond its borders. Additionally, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned that Turkey would act decisively if Syria’s new government fails to address Turkey’s security concerns.

The International Committee of the Red Cross has documented more than 35,000 cases of disappearances under Assad's rule.

The Syrian Kurdish groups "are in deep, deep trouble", said Lund, a fellow at the US-based think tank.

"The balance has shifted fundamentally in Syria to the advantage of Turkey-backed or Turkey-aligned factions, and Turkey seems determined to exploit this to the fullest."

Iran's influence as a significant regional force has weakened considerably after the downfall of Assad's leadership in Syria and Israel's devastating campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon. The anticipated return of President-elect Donald Trump is likely to impose severe economic constraints on the regime through stringent pressure tactics.

Syria's Kurdish factions, which gained significant political and territorial control during the country's 13-year conflict, face mounting challenges following the ouster of Bashar Assad and the rise of Turkey-aligned factions in Damascus. The new government is friendly to Ankara, which opposes Kurdish autonomy due to its links to the PKK, a group Turkey considers a terrorist organization.

Turkey-backed forces have escalated attacks on the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), despite a US-brokered ceasefire. The SDF, a key US ally in fighting ISIS, faces uncertainty as Turkey seeks to isolate Kurdish militias and US policy shifts under an incoming administration.

While Kurdish leaders advocate for a decentralized, democratic Syria and have engaged in talks with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) to avoid conflict, tensions persist. International actors, including Turkey and the US, are shaping the region's future, with concerns about renewed conflict and the management of ISIS detainees remaining central.

After the fall of Bashar Assad's regime in Syria, a lightning offensive by rebels ended over five decades of Assad family rule. In Qardaha, the Assads’ hometown, residents expressed anger at the dynasty's lavish lifestyle while they lived in poverty. Hafez Assad’s mausoleum was vandalized and torched, and family properties looted.

While Alawite residents, Assad's sect, were perceived as privileged, many struggled with economic hardship and relied on low-paying jobs or military service. Some expressed cautious optimism about the new rebel leadership but voiced concerns over sectarianism and the uncertain fate of missing soldiers, many of whom served under Assad.

Reconciliation centers have been set up, but community leaders demand broader justice and accountability for abuses committed by all sides during Syria's civil war. Despite lingering fears and economic challenges, there is hope for a more equitable future in the post-Assad era.

Syria's ruling authorities have appointed Murhaf Abu Qasra, a leading figure in the insurgency which toppled Bashar al-Assad, as defence minister in the interim government, an official source said on Saturday.

Abu Qasra, who is also known by the nom de guerre Abu Hassan 600, is a senior figure in the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group which ousted Assad from power this month and led numerous military operations during the Syrian revolution, the source said.

After the fall of Bashar al-Assad, volunteers in Damascus stepped up as unofficial traffic cops, managing chaos caused by deserted police officers and malfunctioning signals. Over 50 volunteers, trained and equipped by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebels, quickly eased traffic issues, working daily in orange vests marked "Police." While children sell petrol and independence flags wave in the streets, residents like Mohammed Mouaffaq al-Awa, a business graduate, found pride in contributing to the city's recovery, seeing their efforts as part of rebuilding and uniting Syria.

The collapse of Bashar Assad's government in Syria leaves a shattered economy, with 90% of the population in poverty and critical infrastructure in ruins, as reported by NYT. Oil production has plummeted, sanctions block crucial aid, and unifying the nation under rebel leader Ahmad al-Sharaa is fraught with difficulties. Experts highlighted lifting US sanctions as key to economic recovery, but challenges remain, including rebuilding oil production, attracting refugees back, and securing foreign investment. Neighboring Turkey, with a stake in reconstruction, may play a pivotal role. Syria’s future hinges on stability, legitimacy, and international cooperation.

A rocket fired from Yemen struck Tel Aviv overnight, injuring 16 people with shattered glass, the Israeli military reported on Saturday. Another 14 people sustained minor injuries while rushing to shelters as air raid sirens sounded before dawn. The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack, stating they targeted a military site with a hypersonic ballistic missile, though they did not specify the target. Israel's military is investigating the incident, noting that "aerial defense is not hermetic." This attack comes just days after Israeli airstrikes targeted Houthi rebels who have been launching missiles in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

Turkey will take "whatever it takes" to ensure its security if the new Syrian administration fails to address Ankara's concerns about U.S.-allied Kurdish groups, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Saturday. Turkey views the YPG, the militant group leading the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), as an extension of the PKK, which has waged a 40-year insurgency against the Turkish state and is considered a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and the EU. Hostilities have intensified since the fall of Bashar al-Assad less than two weeks ago, with Turkey and Syrian factions it supports seizing the city of Manbij from the SDF on December 9. The Kurdish groups, having lost ground, are now focused on preserving their political achievements from the past 13 years.

Nearly two weeks after overthrowing President Bashar al-Assad, the Islamist-led fighters announced Assaad al-Shibani as the new foreign minister in Syria's transitional government. A statement posted on Telegram confirmed his appointment, noting that al-Shibani joined the Syrian revolution in 2011 and helped establish the Salvation Government in 2017 to support people cut off from state services. The Salvation Government, which includes ministries, judicial, and security authorities, has played a significant role in the region. Most of the new ministers in Syria’s transitional government are from the Salvation Government.

A Turkish drone strike in northeastern Syria on Saturday killed five civilians, including two women and a political party member, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. In a separate attack, the drone targeted wheat silos southwest of Kobane, destroying a large quantity of stock, the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) reported. The SDF, which represents the Kurdish-dominated forces in the region, has been a target of Turkey’s support for armed groups fighting Kurdish forces in northern Syria. A Turkish defense source reiterated on Thursday that Turkey would continue its military actions until Kurdish fighters are disarmed, citing ongoing security concerns along its border.

Although the fall of President Bashar Assad's government in Syria came quickly, rebuilding the war-torn economy will be a prolonged struggle. After nearly 14 years of civil war and political repression, Syria's oil and gas wells, infrastructure, and farmland lie in ruins, with 90% of the population living in poverty. The Syrian pound has plummeted in value, and the central bank's foreign currency reserves, critical for purchasing essentials like food, fuel, and spare parts, are nearly exhausted. Before the war, oil and agriculture were key drivers of the economy, but today, Syria's most profitable export is captagon, an illegal amphetamine controlled by politically connected elites.