Live: Over 100,000 bodies found in mass grave near Damascus

The Wall Street Journal reported that Syrian officials confirmed ousted President Bashar Assad instructed his forces to defend Damascus as the armed opposition neared the capital on Saturday night.

The newspaper also noted that Assad was absent that day, failing to appear for a scheduled speech, and his government had no knowledge of his whereabouts.

Israel’s foreign minister claimed that the country has targeted suspected chemical weapons sites and long-range rockets in Syria, justifying the attacks as a measure to prevent these weapons from falling into the hands of hostile groups. 

Gideon Saar stated, “The only interest we have is the security of Israel and its citizens,” adding, “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 into the hands of extremists.”

Israel's claims could not be independently verified. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announced earlier today that Israeli forces are occupying "additional points" in the buffer zone of the occupied Syrian Golan Heights.

China’s Foreign Ministry has urged for the restoration of stability and order in Syria, emphasising the need for a "political solution" at the earliest opportunity.

Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, stated at a regular news conference that as Syria pursues a political resolution, China hopes all involved parties will prioritise the long-term interests of the Syrian people.

According to Russian news agency TASS, an official from Latakia province confirmed that the armed opposition has full control over Tartus and Latakia.

The official also stated that the opposition forces do not plan to attack the Russian military bases, which continue to operate normally.

Reuters, citing two sources, reported that the Syrian opposition notified Turkey six months ago about its plans to attack Bashar Assad's regime forces. The opposition believed it had received tacit approval for the operation.

According to the Financial Times, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi informed Bashar al-Assad in Damascus last week that Iran's current situation prevents it from sending troops to support him.

Tensions between Tehran and the Assad regime have risen, with accusations escalating over the alleged leaking of information about Iranian leaders in Syria.

Israeli media reported that the air-force carried out attacks on approximately 100 targets in Syria over the past hours, coinciding with political and military shifts following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime.

The strikes reportedly targeted strategic locations, including advanced missile systems, weapons depots, and ammunition manufacturing facilities.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the collapse of the 1974 Separation of Forces Agreement between Israel and Syria, with the Israeli army now occupying the Mount Hermon border area and the buffer zone.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announced that Israeli forces are occupying "additional points" in the buffer zone of the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, according to Ynet News.

Katz stated he instructed the military on Sunday night "to act immediately in Syria," with soldiers advancing to secure more positions.

He added that the military aims to establish "a security zone free of heavy strategic weapons and terrorist infrastructures that could threaten Israel."

The Syrian Civil Defence, commonly known as the White Helmets, reported that five specialised teams have been conducting an extensive search of Sednaya prison, driven by concerns that prisoners may still be detained in underground vaults referred to as the Red Wing.

The White Helmets stated on Telegram that the teams have "opened several areas inside the prison" but "have not found anything yet." 

In case you're just joining us, here are some of the latest updates from what happened overnight in Syria: 

• The White Helmets deployed specialised teams to Damascus' Sednaya prison to investigate "secret cellars" that might conceal disappeared Syrians

• Cardinal Mario Zenari, the apostolic nuncio to Damascus, revealed that rebel forces met with Catholic leaders in Aleppo after their victory, assuring bishops of their respect for Christians and other religious communities

• Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated to Iranian media that the conduct of the victorious Syrian forces would influence Tehran’s relationship with them

• The US reported air strikes on targets in Syria, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed Israeli strikes on "weapons depots" in the eastern region

• The UN Security Council is convening today at Russia's request to discuss the latest developments in Syria

Our live coverage from Syria will shortly be closing until tomorrow morning. Here are the day's key developments:

- US officials have discussed the merits of removing a $10m bounty on Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, a senior Arab official briefed by the Americans told Middle East Eye.

- Two teams arrived about an hour ago from the five specialised teams sent to Syria's notorious Sednaya prison, Raed al-Saleh, director of the Syria Civil Defence said in a tweet.

