DAMASCUS, Syria — On Monday, Syria’s Prime Minister announced that a majority of cabinet ministers were back to work following the rebels’ successful ousting of President Bashar Assad. However, some state employees did not return to their posts, leading to a United Nations representative stating that the nation’s public sector has experienced a complete and sudden standstill.
As the conflict subsides, many refugees are crossing back into Syria from neighboring nations, seeking better prospects and attempting to reconnect with relatives who went missing during Assad’s harsh regime.
The rebel coalition, which now governs a significant portion of the country, faces emerging challenges. The group is led by a former top al-Qaida operative who had dissociated from the extremist organization years prior and has pledged to uphold democratic principles and religious diversity.
On Monday, the rebel command declared they would respect women’s rights regarding attire, stating, “It is strictly forbidden to interfere with women’s dress or impose any request related to their clothing or appearance, including requests for modesty,” as conveyed via a social media announcement.
Several key government services experienced disruptions nearly two days after the rebels had entered the capital, as state employees disregarded orders to return to work. This inactivity has resulted in difficulties at airports and borders and has hindered the distribution of humanitarian aid.
In a notable meeting, rebel leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, known previously as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, spoke with Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi Jalali, who remained in Syria following Assad’s departure. Al-Sharaa remarked in a video, “You will see there are skills among the rebels.”
In response to security threats, Israel reported conducting airstrikes targeting suspected chemical weapons facilities and long-range missile sites, aiming to prevent these from being acquired by extremist factions. Additionally, Israel has established a buffer zone within Syria after the withdrawal of Syrian military forces.
In northern Syria, Turkey announced that its allied opposition forces had taken the town of Manbij from Kurdish-led groups supported by the United States, reinforcing the complex division within the country, even post-Assad.
The Kremlin confirmed that it had granted political asylum to Assad, with President Vladimir Putin making the decision. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov refrained from discussing Assad’s location and noted that Putin did not plan any meetings with him.
Life in Damascus was gradually returning to normal on Monday, though many shops and public services remained closed. Public squares saw celebrations, and civilian traffic resumed but public transportation was still non-operational. Long queues were observed outside bakeries and food stores.
Although there was minimal visible security presence, small groups of armed individuals were seen stationed in various neighborhoods.
Throughout parts of Syria, families anxiously waited outside prisons, security facilities, and courthouses, hoping for news regarding the fate of their relatives who were imprisoned or had vanished.
In Saydnaya military prison, located just north of Damascus, female prisoners, some accompanied by their children, erupted in screams as rebels broke open their cell doors. Reports from Amnesty International and other organizations claim that dozens are secretly executed weekly in Saydnaya, estimating that between 2011 and 2016, approximately 13,000 Syrians lost their lives there.
“Don’t be afraid,” a rebel reassured the detainees while escorting women from their cramped confines. “Bashar Assad has fallen!”
In southern Turkey, Mustafa Sultan was among numerous Syrian refugees waiting at border checkpoints to return home. He was looking for his older brother, who had been imprisoned under Assad’s regime. “I haven’t seen him for 13 years,” he expressed. “I am going to see whether he’s alive.”
Prime Minister Jalali has been attempting to depict an impression of normality since Assad’s flight. In an interview with Sky News Arabia, he stated, “We are working so that the transitional period is quick and smooth,” claiming that the security landscape had improved from the previous day.
At the Justice Court in Damascus, which was stormed by rebels for the liberation of detainees, Judge Khitam Haddad, an assistant to the outgoing justice minister, expressed readiness to resume judicial functions promptly, commenting, “We want to give everyone their rights… We want to build a new Syria with new methods.”
However, the U.N. official reiterated that certain government operations were incapacitated, as anxious employees opted to stay at home. According to the U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria, Adam Abdelmoula, the public sector “has just come to a complete and abrupt halt,” exemplified by a suspension of a crucial aid flight carrying medical supplies due to aviation staff abandoning their posts.
In parallel, Britain and the U.S. are contemplating whether to remove the main anti-Assad rebel faction from their lists of designated terrorist organizations. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which originated as an offshoot of al-Qaida, cut ties with the group years ago and has sought to present itself with a more moderate image. British Cabinet minister Pat McFadden noted that the group’s leader, al-Sharaa, is advocating for minorities’ protections and individual rights, adding that discussions regarding designation changes would be considered soon.
However, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer voiced during a visit to Saudi Arabia that it is “far too early” for such decisions. Meanwhile, a Biden administration official indicated that HTS will play a significant role in Syria’s future and that engagement with them is necessary.
In Israel, there was welcome acknowledgment of Assad’s fall, who had been a critical ally to Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah group, though there remains concern about future developments. Israeli officials confirmed recent military strikes targeting various military resources related to Iran and Hezbollah, while cautioning that they will maintain a close watch on the situation.
In a significant announcement, Turkey asserted that its partners have gained full control over the northern town of Manbij, previously held by the U.S.-backed Kurdish forces known as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The SDF later reported that a Turkish drone strike in the village of al-Mistriha resulted in civilian casualties, including children.
Turkey perceives the SDF as linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), applying pressure on the U.S. government regarding the SDF’s operations. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan underscored on Monday the importance of preventing both Islamic State factions and Kurdish militants from exploiting the ongoing turmoil, emphasizing that Turkey is determined to stop Syria from transforming into a “haven for terrorism.”
