Syria – latest: Russia scrabbles to secure bases after Assad overthrow as Damascus prison tunnels searched
White Helmets group says search teams investigating hidden underground cells holding detainees
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Your support makes all the difference.The Assad regime’s brutal half-century-long grip on Syria has come to an end, in a stunning defeat by opposition insurgents who seized control of Damascus on Sunday after more than 13 years of civil war.
Russia, one of the Assad regime’s key allies, is now scrambling to ensure the security of its military bases in Syria, saying it is “premature” to discuss what the future holds.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said “everything is being done” to try and “deal with security”, adding that the Russian military is “taking all necessary precautions”.
A Russian lawmaker said today that Putin’s regime would respond harshley if Russia’s bases in Syria are attacked.
Earlier today, Israel confirmed it had struck suspected chemical weapons sites and long-range rockets in Syria in order to prevent them falling into the hands of hostile actors.
"The only interest we have is the security of Israel and its citizens," Israeli foreign mininster Gideon Saar said.
Earlier, the Syrian White Helmets was investigating reports of prisoners trapped in hidden underground cells in the notorious Saydnaya. There is so far “no evidence confirming the presence of detainees in the basements or cellars of the prison”, it said.
Iran speaking with Syrian rebel leadership - Iranian official
Iran has opened direct communication with the Syrian rebels who have assumed leadership in the country after its ally Bashar al-Assad was ousted, a senior Iranian official said.
It is an attempt to “prevent a hostile trajectory”, the official told Reuters news agency.
Iran, which has now lost a major ally in Damascus, says it will engage with Syria’s new leaders.
"This engagement is key to stabilise ties and avoiding further regional tensions," the official said.
Israel strikes Syrian targets after Assad regime falls
Israel has struck suspected chemical weapons sites and long-range rockets in Syria, to prevent them falling into the hands of hostile actors, the foreign minister said on Monday.
Syrian rebels overthrew president Bashar al-Assad’s government after nearly 14 years of civil war.
While Israelis have welcomed the fall of Assad, foreign minister Gideon Saar told reports they are remaining cautious about the rebel leaders, who he described as having an extreme ideology.
Israeli forces entered Syrian territory, claiming it was temporarily seizing a buffer zone to ensure its security.
"The only interest we have is the security of Israel and its citizens," Mr Saar told reporters on Monday.
"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."
Watch: Inside Syrian President Bashar al Assad’s trashed private residence
UK may rethink proscription of Syrian rebel group
Britain could rethink its proscription of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) as a banned organisation after it led the rebel alliance which deposed president Bashar al-Assad, senior minister Pat McFadden said on Monday.
Asked by Sky News whether the government would look at the proscription of HTS, a former al-Qaeda affiliate, Mr McFadden said: “We will consider that. And I think it will partly depend on what happens in terms of how that group behaves now.”
Speaking to BBC radio, he said: “I think it should be a relatively swift decision, so it’s something that will have to be considered quite quickly, given the speed of the situation on the ground.”
HTS is currently a proscribed organisation and designated as a terror group, making it illegal in Britain to support it or join it. No decisions have been made on the group over the weekend, Mr McFadden said.
Pictured: Syrian opposition flags raised in Russia
Russian lawmaker: We will respond harshly if bases in Syria are attacked
Russia will respond harshly if its bases in Syria are attacked, a senior Russian lawmaker said according to Interfax news agency.
It comes soon after a Russian lawmaker told Interfax that the security of Russia’s military bases in Syria is fully ensured and are not facing any issues.
Israeli forces in Syria a temporary measure - Israeli foreign minister
The presence of Israeli forces in Syria is a temporary measure to ensure Israel’s security following the collapse of the Assad regime, Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar said on Monday.
“The only interest we have is the security of Israel,” Mr Saar told a news conference in Jerusalem.
Mr Saar also said Israel is remaining cautious in their expectations of the new Syrian regime, saying the rebel leaders have an extreme ideology. Minorities in Syria must be protected and all attacks on Kurds must end, he said.
Israel is determined to prevent the rearming of Hezbollah through Syria, Mr Saar added.
Syrian revolutionary flag raised in Moscow embassy - reports
A Syrian revolutionary flag has been displayed in Syria’s embassy in Moscow, according to a Reuters news agency witness.
Images circulating online appear to show men on the balcony of the embassy unveiling the three-starred flag under which Syrian rebel groups fight. Russian state news agency TASS also reported that the flag had been unveiled.
Bashar al-Assad is in Moscow with family after rebel fighters entered unopposed into Damascus, ending six decades of rule by the Assad family, according to reports from Russian news agencies.
Watch live: View of Syria’s Damascus after rebels topple Assad’s dictator regime
Watch a live view of Damascus, Syria, on Monday (9 December) after rebels toppled dictator Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
Overnight on Sunday, a rebel offensive seized control of the Syrian capital.
Russia, a close ally that has propped up the regime for years, said Assad left the country after negotiations with rebel groups and had given instructions to transfer power peacefully.
Late on Sunday, Russian state media said Assad and his family had been granted asylum and were in Moscow.
The leading insurgents in Syria are Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an Islamist rebel group which is banned in the UK.
White Helmets searching hidden underground cells for survivors
The Syrian civil defence group known as the White Helmets said it has deployed five emergency teams to Sednaya Prison to investigate hidden underground cells.
Families of detainees are anxiously waiting for news on news of loved ones as videos showed fighters freeing thousands from jails across the country.
The BBC reported authorities in Damascus said efforts were continuing to free prisoners, some of whom were “almost choking to death” due to the lack of ventilation in the cells.
In a statement posted to X, the White Helmets said: “The White Helmets has deployed 5 specialized emergency teams to Sednaya Prison to investigate hidden underground cells, reportedly holding detainees according to survivors.
“The teams consist of search and rescue units, wall-breaching specialists, iron door-opening crews, trained dog units, and medical responders.
“These teams are well trained and equipped to manage such complex operations. 2 teams arrived about an hour ago and have already begun their mission, accompanied by a guide familiar with the prison’s layout.
“The remaining teams are expected to arrive gradually, delayed by challenging security conditions on the roads and severe traffic congestion.”
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