-The US Army’s Central Command (Centcom) has announced that it conducted “dozens of precision airstrikes” on the Islamic State group's camps and operatives in central Syria.

-US President Joe Biden, on Sunday, called Bashar al-Assad's fall from power a "moment of historic opportunity" for Syria, and stated that the US will support the country's neighbours during the period of democratic transition

-Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Sunday the ouster of Bashar al-Assad in Syria showed that Russia and its allies can be defeated, as Poland's neighbour Ukraine battles Moscow's forces.

-The Palestinian Authority said that the State of Palestine and its people stand by the Syrian people, respecting their will and political choices, in a way that guarantees their security and stability and preserves their achievements, the Wafa news agency reported.

-Syria's deposed president, Bashar al-Assad, and his family have arrived in Moscow, Sky News reported, citing Russian state media Tass.

-More than 900 people, including 138 civilians, have been killed since Syrian rebels launched a major offensive 11 days ago, culminating in their control of Damascus, a war monitor said on Sunday.

The Israeli army has announced that it is lifting restrictions on four communities in the northern Golan Heights.

According to a statement on Telegram, schools and kindergartens in Buq’ata, Ein Qiniye, Mas’ade, and Majdal Shams will resume normal activities.

Additionally, the army stated that the closed military zones in the agricultural areas of Merom Golan-Ein Zivan and Buq’ata-Khirbet Ein Hura will also be lifted.

US officials have discussed the merits of removing a $10m bounty on Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, whose rebel group swept into Damascus and toppled the government of Bashar al-Assad on Sunday, a senior Arab official briefed by the Americans told Middle East Eye.

Ahmed al-Sharaa, commonly known as Jolani, has been designated as a terrorist by the United States since 2013, whilst his organisation, HTS, was proscribed by the Trump administration in 2018 when a $10m bounty was placed on his head.

For years, HTS lobbied to be delisted, but its pleas largely fell on deaf years with the group relegated to governing just a sliver of northwest Syria. 

But the lightning blitz by the rebels, which saw Assad's iron-grip rule end in spectaular fashion on Sunday, has since forced Washington to rethink how it engages with the former al-Qaeda affiliate.

The senior Arab official, who requested anonymity due to sensitivities surrounding the talks, told MEE that the discussions had divided officials in the Biden administration. Meanwhile, when asked about the discussions, one Trump transition official disparaged the Biden administration.

Read more: US officials discussed merits of removing $10m bounty on HTS leader

Israel has informed the US that it plans to deploy troops into a buffer zone along the border of the occupied Golan Heights, Axios reported.

Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to seize control of the buffer zone and nearby strategic positions as he claimed that the 1974 disengagement agreement with Syria “has collapsed”.

The Israeli military has also conducted numerous airstrikes on Syrian territory today, including several targeting the capital, Damascus.

Two teams arrived about an hour ago from the five specialised teams sent to Syria's notorious Sednaya prison, Raed al-Saleh, director of the Syria Civil Defence—a volunteer rescue group also known as the White Helmets—said in a tweet.

The teams will "search for secret cellars inside the prison where detainees are expected to be located, based on survivor testimonies," Saleh said.

"The remaining teams are on their way but have been delayed due to difficult security conditions on the roads and severe congestion. The teams are accompanied inside the prison by a guide who is familiar with its details and was a former soldier there," he added.

The White Helmets chief also assured the public in a separate tweet that the teams were trained and capable of dealing with these complex cases.

وصل فريقان قبل نحو ساعة من الآن من الفرق الخمسة المختصة التي أرسلناها إلى سجن صيدنايا للبحث عن أقبية سرية داخل السجن يتوقع وجود معتقلين فيها بحسب ناجين، وباقي الفرق قادمة لكنها تأخرت بسبب الظروف الأمنية الصعبة على الطرقات والازدحام الشديد، ويرافق الفرق في السجن دليل يعرف تفاصيل…

— Raed Al Saleh ( رائد الصالح ) (@RaedAlSaleh3) December 8, 2024