The toppling of Bashar Assad has raised tentative hopes that Syrians might live peacefully and as equals after a half century of authoritarian rule.

Russia’s scorched-earth intervention on behalf of former Syrian President Bashar Assad once turned the tide of the Syrian civil war.

Across Syria, soldiers tied to the former Assad regime are surrendering their weapons to the interim government. The New York Times spoke to some of these men in Latakia, as they face a new and uncertain future as civilians.

Russia has begun withdrawing a large amount of military equipment and troops from Syria following the ouster of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, according to two US officials and a western official familiar with the intelligence.

Ahmed al-Shara stressed diplomacy in an interview but criticized Israel’s advance into Syrian territory. A statement said to be from Bashar al-Assad, the ousted leader, defended his decision to leave for Russia.

Follow the latest on Syria Russian troops in Syria have denied claims by Syria's former dictator Bashar Al Assad that his exit to Moscow was conducted from the Hmeimim airbase at Moscow's behest. In his first statement since being deposed a week ago,

Across Syria, the country’s rebel leaders are struggling to contain revenge attacks, as vigilantes seize on the chaos of the moment to settle personal scores.

An Israeli strike targeted an air defence installation near Syria's Mediterranean Latakia port, Syrian security sources said on Monday.

Israeli warplanes continue to target military facilities and ammunition depots belonging to the Syrian army. Most recently, airstrikes were carried out on Syria’s Mediterranean coast at the port of Latakia,

In Syria, rebel armed groups entered the territory of Tartus and Jablebla, but did not touch the Russian military bases in Tartus and Khmeimim. This was reported to TASS today, December 9, by a source in the Syrian province.

Syria’s new transitional government says there is no place for Russian presence in Syria a week after the country’s long-time President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown. The new government also says it is open to engage in contacts with all countries to pave Syria’s new future.