In a dramatic turn of events early Sunday morning, Syrian rebel forces entered Damascus as the Assad regime collapsed, with reports of government officials fleeing the capital and Iranian embassy staff evacuating. The rapidly unfolding situation has prompted Israel to strengthen its presence in the Golan Heights buffer zone, while simultaneously intercepting a missile from Yemen before it could enter Israeli airspace. Meanwhile, US intelligence agencies are closely monitoring Syrian chemical weapons sites amid concerns about their potential use as Damascus falls.
Video: Toppling of Hafez Assad's statue in Latakia / Credit: Arab media
December 8
15:30: The Saudi outlet al-Hadath quoted a security official claiming Israel has captured the Syrian part of Mount Hermon, the strategic mountain overlooking the Golan Heights, the Galilee, and the Damascus area. This is the first time Israel has been on that part of the mountain since the 1974 Disengagement of Forces agreement, which was signed after the Yom Kippur War. Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Golan Heights to see up close how Israel was preparing for any contingency should there be spillover from the Syrian side.
1:36 p.m.: Israel Air Force reportedly striking in Damascus.
12:30 p.m.: Turkish foreign minister, when asked about Assad's fate, responds: "I cannot answer this question. We don't know. Likely outside Syria."
11:50 a.m.: Sources in Syria: President Assad may have been killed in plane crash during escape attempt.
11:21 a.m.: IDF spokesperson announces shift to online learning in four Druze localities in northern Golan Heights, declares closed military zones in specific agricultural areas, while studies in remaining Golan regions continue normally.
10:58 a.m.: Syrian state television announces: "The revolution has triumphed, the cruel regime has fallen."
10:41 a.m.: IDF spokesperson announces intention to seize and demolish apartment of terrorist Amar Odeh who carried out attack in Holon. The terrorist conducted an attack on Aug. 4, 2024, in Holon, killing Rina Daniv and Avraham Sumichi, and wounding two others.
9:50 a.m.: US President-elect Donald Trump addresses the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, "Assad is gone. He has fled his country. His protector, Russia, Russia, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, was not interested in protecting him any longer. There was no reason for Russia to be there in the first place. They lost all interest in Syria because of Ukraine, where close to 600,000 Russian soldiers lay wounded or dead, in a war that should never have started, and could go on forever. 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. Likewise, Zelenskyy and Ukraine would like to make a deal and stop the madness. They have ridiculously lost 400,000 soldiers, and many more civilians. There should be an immediate ceasefire and negotiations should begin. Too many lives are being so needlessly wasted, too many families destroyed, and if it keeps going, it can turn into something much bigger, and far worse. I know Vladimir well. This is his time to act. China can help. The World is waiting!"
Video: Syrians after the revolution in Bashar Assad's palace / Credit: Arab social
9:28 a.m.: After pressure from Forum Tikva of parents and siblings of Israelis kidnapped on Oct. 7, hostage families say: Netanyahu expected to meet today with Forum families who demand no partial deal and no concession of pressure points. Forum Tikva families will demand from the prime minister to condition any deal on receiving full information about the hostages.
9:15 a.m.: Syrian rebels remove Soleimani and Nasrallah posters from Iranian embassy building in Damascus.
9:09 a.m.: Education Minister Yoav Kish: "Given strategic change in our region following Assad regime's fall, uncertainty and many challenges facing the prime minister and State of Israel, I call on judges and prosecution to reconsider postponing the prime minister's court appearance by three months. Given dramatic changes, insistence on holding hearing during this period would be wrong and irrelevant."
9:01 a.m.: Syrian prime minister leaves his residence to meet with rebel representatives for transfer of power.
8:32 a.m.: IDF spokesperson announces deployment of forces in buffer zone and strategic points in the Golan Heights in response to developments in Syria and potential armed infiltration risks. The IDF emphasizes it "is not intervening in events occurring in Syria" but will continue operating as needed to maintain the buffer zone and protect Israeli citizens.
