Trump advisor Waltz says Israel sapped Iran, cut its regional 'tentacles'

Syria's Baath party announced Wednesday it was suspending work indefinitely, a few days after opposition forces toppled President Bashar al-Assad, ending more than half a century of the family and party's rule.

The Baath party central leadership has decided to "suspend party work and activity in all its forms... until further notice", a statement published on the website of the party's newspaper said.

It had earlier announced its intention to cooperate with the Syrian transitional government in a bid to "defend the unity of the country, land, people, institutions and capabilities".

"We have to give credit where credit's due, and that's Bibi Netanyahu in Israel," President-elect Donald Trump's pick for national security advisor Mike Waltz told Fox News on Wednesday, referring to the Israeli Prime Minister.

"(Israel has) taken down the tentacles of the octopus, so to speak: Hamas, Hezbollah, some of the militias in in Syria. Iran has been so weakened that it made Assad so weak that clearly the HTS, Turkey and others saw opportunity," he added, referring to the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham radical Islamist group leading the Syrian rebels.

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei criticized Persian-language media abroad for sharing insights about Syria that could instill fear or unsettle the public, warning that broadcasting such content in the country would be deemed a crime.

The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government has prompted rare admissions of setbacks from Iran’s hardline media, with an outlet linked to the IRGC acknowledging losses to Iran's military allies across the region.

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President Vladimir Putin is seeking explanations for why Russia’s intelligence service failed to identify the growing threat to Bashar al-Assad’s rule in time, Bloomberg wrote Wednesday, citing a source close to the Kremlin.

The outlet added that Russia persuaded Assad he could not defeat armed groups led by HTS and offered safe passage for him and his family if he left immediately, according to three sources familiar with the matter who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation.

The Kremlin announced Monday that Putin had granted Assad asylum.

Iran's presence in Syria was not intended for direct engagement in the war, as such involvement was not supported by public opinion, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday.

“Our presence in Syria and Iraq did not mean deploying divisions of our army and IRGC to fight in place of their armies, as such an approach is neither logical nor acceptable to public opinion,” Khamenei said.

He also expressed confidence that Syria would be reclaimed by what he described as the Syrian youth.

“The brave youth of Syria will rise up and, through resilience and even sacrifices, overcome this situation, just as the brave youth of Iraq, after the US occupation, managed to drive the enemy out of their homes,” he said.

Khamenei also said that Iranian intelligence had warned Assad about potential threats.

"I don’t know whether these reports reached the top officials or got lost somewhere in the middle. However, our intelligence officials had informed them back in September, October, and November,” Khamenei said.

Ensuring the security of Russia's military bases and diplomatic missions in Syria remains a top priority, the Kremlin said on Wednesday.

"This is a very important question. Of course, everything necessary and possible is being done now to contact those who can provide security. And, of course, our military is also taking all necessary precautions," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in response to a question about concerns over the security of Russian military bases in Syria, according to TASS news.

“Syria is presently grappling with significant turmoil,” Ahmad Vahidi, the Iranian former Interior Minister, said, emphasizing that “Israel has exploited the unfolding events to systematically target its infrastructure.”

He added, “While occasional challenges may emerge, the Axis of Resistance will remain steadfast and unshaken.”

Tehran refers to its backed armed groups in the region as the Axis of Resistance.

Russia transported Bashar al-Assad securely to Russia, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told NBC News on Tuesday.

The Kremlin announced Monday that President Vladimir Putin had granted Assad asylum. When asked about the possibility of handing him over for trial, Ryabkov said, "Russia is not a party to the convention that established the International Criminal Court."

In his first public remarks since the overthrow of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad, Iran’s ruler Ali Khamenei blamed the United States and Israel for conspiring to remove Tehran’s close ally from power.

Speaking on Wednesday to a group of followers, Khamenei said, “There should be no doubt that what has happened in Syria is the result of a joint American and Zionist plan.

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Syrian rebel forces have fully captured the city of Deir ez-Zor in eastern Syria, which was controlled by US-backed Kurdish forces, Hassan Abdulghani, the commander of rebel forces, announced on Tuesday.

