Syria's former leader, Bashar al-Assad, agrees to transfer power to rebel forces.

Syria’s former president, Bashar al-Assad, has agreed to transfer power to the rebels, according to the outgoing prime minister, Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali, who shared the news with Al Arabiya TV, as reported by Reuters. The leader of the Syrian rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, along with the HTS-linked Salvation Government’s Prime Minister, Mohammed al-Bashir, met with Ghazi al-Jalali to discuss the power transition. A video released by the rebels on Monday showed their meeting, emphasizing coordination to ensure uninterrupted services for the Syrian people.

The meeting in Damascus followed the outgoing prime minister’s promise to work with the rebels, support a systematic transition, and safeguard state infrastructure. Al-Bashir, the incoming prime minister, previously served as prime minister in Idlib, a rebel-controlled area in northern Syria. In a video, HTS leader Jolani, referred to by his real name, Ahmad al-Sharaa, praised the expertise gained by his team during their governance in Idlib, expressing confidence in their ability to handle larger responsibilities.

Over the weekend, footage surfaced showing Assad’s outgoing prime minister being escorted by armed rebels to a hotel in Damascus. Separately, reports indicated that Assad and his family fled to Russia after a swift rebel offensive. Meanwhile, Israel announced strikes on Syria’s chemical weapons facilities, and the U.S. military confirmed targeting over 75 ISIS locations to prevent the group from exploiting the chaotic situation. Assad’s removal was celebrated widely by Syrians, with rebels and civilians ransacking his luxurious palaces in Damascus, exposing his extravagant lifestyle, including a collection of luxury cars.