8:30 a.m.: Western assessments indicate Assad is under Russian protection, either in Syria or Russia.
8:10 a.m.: Opposition leader Yair Lapid, "Given events in Syria, it's more crucial than ever to form a strong regional coalition with Saudi Arabia and Abraham Accords nations to jointly address regional instability."
8:06 a.m.: After taking control of media channels, rebels announce regime's fall on official state television.
7:45 a.m.: White House says President Joe Biden and his team are closely monitoring extraordinary events in Syria and maintaining continuous contact with regional partners.
7:39 a.m.: Saudi TV network Al-Arabiya reports Iranian embassy representatives leaving Syria following fall of Iranian-backed Assad regime.
7:33 a.m.: Following Assad regime's fall, Syrian opposition leader abroad, Hadi al-Bahra, tells Al-Jazeera his representatives "will meet with Arab nations, European countries, and UN to form consensus on Syria's next phase."
7:20 a.m.: Yisrael Beytenu Chairman Avigdor Liberman addresses Iranian nuclear threat on X, calling for Israeli government to take dramatic action. He warns that IAEA's Friday announcement about Iran's accelerated uranium enrichment must serve as warning signal to international community and Israeli decision-makers.
7:05 a.m.: Syrian rebel leader Ahmad al-Shara, known as Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani, orders all military forces in Damascus to avoid approaching public institutions remaining under the prime minister's supervision before organized power transfer.
6:38 a.m.: Following developments in Syria, four Druze authorities in northern Golan Heights – Buq'ata, Ein Qiniyye, Mas'ade, and Majdal Shams – announce kindergartens will be closed today.
6:15 a.m.: Report: Israeli Air Force strikes Hezbollah convoy attempting to flee Syria.
6:08 a.m.: Air Force intercepts missile launched from Yemen before crossing into Israeli territory. Per policy, no alerts were activated.
4:34 a.m.: CNN reports scenes of chaos at Damascus airport early Sunday morning. As rebel forces continued rapid advance into capital, verified footage shows dozens rushing through security checkpoints toward exit gates attempting to flee country.
4:07 a.m.: Joint Operations Room of rebel groups in official statement: Our forces have begun entering Damascus. Rebels claim to have entered Sednaya prison north of Damascus, one of world's most brutal prisons where thousands of regime opponents were tortured and executed.
2:51 a.m.: CNN reports Syrian rebels have begun entering Damascus. American news network claims sources in Syrian capital indicate city has militarily fallen to rebels, with rebel reconnaissance units entering and capturing several key positions.
1:55 a.m.: Arab reports: Israeli strike at Qusayr crossing between Syria and Lebanon after Hezbollah forces retreated from Qusayr city toward Lebanon.
1:48 a.m.: Amid rebel movement toward Damascus, Syrian Interior Minister announces on state television establishment of what he calls "impenetrable security belt" throughout city and its outskirts.
1:40 a.m.: New York Times reports US intelligence agencies closely monitoring storage sites where Syrians allegedly hold chemical weapons. Agencies seeking indications that forces loyal to President Bashar Assad preparing to fire chemical weapons against rebels, with concerns Assad forces might deploy chemical weapons as last resort before Damascus falls.
1:36 a.m.: Syrian rebels declare capture of Qusayr city in Homs governorate near northern Lebanese border. Against this backdrop, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reports complete withdrawal of Hezbollah forces from Qusayr to Lebanon.
12:44 a.m.: Report: Russian military begins evacuating Hmeimim Air Base – Russia's largest and most significant base in Syria.
12:39 a.m.: Several Russian Air Force large transport aircraft flights tracked on flight monitoring sites. Assessment indicates Russia will need to leave behind significant amount of expensive equipment that cannot be evacuated this way.
12:20 a.m.: Syrian rebel organizations spokesperson: City of Homs completely liberated.
12:11 a.m.: Senior official at Syrian rebel organizations headquarters: We are in final moments before declaring Homs completely liberated.