"Those who think Iran has been weakened with Assad's fall rely on the flawed assumption that the resistance is a proxy force for Iran," Iran's Vice President for Strategic Affairs and former foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif said in an interview with Didar News.

His remarks represent the most high-level official Iranian comments yet on the upheaval in Syria which deprived Tehran of its top Arab ally.

"The resistance was neither created by Iran nor dependent on it for its continuity. Its driving force is Israel's occupation and apartheid," he added.

"Assad's downfall resulted from his pride in defeating the armed opposition and his failure to turn that military victory into a win-win political agreement and establish an inclusive government."

Iran and Hezbollah were Syria's bulwark against an Israeli incursion which is now unfolding, the Tehran-backed militant group's media outlet al-Manar said in a news analysis on Tuesday.

The comments were among the first from the group after Bashar al-Assad's downfall at the hands of armed insurgents, an upheaval that deprives it and the Islamic Republic of their main Arab ally and key nexus for Lebanon-bound weapons.

"A suspicious and insolent silence regarding the aggression is taking place, except for some voices here and there in addition to those who have a history of confronting this enemy and knowing its ambitions very well, such as the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon (Hezbollah) and the Islamic Republic of Iran," al-Manar said.

"The enemy unleashed its ambitions, immediately starting a military operation to nibble away at areas in southern Syria, including Mount Hermon and a number of cities and villages, in addition to a wide-scale air aggression that included almost all of the Syrian army’s capabilities, specifically its advanced weapons," it added.

"So where are those who care about Syria’s freedom?"

Israeli airstrikes have sunk the Syrian fleet targeted Syrian military bases and alleged chemical weapons facilities in the days since Assad fled the country for Russia on Sunday. Its ground forces also plunged into a buffer region on the Golan Heights in place since a 1974 war.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Syria's new rulers not to follow in Bashar al-Assad's footsteps and allow Iran to "re-establish" itself in the country.

"If this regime allows Iran to re-establish itself in Syria, or permits the transfer of Iranian weapons or any other weapons to Hezbollah, or if it attacks us -– we will respond forcefully, and we will exact a heavy price," Netanyahu said in a video statement from Tel Aviv.

"What happened to the previous regime will happen to this one."

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Tuesday that the country's navy had destroyed Syria's fleet in the Mediterranean on Monday night.

Photos released by news agencies showed sunken Syrian naval ships in Latakia, with smoke billowing from the wreckage after they were laid to waste by the Jewish state's airstrikes.

"I have no reason to believe this has happened," Iran's Vice-President for Strategic Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif said Tuesday when asked about speculations that Assad's fall is a result of a US-Russia deal.

"Of course, one must investigate and examine what has occurred, but so far, I have not found any evidence in this regard. I cannot say it did not happen, but I can say that I am not aware of it," Zarif said.

"Unfortunately, Turkey's role in this matter is very clear," the former foreign minister added.

“Over the past three days, 4,000 Iranian citizens in Syria have returned to Iran on 10 Mahan Airlines flights,” Fatemeh Mohajerani, the Iranian government spokesperson, said on Tuesday.

“We leave the determination of Syria’s fate to its people while closely monitoring developments on the ground” Mohajerani added.

Tehran's mayor warned that the fall of Iran's main Arab ally Syria to rebel forces would pose a long-term threat to the country.

“If we fail to address this situation, we risk enduring harm for centuries,” Alireza Zakani said on Tuesday.

"But with care, we can turn this threat into an opportunity," he added, without elaborating.

The Israeli military has been pounding military infrastructure in Syria in attacks they say aim to ensure Syrian and Iranian weapons and facilities don't fall into the hands of extremists.

Around 300 airstrikes have taken place in Syria, in the wake of the fall of the Assad government, with attacks intensifying on Tuesday.

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As images of brutality and prison abuses flood the internet following Bashar al-Assad’s fall, Iran’s tightly controlled media has cautiously criticized the deposed leader, hinting that a similar fate could befall the Islamic Republic.

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A senior Iranian figure has warned of imminent attacks in Iraq following Assad’s fall, urged vigilance to protect regional stability, and accused Western powers of exploiting and weakening other nations.

