Israel strikes suspected weapons sites in Syria as Russia grants Assad political asylum

Syrian rebels overthrow Assad, Russia grants him asylum, Israel strikes to prevent weapons falling into wrong hands.

Israel has struck suspected chemical weapons sites and long-range rockets in Syria in order to prevent them from falling into the hands of hostile actors, the Foreign Minister said on Monday (December 9, 2024).

Syrian rebels reached Damascus over the weekend and overthrew President Bashar Assad’s government following nearly 14 years of civil war, raising hopes for a more peaceful future but also concerns about a potential security vacuum in the country, which is still split among armed groups.

Follow Syria civil war LIVE updates on December 9

In a separate development, the Kremlin said Russia has granted political asylum to Mr. Assad, a decision it said was taken by President Vladimir Putin. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on Mr. Assad’s specific whereabouts and said Mr. Putin was not planning to meet with him.

Israelis have welcomed the fall of Mr. Assad, who was a key ally of Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group, while expressing concern over what comes next. Israel says its forces temporarily seized a buffer zone inside Syria dating back to a 1974 agreement after Syrian troops withdrew in the chaos.

“The only interest we have is the security of Israel and its citizens," Gideon Saar told reporters on Monday. “That’s why we attacked strategic weapons systems, like, for example, remaining chemical weapons, or long-range missiles and rockets, in order that they will not fall in the hands of extremists.”

Mr. Saar did not provide details about when or where the strikes took place.