Dictator dashed hopes of reform after coming to power in 2000, adopting his father's brutal tactics and plummeting country into civil war by violently suppressing 2011 uprising

Terror group frames Muhammad Darwish as its chief during talks with Iran's Araghchi, as Hamas leadership again ensconces itself in Qatar

US says 'closely monitoring' situation, while senior Russian lawmaker predicts civil war will continue; others warn against letting terror groups seize power

Anthony Albanese appears to push back after Netanyahu claims Canberra's policies incited arson at Melbourne synagogue, decries rise in antisemitism

IDF takes control of buffer zone along border, including Syrian side of Mount Hermon, said to bomb missile research facilities, and chemical weapons stores around Damascus

With Hamas and Hezbollah seriously weakened by Israel over the past year, the ousting of Syria's president leaves Tehran's Mideast power struggle on shakier ground

People celebrate in streets; Syrian president said to flee, whereabouts unknown; prime minister offers to cooperate; IDF deploys to buffer zone with Syria, bolsters border forces

Senior al-Qaeda commander, 42, whose real name is Ahmad al-Sharaa, split from terror group and transitioned to depicting himself as champion of pluralism and tolerance