“Terrorists are currently preparing to launch attacks on Iraq,” Mohsen Rezaei, a former IRGC chief commander, said Tuesday. “Any reduction in regional security will inflict irreparable damage on countries, so everyone must remain vigilant. The United States and its accomplices seek to weaken nations and plunder their wealth."

“We must learn from history,” he continued. “History has shown that the West shows no mercy even to its own proxies, and that plundering other countries’ resources is one of its main priorities.”

The Iranian government spokesperson suggested on Tuesday that leaders who ignore public sentiment and refuse dialogue risk facing the same fate as Bashar al-Assad.

“One analysis of Bashar al-Assad’s fall is that he failed to understand the power of the people. His refusal to engage in dialogue, along with the army’s inaction, brought him down. We believe we must speak with the people and act alongside them,” Fatemeh Mohajerani said during a press conference.

On Tuesday, an Iranian MP said that the country’s forces remained in Syria until just before the Assad government neared collapse, and that it still holds full power over its enemies’ vital interests.

“The Islamic Republic’s military forces remained in Syria until the very last moment—just before the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government—and currently, there are no Iranian forces in that country,” Ahmad Naderi said following a meeting with IRGC commanders.

He also quoted the commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Hossein Salami: “Not an iota of Iran’s power has diminished, and we maintain full dominance over all the enemy’s vital interests.”

"Clearly what we're seeing is a weakened Iran, a weakened Hezbollah and a strengthened Israel," US alternative ambassador to the UN Robert Wood told Iran International in New York when asked what the Syria developments mean for Iran.

"What happened to the Assad regime was a defeat for Iran and Russia, the major puppet master," he said. "What you're seeing now is a fact that the so-called axis of resistance has become very weak. They're not able to do the things that they were doing before."

"The end of this (Syrian) regime is a defeat for all who enabled its barbarity and its corruption, none more than Iran, Hezbollah and Russia," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at an event at the State Department on Monday.

"So, this moment presents a historic opportunity, but it also carries considerable risks," he warned. "History shows how quickly moments of promise can descend into conflict and violence. ISIS will try to use this period to re-establish its capabilities, to create safe havens. As our precision strikes over the weekend demonstrate, we are determined not to let that happen."

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei on Monday strongly condemned what he described as Israeli airstrikes on Syria’s infrastructure over the past two days, following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government.

He also denounced Israel's recent land grabs in Golan Heights and sharply criticized the Jewish state's Western supporters for their "silence and inaction in the face of this blatant violation of international law."

Suspected Israeli airstrikes have in recent days targeted multiple military assets belonging to the former Syrian government and Iran-backed forces in Damascus, Latakia, Deir ez-Zor and other parts of the Arab country.

Israel's military has also seized control of a demilitarized buffer zone in the Golan Heights "temporarily", Israel's prime minister said, adding that the 1974 disengagement agreement with Syria had "collapsed" with the rebel takeover of the country.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed credit for the downfall of Israel's adversary Bashar al-Assad and said the Jewish state has overcome doubters of its war aims and dismantled a Mideast-wide axis led by Iran.

"If we were to agree to those who said time after time, we must stop the war ... we wouldn't have exposed Iran in its weakness," he told reporters in a speech on Monday.

"(We) broke apart this axis, brick by brick," Netanyahu added, referring to the so-called Axis of Resistance led by Tehran comprising Lebanon's Hezbollah, Yemen's Houthis, militias backing the Iraqi government and until Sunday Assad's government.

Suspected Israeli airstrikes targeted naval assets in Latakia port on Monday, according to the Times of Israel. Meanwhile, Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Manar TV reported three explosions near the Sayyida Zaynab neighborhood of Damascus, an area that used to be frequented by Iran's Revolutionary Guard and Hezbollah officials for meetings.

Some 500 Iranian citizens are at Syria's Latakia Airport, waiting for a flight to return to Iran, ILNA news agency reported.

The report said some of these individuals are "pilgrims" who traveled to Syria with unauthorized tour groups.

