Syria’s embassy in Lebanon has suspended consular services following the arrest of two relatives of deposed Syrian President Bashar Assad at the Beirut airport for allegedly using forged passports. The embassy announced the suspension on its Facebook page without providing a reason for the decision.
Lebanese authorities have handed over dozens of Syrians, including former officers in the Syrian army under Assad, to the new Syrian authorities after they were caught illegally entering Lebanon. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that 70 Syrians, including former army officers, were transferred to the security forces of the new Syrian government.
Regional countries have begun establishing ties with Syria’s new rulers. Delegations from Libya and Bahrain visited Damascus on official visits. The new Syrian government, led by the former insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, has been working to allay fears of reprisals and has initiated security measures, including raids targeting officials affiliated with Assad.
In northeastern Syria, tensions persist between Kurdish-led forces and armed groups backed by Turkey. The U.S. State Department confirmed that Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed the latest developments in Syria with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, emphasizing the need for a Syrian-led political process that upholds human rights.
Protests have erupted in northeastern Syria, with Kurdish women’s groups demanding women’s rights in the new government. Participants expressed concerns about the role of women in the new order and called for women’s rights to be enshrined in the new Syrian constitution.
