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Assad Regime Falls in Syria as Rebels Seize Control of Damascus

Syrian rebels officially toppled Bashar al-Assad's government on Sunday after capturing the capital, Damascus, in a swift and decisive offensive. Hassan Abdul-Ghani, a senior commander of the militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), proclaimed the victory through a WhatsApp message. “We declare Damascus free from the tyrant Bashar al-Assad,” he said. “To all displaced people worldwide, Free Syria awaits you.” (Read More)​​

US Airstrikes Target ISIS Camps and Operatives in Central Syria

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces on Sunday conducted a series of precision airstrikes in central Syria, targeting ISIS leaders, operatives, and known camps. The operation aims to prevent ISIS from taking advantage of the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, which ended after rebels seized the capital, Damascus. (Read More)​​

Israeli Forces Seize Syrian Side of Mount Hermon and Buffer Zone Following Assad Regime Collapse

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) took control of the Syrian side of Mount Hermon and key positions in the Golan Heights on Sunday, following the collapse of the Assad regime earlier in the day. The operation, led by Israel's elite Unit 5101 “Shaldag” Special Forces, marked Israel's first overt deployment into Syrian territory since the 1973 October War.
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Biden Calls Assad Regime's Collapse a ‘Moment of Risk and Opportunity,’ Outlines US Response in Syria

President Joe Biden addressed the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria on Sunday, describing it as both a “historic opportunity” and a “moment of risk and uncertainty” for the Middle East. Speaking from the White House’s Roosevelt Room, Biden characterized the regime’s downfall as a “fundamental act of justice” after decades of oppression under Bashar al-Assad and his father, but acknowledged the challenges ahead. (Read More)​

Russia to Deploy Nuclear-Capable Oreshnik Missiles to Belarus in 2025

Russia has announced plans to deploy its advanced Oreshnik nuclear-capable hypersonic ballistic missiles to Belarus in the second half of 2025. The announcement comes on the heels of Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Belarus on Friday, where he signed a landmark treaty to further deepen military cooperation between the two nations.
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US Believes Missing Journalist & Former Marine is Alive in Syria

President Joe Biden said Sunday that the United States (U.S.) believes American journalist Austin Tice, who has been missing in Syria for over 12 years, is alive and efforts are underway to locate him. Speaking at the White House after the fall of the Assad regime, Biden reaffirmed the U.S.’s commitment to bringing Tice home. (Read More)​

NYPD Releases New Photos of Suspect in Killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson

The New York Police Department (NYPD) on Saturday released two new photos of a suspect wanted in connection with the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, who was shot and killed in a targeted attack in Midtown Manhattan on Wednesday morning. (Read More)​​​

US Intelligence Warns of Iran’s Growing Nuclear Capabilities

The U.S. intelligence community has raised concerns that Iran is advancing toward the capability to produce nuclear weapons, according to a report released Thursday by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI). First reported by The Wall Street Journal, the DNI report titled “Assessment Regarding the Nuclear Activity of the Islamic Republic of Iran” provides a comprehensive analysis of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and activities between May and September 2024. (Read More)​

Shaurn Thomas, Once Exonerated and Paid $4.1 Million, Pleads Guilty to 2023 Philadelphia Murder

Shaurn Thomas, who spent 24 years in prison for a wrongful murder conviction before his release in 2017, pleaded guilty on Thursday to killing a man in 2023 over a $1,200 drug debt. In 1993, Thomas was sentenced to life in prison for the 1990 robbery and murder of North Philadelphia businessman Domingo Martinez. (Read More)​