Hormatollah Rafiei, the head of the Travel Agencies Association, said efforts are under way to facilitate the return of Iranian pilgrims currently at the shrines of "Zaynab" and "Ruqayyah" in Damascus.

He expressed hope that Iranian flights will receive permission to land in Damascus.

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will travel to Israel later this week to discuss developments in Syria, Lebanon, and Iran, National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett said in a statement.

Sullivan’s trip is aimed at advancing Gaza ceasefire talks and addressing regional security concerns, according to the statement.

NATO chief Mark Rutte said on Monday said Iran and Russia "proved to be unreliable partners, abandoning Assad when he ceased to be of use to them."

He also said that Tehran and Moscow were "the main backers of the Assad regime, and they share the responsibility for the crimes committed against the Syrian people."

Hamas congratulated the Syrian people on achieving their "aspirations for freedom and justice" following the toppling of President Bashar al-Assad, the Iran-backed Palestinian group said in a statement on Monday. The remarks marked Hamas’ first public response since rebel forces captured Damascus.

"We stand strongly with the great people of Syria... and respect the will, the independence, and the political choices of the people of Syria," the statement said, adding that Hamas hoped that post-Assad Syria would continue "its historical and pivotal role in supporting the Palestinian people."

Iran’s judiciary chief Ejei warned that the country’s enemies are spreading false information to take advantage of the fallout from Bashar al-Assad’s ouster, saying their goal is to harm public trust and create fear among Iranian citizens.

"Adversaries are seeking to spread poisonous propaganda against the resistance through lies and aim to exploit the resulting environment to undermine the psychological security of our citizens," Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei said on Monday.

Efforts to stop the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government were ineffective due to the rapid pace of developments, Iranian MP Mohammad Rashidi said on Monday after a closed parliamentary session with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Rashidi said that during a recent meeting in Qatar, the foreign ministers of Iran, Russia, Turkey, and five Arab countries reached "positive agreements" on Syria. However, he noted that "the conclusions of the meeting were ineffective."

Ahmad Nadiri, another member of the parliamentary presidium, also addressed the session, stating that Iran’s future policy toward Syria would depend on the actions of the new leadership.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi informed Bashar al-Assad that Tehran could no longer send forces to support him, the Financial Times reported Monday, citing "an Iranian regime insider." However, during his December 1 visit to Damascus, Araghchi publicly expressed confidence that Syria would overcome “terrorist groups,” according to a statement by Iran’s foreign ministry.

It was President Vladimir Putin’s decision to grant asylum to Bashar al-Assad following his ouster, the Kremlin said on Monday. Discussions with Syria’s new leadership about the future of Russian military bases in the country are ongoing, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov added.

Iran has engaged in direct talks with factions in Syria's new leadership following the ousting of its ally, Bashar al-Assad, a senior Iranian official said on Monday. The discussions aim to "prevent a hostile trajectory" in relations between the two nations, the official told Reuters.

The official said Iran's leadership, grappling with the loss of a key ally in Damascus and the impending return of Donald Trump to the White House in January, was open to engaging with Syria's new leaders.

"This engagement is key to stabilize ties and avoiding further regional tensions," he said.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei will talk about the "recent regional developments" in a speech on Wednesday, December 11, Iranian state media said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported six airstrikes targeting the joint positions of Iran-backed forces and the Syrian army in the outskirts of Deir ez-Zor, eastern Syria.

These strikes were likely carried out by Israeli fighter jets, the UK-based war monitor said. Several weapons depots were targeted in the attacks.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the main rebel group advancing in Syria, sent Iran a private diplomatic message this week, The New York Times reported citing three Iranian officials.

"The group promised that it would protect Shiite religious sites and Shiite minorities and asked Iran not to fight its forces," the report said.

Iran, in turn, asked the group to allow safe passage of its troops out of Syria and to protect the Shia shrines, according to two officials cited by the Times.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says the government of Bashar al-Assad was supposed to implement reforms and constitutional changes but "showed little flexibility and speed in this process."

