Syria in transition: Developments since Assad’s overthrow

It has been eight days since Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and other rebels ousted President Bashar al-Assad from power in Syria.

His overthrow brought to a stunning end five decades of rule by the Assad clan that was marked by fear and horrific abuses, but it also plunged Syria into the unknown.

Here are some key latest developments in Syria:

  EU envoy to Damascus 

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Monday the bloc's envoy to Syria was going to Damascus to talk to the new Islamist-led rulers, as Western powers step up engagement.

EU nations, like others in the West, are wary of Syria's new leadership, given that HTS is listed as a "terrorist" group by several governments.

Rooted in Syria's branch of Al-Qaeda, HTS has sought to moderate its rhetoric, vowing protection for minorities, peace for the war-ravaged country, and justice for victims of Assad's rule.

"We can't leave a vacuum," Kallas said.

"For us, it's not only the words, but we want to see the deeds going to the right direction. So not only what they are saying, but also what they are doing."

 UN envoy meets Jolani 

UN special envoy to Syria Geir Pedersen said the country must have a "credible and inclusive" transition, according to a statement from his office.

The statement confirmed he had met HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, who now goes by his real name Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Pedersen also met interim prime minister Mohammad al-Bashir, the statement said.

 More diplomatic moves 

Qatar's foreign ministry said the Gulf emirate's embassy in Syria will resume operations on Tuesday.

Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler said Ankara was ready to provide military support to Syria's new Islamist-led government if it is requested.

Turkey reopened its embassy in Damascus on Saturday, 12 years after it closed early in Syria's civil war.

A French diplomatic team is also due in Damascus on Tuesday to "retake possession of our real estate" and make "initial contact" with the new authorities.

 US, UK in contact with HTS 

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Saturday that Washington had made contact with HTS, though it is proscribed as a "terrorist" organisation in the United States.

He did not elaborate on how the contact took place but when asked if the United States reached out directly, he said: "Direct contact -- yes."

On Sunday, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said London had also established diplomatic contact with HTS, despite still classing it as a "terror" group.

 Syria's pound recovers

The Syrian pound has begun to recover against the dollar, moneychangers and traders said as foreign currencies again became available on the local market.

For the first time in years, the black market rate and the official rate are now equal, in the absence of exchange offices.

"In every other country the currency falls when the regime falls. But here in Syria it seems the opposite applies," said jeweller Raghid Mansur in the Damascus souk.

  Russia's bases 
Russia, a key backer of Assad, said the fate of its military bases in Syria was still unclear.

On Sunday, it said it has evacuated some diplomatic staff from Syria.

Russia directly intervened in the civil war from 2015 onwards to bolster Assad's rule.

Assad is now believed to be in Russia, where he sought refuge from the offensive that ended up toppling him.

 Israeli strikes 
Israel has conducted hundreds of strikes in Syria since Assad was overthrown.

Strikes continued Monday, with the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor reporting raids on military sites in the coastal Tartus region.

The UK-based monitor, which relies on a network of sources inside Syria, said the raids were "the heaviest strikes" in the area in more than a decade.