Syria
Syria rebels torch tomb of ousted president Bashar al-Assad's father
The tomb of ousted Syria president Bashar al-Assad's father, Hafez al-Assad, has been torched by the rebels days after it had dethroned the regime in Damascus, media reports said.
Several videos show armed rebels and civilians walking past the burning mausoleum in Qardaha with chants.
Hafez's burial chamber was seen burnt in the videos, which are floating on social media.
Apart from Hafez, the mausoleum also contained the mortal remains of Bashar's other family members.
Syrian rebels reportedly set fire to the Assad family mausoleum near Latakia, where Hafez al-Assad, Bashar's father, is buried. Videos show the ‘progressive jihadists’ trampling graves and the crypt in flames. Plans to remove Hafez’s remains were mentioned but remain unconfirmed pic.twitter.com/eZFRKTsKTc
— RT (@RT_com) December 11, 2024
The rebels led by Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) on Sunday captured key cities including the capital Damascus forcing Bashar to leave the country leading up to the end of Assad dynasty's 54-year rule.
Bashar fled to Russia where he has been granted asylum.
Bashar al-Assad's rule has been marked by several anti-democratic steps that have led to widespread criticism and condemnation from the international community.
Thousands of civilians died after Assad's regime responded to the Arab Spring protests in 2011 with brutal force.
His government has been accused of imprisoning and torturing political opponents, human rights activists, and journalists.
The government has been accused of committing war crimes, including the use of chemical weapons against civilians.
The regime has been responsible for numerous forced disappearances, with many people detained without trial or access to legal representation.
HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, a former jihadist who snapped ties with al-Qaeda in 2016, has promised tolerance towards religious groups and communities.
The group has formed an interim government in Syria under the leadership of former head of the rebel administration in the north-west, Mohammed al-Bashir.
The interim government will function until March 2025.
'US-Israel masterminded'
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday claimed the collapse of former President Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria was masterminded by the United States and Israel.
Khamenei was quoted as saying by IRNA news agency: "There should be no doubt that what happened in Syria was the result of a joint American-Zionist plot."
"Yes, a neighbouring state of Syria clearly played a role in this matter and continues to do so — everyone can see that," he said but did not name the nation.
He said: "The main conspirator, the main planner, and the command centre lie in America and the Zionist regime."
The toppling of Assad's 24-year-old regime is a blow to the Iran-led 'Axis of Resistance' political and military alliance.
The alliance mostly opposes Israeli and US influence in the Middle East.
"I tell you that By God’s grace, Iran is strong and powerful and will become more powerful," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said.
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