"Everything was clear, and the analyses had predicted this event. Iranian and Syrian intelligence systems were fully aware of the movements in Idlib, and this information had been conveyed to the Syrian government. What was surprising, however, was the inability of the Syrian army and the unexpected speed of developments," Araghchi said in a televised interview on Sunday night.

"In a meeting we had with Bashar al-Assad, he himself was surprised by the army's performance. The Syrian army was affected by psychological and media operations rather than the real war," Araghchi added.

Asked about Iran's withdrawal of its forces from Syria, Araghchi said Tehran's "plan was not to engage with their internal opposition instead of the Syrian army."

"Our emphasis has always been on dialogue between the Syrian government and opposition groups," he noted.

Araghchi said that after Assad's fall, Tehran is now specifically concerned about Israelis taking advantage of the situation.

"We are monitoring the situation to ensure that the existing concerns do not come to fruition. These concerns include the possibility of a renewed internal and sectarian civil war between the tribes, the fragmentation of Syria, and, of course, the specific concern of the Islamic Republic, which is the potential exploitation by Israel, especially as movements have started since yesterday," he noted.

"It is important to issue a warning regarding these developments. Resistance groups in the region are closely monitoring and watching Israel's movements," he added.

Israel conducted three airstrikes in the Syrian capital on Sunday against a security complex and a government research center which it has said in the past was used by Iran to develop missiles, Reuters reported citing two regional security sources.

Israel conducted three airstrikes in the Syrian capital on Sunday against a security complex and a government research center which it has said in the past was used by Iran to develop missiles, Reuters reported citing two regional security sources.

The strikes caused extensive damage to the main customs headquarters and buildings adjoining the military intelligence offices within the security complex, which is located in the Kafr Sousa district of Damascus, the sources said.

The strikes had hit infrastructure used to store sensitive military data, equipment and guided missiles parts, one of the sources added.

Bashar al-Assad and his family have arrived in Moscow and were granted asylum, TASS reported citing a Kremlin source.

"Syria was one of the arms of Resistance. We should note that the situation is sensitive but not dangerous," said Khamenei's representative in Iran's Kayhan newspaper Hossein Shariatmadari.

"We shouldn't forget that Iran is the ultimate target of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)," he added, referring to the main rebel group that toppled Assad's government in Syria.

London welcomes the departure of Bashar al-Assad, under whose "barbaric regime... the Syrian people suffered for too long," British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement.

"Our focus is now on ensuring a political solution prevails, and peace and stability is restored. We call on all sides to protect civilians and minorities and ensure essential aid can reach the most vulnerable in the coming hours and days," he added.

"Bashar al-Assad turned Syria into an arena for Iran's ambitions, spread sectarian divisions, and promoted corruption," Syrian rebel leader Abu Muhammad al-Jolani said in a Sunday speech. "Today, by God's grace and the blood of the martyrs, Syria has been liberated," he added.

Iran's ambassador to Damascus Hossein Akbari said on Sunday that the only crime committed by Bashar al-Assad was his involvement in the Tehran-backed Axis of Resistance.

The "axis of resistance" is a term coined by Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to describe anti-US and anti-Israeli groups and governments in the Middle East, on whom Iran has spent billions of dollars since 2011 to secure their support.

Akbari's comments come as Assad is accused of committing crimes against humanity.

"Under the rule of Bashar al-Assad, and before him his father Hafez al-Assad, Syrians have been subjected to a horrifying catalogue of human rights violations that caused untold human suffering on a vast scale," Amnesty International said in a statement on Sunday.

"This included attacks with chemical weapons, barrel bombs, and other war crimes, as well as murder, torture, enforced disappearance and extermination that amount to crimes against humanity."

"The fall of Bashar al-Assad will not harm the (Iran-backed) Axis of Resistance, and it may even prove detrimental to Israel," said Ali Motahari, a former vice-speaker of Iran's Parliament.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the collapse of Syria's Bashar al-Assad on Sunday as an "historic day" that followed the blows delivered by Israel against Assad's supporters Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

“This is a historic day in the history of the Middle East. Assad's regime is a central link in Iran's axis of evil. This regime has fallen. This is a direct result of the blows we inflicted on Iran and Hezbollah, the main supporters of Assad's regime. This created a chain reaction throughout the Middle East,” he said.

