Syria LIVE | Israel strikes Damascus, seizes more territory in occupied Golan Heights

Rebel group captures Manbij: Reports

Turkiye’s Anadolu news agency reports that the Turkish-backed rebels have seized control of Syria’s northern city of Manbij.

Reuters also cited a Turkish security source confirming the development, stating that the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) captured Manbij following several days of intense clashes with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

Anadolu said SNA troops are now searching the area for potential mines and traps.

The SDF is a main ally in a US-led coalition against ISIL, but Turkiye says it is spearheaded by a “terrorist” group closely tied to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) fighters.

Syria war monitor reports Israeli strikes targeting military sites

A Syria war monitor says that overnight Israeli strikes targeted military positions and depots in several parts of the country.

“Since the initial hours after the announcement of the fall of the former regime, Israel began launching intensive air strikes, deliberately destroying weapons and ammunitions depots,” said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The targets of the overnight strikes included “air defence weapons depots and ammunition depots” belonging to the Syrian military in the coastal Latakia and Tartus provinces, said the Observatory.

The Britain-based monitor, which has a network of sources inside Syria, said Israel also launched strikes in the country’s south targeting Tal al-Hara near the Israeli-annexed Syrian Golan Heights, and military positions in Izraa, in Daraa province.

Further Israeli strikes destroyed warehouses holding “anti-tank weapons” in the Qalamoun area in the Damascus countryside, the Observatory added.

Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Israeli warplanes struck suspected chemical weapons sites and long-range rockets in Syria so they wouldn’t fall into the hands of “extremists”.

'Presence of Israeli forces in Syria is temporary,' says FM Gideon Sa'ar

The presence of Israeli forces in Syrian territory is a “limited, temporary” step meant to ensure Israel’s security during the confusion after the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Monday.

“The only interest we have is the security of Israel,” he told a news conference in Jerusalem.

Saar also spoke about deadlocked negotiations with Hamas on a release of hostages in Gaza, saying indirect talks were ongoing, without elaborating. He said Israel could be more optimistic about an eventual breakthrough but was not there yet. (Reuters)

'Too early to say what future holds for Russian bases in Syria,' says Kremlin

The Kremlin said that it was too early to say what the future would hold for Russia’s military bases in Syria, adding that it was a subject of discussion with those who will be in power, news agency Reuters reported.

President Vladimir Putin decided to grant asylum to Bashar al-Assad in Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Putin 'personally' granted asylum to Assad, says Kremlin spokesperson

The Kremlin said Monday that Russia has granted political asylum to former Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russian President Vladimir Putin “personally” decided to grant asylum to Assad.

Peskov did not comment on Assad’s specific whereabouts; he said that Putin wasn’t planning to meet with Assad. (Reuters)

UN rights chief sees 'huge chance for inclusive dialogue' in Syria transition

The UN human rights chief on Monday said there was a “huge chance” for inclusive dialogue on the political transition in Syria’s new era after the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad.

“I hope that within this current environment that obviously there will be this inclusive, very inclusive dialogue,” United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said while addressing a Geneva press briefing. “There is a huge chance for this to happen. And what we have seen initially is indeed cooperation,” he added. He also called for accountability for past crimes in Syria and the meticulous preservation of evidence. (Reuters)

Israel foreign minister says country struck suspected chemical weapon sites in Syria

Israel’s foreign minister says it has struck suspected chemical weapons sites and long-range rockets in Syria in order to prevent them from falling into the hands of hostile actors.

Gideon Saar said Monday that “the only interest we have is the security of Israel and its citizens”.”That’s why we attacked strategic weapons systems, like, for example, remaining chemical weapons, or long-range missiles and rockets, in order that they will not fall in the hands of extremists,” he said.

Saar spoke after Syrian rebels reached Damascus over the weekend and overthrew President Bashar Assad’s government following nearly 14 years of civil war. (AP)

'Attacks on Kurds must stop,' says Israel foreign minister

Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar addressed the ongoing political turmoil in Syria, urging that the minorities in the country must be protected. He also urged that the attacks on Kurds in the country must stop at once, reported Reuters.

Syrian refugees in Jordan rushing back to Daraa

Al Jazeera reports, buses full of Syrians were seen returning to Syria despite all the questions that remain.

A few who couldn’t find any transportation to the border crossing, so they asked to be let in on foot.

People are eager to return, especially those who are originally from Daraa, which is right across the border.

Israeli forces continue to seize more parts in Golan Heights

Israeli forces have continued to seize more parts of a buffer zone in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights on the orders of Defence Minister Israel Katz, reports Israel’s Ynet news site