Syria's Assad is now in Moscow, Russian state media says

The Syrian government collapsed after a surprise rebel offensive.

ByDavid Brennan, Julia Reinstein, Ivan Pereira, and Jack Moore
Last Updated: December 9, 2024, 4:23 AM EST

Rebel forces in Syria captured the capital Damascus and toppled the regime of President Bashar al-Assad in a lightning-quick advance across the country.

As Assad resigned and fled Syria, rebel forces moved into Damascus as citizens celebrated there and in the streets of Aleppo, where the rebel offensive began 11 days ago.

Meanwhile, the ceasefire in Lebanon is holding despite ongoing Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah targets, which Israeli officials say are responses to ceasefire violations by the Iranian-backed militant group.

The Israel Defense Forces continued its intense airstrike and ground campaigns in Gaza, particularly in the north of the devastated Palestinian territory.

Tensions also remain high between Israel and Iran after tit-for-tat long-range strikes in recent months and threats of further military action from both sides.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing.
Dec 04, 2024, 11:13 AM EST

Massive evacuation ordered in Beit Lahia in northern Gaza

A massive evacuation is underway Wednesday in Beit Lahia in northern Gaza, with a Palestinian Civil Defense official telling ABC News more than 10,000 people were forced to leave in the last 24 hours.

About 225,000 people lived in Beit Lahia before the war, and less than 40,000 remain there now, the official said.

The area is facing relentless bombing and an unknown number of people are believed to be dead or injured.

-ABC News' Will Gretsky

Dec 04, 2024, 5:41 AM EST

Israeli West Bank settlers riot, attack Palestinians and security forces

The Israel Defense Forces on Wednesday said security forces personnel faced "violent" scenes while evacuating an illegal Israeli settler outpost in the Palestinian West Bank town of Huwara, close to the city of Nablus.

A Palestinian woman inspects her damaged house following a reported attack by Israeli settlers in Huwara, south of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, on Dec. 4, 2024.
Zain Jaafar/AFP via Getty Images

Dozens of settlers rioted, setting fire to Palestinian buildings, vehicles and attacking Palestinian residents after Israeli security forces moved in to conduct the evacuation.

The IDF said several Israelis were arrested.

"The IDF views with great seriousness any violence against its servants and the security forces, who commit nights and days to the security of the citizens of the region," its statement read. "These events must be condemned and the violators of the law brought to justice."

-ABC News' Jordana Miller and Joe Simonetti

Dec 04, 2024, 3:32 AM EST

UN chief says Gaza aid 'outrageously' blocked

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a post to X on Tuesday that much-needed humanitarian aid for Gaza is being "outrageously blocked."

Displaced Palestinians shelter in a tent camp in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on Dec. 3, 2024.
Mohammed Salem/Reuters

Guterres said aid agencies are facing "gigantic humanitarian needs" in Gaza, where the Israel Defense Forces continue military operations -- particularly in the north of the devastated territory.

UN officials have repeatedly demanded that Israel do more to facilitate aid flows into Gaza.

"The nightmare is not a crisis of logistics," Guterres said. "It's a crisis of political will and of respect for fundamental principles of international humanitarian law."

-ABC News' Jordana Miller

Dec 03, 2024, 5:26 PM EST

Israeli forces conduct strike in Syria

The Israel Defense Forces said it conducted a strike in Damascus on Tuesday, to target Salman Nemer Jamaa, Hezbollah's representative to the Syrian military.

"The Syrian regime has actively supported Hezbollah, enabling weapon smuggling to Lebanon and by that endangering Syrian and Lebanese civilians. Jamaa was a key Hezbollah figure supporting these operations," the IDF said in a statement.

This Israeli strike is separate from active ongoing fighting between Syrian rebel forces and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces.

-ABC News' Jordana Miller

Related Topics