Iran finally reacted to Syria developments on Sunday, calling for an end to the ongoing conflict and the launch of inclusive national dialogues to shape the country’s future.

"The determination of Syria’s future and decisions about its destiny must remain in the hands of the Syrian people, without any destructive interference or external imposition," said the foreign ministry in a statement.

Iran has played a pivotal role in maintaining Bashar al-Assad's grip on power in Syria over the years, providing military, financial, and political support. From the early stages of the Syrian Civil War, Iran's support for Assad included supplying weapons, funding, and sending military advisors, as well as deploying elite forces like the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) and allied militias.

In addition to urging a halt to conflicts, Iran also called for ensuring the safety of all Syrian citizens, preserving religious sites, and protecting diplomatic and consular missions in line with international law.

“Tehran would continue its consultations with key regional stakeholders to promote security and stability in the country.”

"The long-standing and friendly relations between the peoples of Iran and Syria are expected to continue with a wise and forward-looking approach, based on shared interests and the fulfillment of international legal commitments," the statement concluded.

The European Union’s new foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said Sunday that the collapse of the Syrian government highlights the weakness of President Bashar al-Assad's supporters, namely Russia and Iran.

“The end of Assad’s dictatorship is a positive and long-awaited development. It also shows the weakness of Assad’s backers, Russia and Iran,” she said on X.

In response to the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government, Ahmad Nadri, a member of Iran’s parliament, urged a strategic shift for Iran.

He proposed that the country focus on nuclear testing and prioritize revitalizing the so-called ‘resistance front’ in the aftermath of the Syrian crisis.

Opposition forces controlling Damascus have declared a curfew in the Syrian capital, effective from 4 PM to 5 AM local time. The move comes amid the shifting control of the city.

The spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry confirmed to Tehran Times English daily that diplomats and staff at the Islamic Republic’s embassy in Damascus left the building before the arrival of armed forces. Esmail Baghaei added that all personnel are now safe and in good health.

Rouhollah Rahimpour, a political analyst, told Iran International that there is clearly no comprehensive and systematic analysis of the events in Syria in the Islamic Republic's media.

Referring to the approach of some newspapers like Kayhan, he said, "Some of these media outlets consider the situation a victory for Israel, while others reduce the issue to internal Syrian matters."

According to Rahimpour, the Islamic Republic's calculations regarding Syria have been thrown into such disarray that they are unable to consolidate an analysis of the situation and their current position.

As regional dynamics shift, Iran's government faces scrutiny after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government. While top officials remain silent, state-affiliated media have notably adjusted their tone on Assad's opposition.

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Syria’s foreign ministry and its embassies across the world will remain operational to serve Syrians, the foreign ministry said in its first statement since the fall of Damascus.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates in the Syrian Arab Republic and its diplomatic missions abroad will remain committed to serving all fellow citizens and managing their affairs,” it said on Sunday.

“Today, a new page is being written in the history of Syria inaugurating a national covenant and charter to unite Syrians and does not divide them,” the statement said.

The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed that Bashar al-Assad has left office and departed Syria, following instructions for a peaceful handover of power.

While it did not reveal Assad's current location, the ministry said that Russia had not been involved in the negotiations surrounding his exit.

Russian military bases in Syria are reportedly on high alert but face no immediate threat.

Moscow also emphasized its communication with Syrian opposition groups, urging all parties to refrain from violence.

Reuters reported that Assad boarded a plane from Damascus airport around the time rebels took control of the capital, though it remains unclear if he was on board.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speculated that Assad was “probably outside of Syria,” while UAE advisor Anwar Gargash declined to confirm reports of possible asylum.

UN envoy Geir Pederson said he had no information on Assad's whereabouts. Some Syrian sources have suggested the ousted leader may have been killed after the flight took off.

Hossein Aghaie, a researcher in strategic affairs and international relations, told Iran International, "The fall of Bashar al-Assad is, in fact, the fall of the Islamic Republic's ideology and regional terrorism.”

He emphasized that the Islamic Republic's nightmares continue with the Trump administration's maximum pressure campaign and Israel's operations across the region.

