Hours before rebel forces seized Damascus and toppled his government on Sunday, Syrian president Bashar al-Assad was already out of the country, telling hardly anyone, five former officials told AFP.The night before, Assad had even asked his close adviser Buthaina Shaaban to prepare a speech -- which the ousted leader never gave -- before flying from Damascus airport to Russia's Hmeimim air base in Syria, and from there out of the country.Assad left even "without telling... his close confidants in advance", a former aide told AFP, requesting anonymity for security reasons.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: A palace in shock: Bashar al-Assad's final moments in Syria
World falls short of drought deal at Saudi-hosted talks
Negotiators failed to produce an agreement on how to respond to drought at Saudi-hosted UN talks, participants said on Saturday, falling short of a hoped-for binding protocol addressing the scourge.The 12-day meeting of parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), known as COP16, concluded early on Saturday morning, a day later than scheduled as parties tried to hammer out a deal.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: World falls short of drought deal at Saudi-hosted talks
Russia pulling back but not out of Syria, sources say
An official said that additional Russian departures from the Hmeimim air base in Syria's Latakia province were expected in the coming days.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Russia pulling back but not out of Syria, sources say
As evil as Assad: IDF recovers footage of brutal Hamas torture, abuse from Gaza prison
The videos were discovered by security forces and show Hamas prison guards torturing prisoners and detaining them in harsh conditions.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: As evil as Assad: IDF recovers footage of brutal Hamas torture, abuse from Gaza prison
Sa'ar tells all: 'Better Netanyahu lead than Gantz or Lapid'
Reflecting on his career, Sa’ar remarks: “I think I’m the Israeli politician who has written the most resignation letters. I never focus on the seat; it’s not what interests me.”
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Sa'ar tells all: 'Better Netanyahu lead than Gantz or Lapid'
Assad's 'black box': Senior Syrian official escapes to Beirut under Hezbollah's protection
Ali Mamlouk, born in Damascus in 1949, comes from a family with deep regional roots, and is considered one of the most powerful and enigmatic figures in the Syrian regime.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Assad's 'black box': Senior Syrian official escapes to Beirut under Hezbollah's protection
Hamas publishes video of unidentified tattooed hostage
Hamas published a second video shortly after, depicting a CGI Netanyahu digging graves in a graveyard full of Israeli hostages.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Hamas publishes video of unidentified tattooed hostage
Syrian pubs cautiously reopen after Islamist victory
The citizens of Damascus largely celebrated the fall of Bashar al-Assad's hated regime with joy, after 13 long years of brutal civil war.But the city's drinking holes did have one concern.The rebel army that overthrew the former leader was led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an Islamist group which some drinkers feared would forbid the sale of alcohol. For four days after the HTS fighters entered the city, pubs and liquor stores remained shut but no crackdown emerged and now venues are tentatively reopening.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Syrian pubs cautiously reopen after Islamist victory
Gaza civil defence says Israeli strikes kill 17 including mayor
Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli strikes on the territory killed 17 people on Saturday, including seven at a UN school housing displaced people.Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP there were seven killed, including women and children, and at least 10 wounded "when Israeli warplanes targeted the Al-Majida Wasila school west of Gaza City".The school was run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees but like many such facilities it has been turned into a makeshift shelter for those displaced by the war in Gaza.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Gaza civil defence says Israeli strikes kill 17 including mayor
Blinken says US has made 'direct contact' with Syria's victorious HTS
The United States has made "direct contact" with Syria's victorious Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebels despite designating the group as terrorists, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Saturday, as he sought international unity on a peaceful transition."We've been in contact with HTS and with other parties," Blinken told reporters after talks on Syria in the Jordanian Red Sea resort of Aqaba.He did not give details on how the contact took place but when asked if the United States reached out directly, he said: "Direct contact -- yes."
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Blinken says US has made 'direct contact' with Syria's victorious HTS