Russia scrabbles to secure bases after Assad overthrow as Damascus prison tunnels searched

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.

Meanwhile, the Syrian White Helmets said is 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.

KEY POINTS

• Israel strikes Syrian targets after Assad regime falls

• UK may rethink proscription of Syrian rebel group

• Pictured: Syrian opposition flags raised in Moscow embassy

• Search for prisoners in underground cells at notorious prison

• Assad family’s 50-year long regime toppled

Watch: Syrian buildings engulfed in flames after suspected Israeli airstrike

12:34 , Alex Croft

‘No prisoners left in Saydnaya’, Syrian White Helmets say

12:24 , Alex Croft

There are “no prisoners left in Saydnaya [prison]”, a senior member of the Syrian White Helmets has told The Independent.

Reports that there were prisoners trapped in underground cells in Saydnaya, in Damascus – one of the most notorious prisons of the Bashar al-Assad’s regime – sparked a major search operation led by Syria’s civil defense, known as the White Helmets.

Farouq Habib, the group deputy general manager of the Syrian White Helmets, said: “There are no prisoners left in Saydnaya. Five Helmet teams arrived there, fully equipped with sniffer dogs.

“We made contact with former regime officers who worked on the prison and researched everything. There are no hidden cells in the prison. There has been a lot of rumors and misinformation, but nothing there.

“What we are very worried about are the other secret prisons. There are secret prisons across Syria, in military bases, in Shabiha bases. There are private prisons, prisons made by shabiha.”

Shabiha militias are loosely-organised armed groups who were loyal to the Assad regime and were utilised in earlier phases of the Syrian civil war.

Putin personally gave Assad asylum, says Kremlin

12:16 , Alex Croft

Russian president Vladimir Putin personally gave asylum to former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad after his regime was toppled over the weekend.

There is no meeting scheduled between Putin and Assad, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

The Kremlin sees an international situation with high potential for conflict following recent developments.

“We see the situation around Ukraine, we see many contradictory statements in this regard, we see a growing conflict potential in other regions, we can say the burning Middle East,” Peskov said.

Too early to discuss future of Russian military bases – Kremlin

12:05 , Alex Croft

Russia is holding talks about the security of its citizens in Syria, foreig intelligence chief Sergei Naryshkin said according to Interfax news agency.

It comes after the Kremlin said earlier today that it would be “premature” to discuss the future of Russian military bases in Syria.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “It’s premature to talk about it yet. This is all a subject for discussion with those who will be in power in Syria.

“Of course, everything is being done now that is necessary and everything that is possible in order to get in touch with those who can deal with security. And, of course, our military is also taking all necessary precautions.”

Russia has a number of key military bases in Syria, including Hmeimim airbase in Syria’s Latakia province and a naval facility on the coast at Tartous.

No request made for Assad’s British wife to come to UK, government says

11:53 , Millie Cooke, Political Correspondent

The Government has had “no contact or no request” for the British wife of Bashar al-Assad to come to the UK, a Cabinet minister has said.

Pat McFadden told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the issue is “not something that’s been raised” with the Government.

Asma Assad was born in London in 1975, and was raised and educated in the city. She is now believed to be in Moscow with her husband, where the ousted Syrian leader has fled.

The rapid collapse of the Assad regime saw a coalition of rebel groups seize control of Damascus on Sunday.

Read the full report by our political correspondent Millie Cooke:

No request made for Assad’s British wife to come to UK, government says

New Syrian regime will be judged by treatment of minorities, says Berlin

11:39 , Alex Croft

The Syrian rebel group which spearheaded the lightning advance which toppled the Syrian regime will be judged by its treatment of minorities, Berlin has said.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former al-Qaeda affiliate, led the advance towards and into Damascus, forcing former president Bashar al-Assad to leave the country.

A spokesperson for the German foreign ministry said on Monday: “In recent months and years, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham HTS has endeavored to distance itself from its jihadist origins and to build up civilian structures.”

“Whether these efforts can now be taken seriously will be seen in particular in the treatment of civilians and especially minorities in the areas they now control.”

Accountability needed for Assad’s leadership – UN

11:26 , Alex Croft

The UN’s human rights chief has urged “accountability” for those within former president Bashar al-Assad’s regime who perpetrated abuse on the Syrian population.

Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, also said there was a real chance for an inclusive dialogue on Syria’s future.

“Any political transition must ensure accountability for perpetrators of serious violations, and guarantee that those responsible are held to account,” he told a press briefing in Geneva.

“What needs to happen in Syria itself is to build up a domestic legal system that allows for fair trials, in relation to all those where there are serious grounds to believe that they have committed atrocity crimes.

“And that goes also for the former president of Syria and whoever was in senior leadership positions,” he said.

There is a “huge chance” for an “inclusive, very inclusive dialogue,” he added. “And what we have seen initially is indeed cooperation.”

Watch: Moment Syrian rebels shoot down statue of former president

11:16 , Alex Croft

Who is Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the leader of the insurgency that toppled Syria’s Assad?

11:05 , Alex Croft

Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the militant leader whose stunning insurgency toppled Syria’s President Bashar Assad, has spent years working to remake his public image, renouncing longtime ties to al-Qaida and depicting himself as a champion of pluralism and tolerance.

In recent days, the insurgency even dropped his nom de guerre and began referring to him by his real name, Ahmad al-Sharaa.

The extent of that transformation from jihadi extremist to would-be state builder is now put to the test.

Read the full piece by Beirut-based journalist Kareem Chehayeb:

Who is Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the leader of the insurgency that toppled Assad?

Turkey will stand with Syria for its ‘new page’

10:54 , Alex Croft

Turkey will work to return Syrian migrants safely home and will assist in the reconstruction of Syria after president Bashar al-Assad was ousted by rebels, foreign minister Hakan Fiden said on Monday.

Mr Fidan said Turkey wants a new Syria which will live in harmony with its neighbours, adding that Ankara will stand with Syria for its “new page”.

In pictures: Scenes of jubilation continue after Assad regime’s fall

10:42 , Alex Croft

France to assist Syrian political transition

10:25 , Alex Croft

France will support Syria’s political transition after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, the foreign minister said on Monday.

A special diplomatic envoy will be sent by the French foreign minister in the coming days, after Syrian rebels seized Damascus unopposed on Sunday.

The fall of Assad’s regime is a stunning defeat for Russia and Moscow could now lose access to military assets in Syria, Mr Barrot told France Info radio.

‘No evidence’ of prisoners in basements but search continues – White Helmets

10:17 , Alex Croft

Syria’s Civil Defence, known as the White Helmets, have said there is “no evidence” to confirm that detainees are trapped in prison basements but that the search is ongoing.

In an update posted on X, the White Helmets wrote: “Until the moment of publishing this tweet, our teams that arrived at Saydnaya prison did not find any secret doors that are being talked about.

“The teams are working with breaching and searching tools, sound sensors, and with the presence of K9 teams that include trained dogs.

“We are accompanied in the search by people who know all the details of the prison, in addition to our reliance on instructions from people who were contacted by the residents that they know the entrances to the prison and the secret basements.

“We are working with all our energies, but so far there is no evidence confirming the presence of detainees in the basements or cellars of the prison, and we will continue the search until we confirm all its sections accurately.”

In a previous post on X, the organisation said it had five emergency teams investigating “hidden underground cells, reportedly holding detainees according to survivors”.

Iran speaking with Syrian rebel leadership – Iranian official

10:07 , Alex Croft

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

09:51 , Alex Croft

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

09:38 , Alex Croft

UK may rethink proscription of Syrian rebel group

09:29 , Alex Croft

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

09:17 , Alex Croft

Russian lawmaker: We will respond harshly if bases in Syria are attacked

09:05 , Alex Croft

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

08:59 , Alex Croft

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

08:40 , Alex Croft

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

08:27 , Holly Patrick

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.

Read the full story here.

White Helmets searching hidden underground cells for survivors

08:18 , Tom Barnes

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.”

Assad family’s iron-grip rule on Syria toppled as insurgents take control of Damascus

08:15 , Tom Barnes

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.

In extraordinary scenes, jubilant crowds took to the streets waving a revolutionary flag and shouting “Freedom”, as the capital was littered with the discarded uniforms of government forces.

Families of relatives left to rot for years in the regime’s notorious prisons waited anxiously for news of loved ones as videos showed fighters freeing thousands from jails across the country.

Read our story on the latest developments in Damascus here:

Assad family’s iron-grip on Syria toppled as insurgents take control of Damascus