Aghaie attributed the fall of Assad to the collapse of the Syrian army and said, "If Russia's interests demand it, Putin will do to the Islamic Republic what he did to Assad."

According to him, the biggest loser in the Syrian war is the Islamic Republic, which has spent significant amount of money in the survival of Assad.

Assessing the post-Assad situation, Aghaie said that Putin will continue to use the Islamic Republic as a bargaining chip, Turkey will increase its geopolitical influence in Syria, and Israel will face a dual challenge of threat and opportunity.

In the first state television interview with the insurgents in control of Damascus, a rebel leader introduced as the head of the operation to topple Bashar al-Assad’s government in Damascus pledged to protect Syria’s minorities, stressing the importance of unity and inclusivity for all citizens.

“We address all the sects of Syria: Syria is for everyone, without exception… Syria is for the Sunni, the Druze, the Alawite. We don’t deal with people like the Assad did,” the commander stated when asked to address fears among minority groups regarding their safety.

He also urgedSyrians to “safeguard all the government institutions.”

The interview was unexpectedly cut short when an audio malfunction disrupted the broadcast.

Israel has sent troops to the buffer zone with Syria after rebel forces infiltrated and tried to capture a UN peacekeeping post as fears for border security remain high for the Jewish state.

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Syria still faces significant challenges, with extremism and terrorism remaining key concerns, the United Arab Emirates' presidential diplomatic advisor said on Sunday.

When asked whether Bashar al-Assad was in the UAE, Anwar Gargash responded, "I don't know," speaking on the sidelines of the Manama Security Dialogue in Bahrain.

Gargash attributed Assad's downfall to political missteps, stating that he failed to seize opportunities offered by Arab nations, including the UAE, to stabilize his position.

"There was a major failure in both politics and policy because Assad did not make use of the lifelines extended to him by various Arab countries, including the UAE, nor did he engage meaningfully in constitutional discussions that were underway," Gargash said.

Reuters cited two Syrian sources as suggesting a high likelihood that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad may have been killed in a plane crash, after flight data from Flightradar revealed the aircraft made a sudden U-turn before vanishing from radar.

The United States will continue to maintain its presence in eastern Syria and will take measures necessary to prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East Daniel Shapiro told the Manama Dialogue security conference in Bahrain's capital on Sunday.

A large crowd celebrated the fall of the Assad’s government in Istanbul on Sunday with dancing, chanting and waving flags used by Syria's opposition.

More than three million Syrians live in Turkey, with many of them saying they could never return to their towns and villages while Assad remained in power.

A similar gathering was held in Tripoli, northern Lebanon.

US President-elect Donald Trump said Sunday that Russia and Iran are in a weakened state right now with Moscow strained by the war in Ukraine and economic woes while Tehran grapples with Israel's military in the region.

“Russia and Iran are in a weakened state right now, one because of Ukraine and a bad economy, the other because of Israel and its fighting success,” he said.

Iran's embassy was stormed by Syrian rebels following their capture of Damascus, Iran's English-language Press TV reported on Sunday.

Additionally, Iraq also evacuated its embassy in Syria and moved staff to Lebanon, the Iraqi state news agency reported on Sunday.

Syrian state institutions will be supervised by former Prime Minister Mohammed Jalali until they are handed over, rebel leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani said on Sunday.

The move is part of efforts to secure an orderly transition after rebels declared an end to Bashar al-Assad's rule.

Signed in his real name - Ahmed al-Sharaa - Golani's statement banned military forces in Damascus from approaching public bodies and banned the firing of guns in the air.

In an interview with Al Arabiya Sunday, Jalali -- appointed prime minister by Assad in September -- said he had been in contact with Sharaa to discuss the current transitional period. He said that Syria should Syria should hold free elections.

Jalali said he remained in his home and was ready to support continuity of governance.

Syrian telecommunications minister Eyad al-Khatib told Al Arabiya that he had been contacted by a representative of Sharaa's Hayat Tahrir al-Sham responsible for telecoms services. They agreed that telecoms and internet would continue to function, Khatib said.