World News

Though excitement and frenzy were on full display in some parts of Aleppo, the city is still gripped by uncertainty after the sudden end of a 13-year civil war.

Rebel fighters who took control of Aleppo about two weeks ago have promised security and continuity. Prices have skyrocketed, but residents express some hope for the future.

Israel says it is striking Syrian military sites to keep them out of “the hands of extremists.” The rebels who toppled the Assad government began laying out their plans while rival groups fought fierce battles for territory.

Israel capitalized on the power vacuum in Syria to bomb targets across the country, saying it aims to keep weapons away from extremists.

This former Soviet Republic has been rocked by anti-government demonstrations over the same issues that hurtled Ukraine into war — its relationship with Europe and Russia.

After helping to oust the prime minister last week, the far-right leader has made clear her next target is President Emmanuel Macron.

Israeli ground forces have overtly crossed into Syrian territory for the first time since the 1973 October War, passing the demilitarized border zone, two Israeli officials said.

While a deal was not yet in hand, a crack in the stalemate comes after Israel and Hezbollah reached a truce and President-elect Donald J. Trump ratcheted up the pressure for an agreement.

For Israel’s leaders, Bashar al-Assad’s downfall was made possible by their recent assaults on Hezbollah, Iran and Syria, all of which weakened the Iran-backed axis.

In a region “already on fire,” analysts say, rebels’ advance toward Damascus is a barometer of the shifting power dynamics that also affect nations like Iran, Turkey, Russia and the United States.