Syria’s Former Prime Minister Agrees To Hand Power To Rebels

The Assad regime’s outgoing prime minister has agreed to hand over power to Syria’s rebels after the insurgents seized the capital Damascus and toppled longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad, who fled to Russia. A transitional prime minister has yet to be picked, a source told CNN.

Led by Islamist militant group HTS, which was formed out of an al Qaeda affiliate, the rebels said they will soon name senior Assad regime officials wanted for torture. The rebels have issued a general amnesty for conscripts in the Syrian military, but it does not apply to those who volunteered to serve.

Anguished family members gathered at the notorious Saydnaya prison hoping for word about missing relatives. The Syrian Civil Defense, known as the White Helmets, said its search found “no evidence of undiscovered secret cells” in the complex.

Meanwhile, Israel said it struck Syria’s chemical weapons capabilities, and has ordered the creation of a “security zone” inside Syrian territory. The UN said the move breached a 1974 agreement.

CNN