In Damascus, French and German foreign ministers Jean-Noël Barrot and Annalena Baerbock called for a 'peaceful and rigorous' transition with de facto Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Syrians saw hope reborn. After more than 13 years of repression against its people, the regime of Bashar al-Assad fell, leaving behind the vestiges of a life of luxury, fueled by numerous illegal activities.

The Telegram account General SVR is popular with British tabloids but has a less-than-perfect track record for truth.

The French and German foreign ministers are the most senior Western officials to visit Syria since longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad was toppled by rebels.

On the slopes of Mount Qasyun which overlooks Damascus, a network of tunnels links a military complex, tasked with defending the Syrian capital, to the presidential palace facing it.

Damascus international airport will restart commercial flights on Tuesday after halting them following the December 8 ouster of president Bashar al-Assad, Syrian aviation authorities announced Saturday.

Assad, an uncle of the ousted Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad charged in Switzerland with war crimes over the bloody suppression of a revolt in

Assad, an uncle of the ousted Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad charged in Switzerland with war crimes over the bloody suppression of a revolt in 1982, has flown from Beirut to Dubai in recent days, two Lebanese security officials said on Friday.

Assad's uncle, Rifaat al-Assad, left the country via Beirut airport around a week ago, after rebels overthrew his nephew.

BEIRUT: Lebanon expelled around 70 Syrian officers and soldiers on Saturday, returning them to Syria after they crossed into the country illegally via informal routes, a Lebanese security official and a war monitor said.

France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot and his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock arrived in Damascus on Friday for the first high-level visit by Western powers to the new Syrian administration that overthrew president Bashar al-Assad last month.

The foreign ministers of Germany and France will meet Syria's de facto new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa during a trip to the country on Friday on behalf of the EU.