Over 4,000 flown home in the face of rebel victory and overthrow of ally Bashar al-Assad
Fast-moving events leave Washington fearful of Isis resurgence and divided over troop deployment
Transitional authorities grapple with bureaucracy filled with phantom jobs, pervasive graft and culture of obedience
Israeli forces have seized territory and reportedly struck hundreds of military targets once controlled by Assad regime
Satellite imagery shows no signs of withdrawal from air and naval facilities
Allies of the ruling family have fled while coastal areas from which the regime drew support are celebrating its downfall
Also in this newsletter: How Rachel Reeves’ pitch to Brussels went down
A selection of some of the best titles shedding light on the conflict and its place in the wider power struggles across the Middle East
Helping Damascus stretched Tehran’s capabilities, while Russia exploited perceived western weakness
HTS issues amnesty for conscripted military but Israel grabs territory on border
Fall of Assad regime prompts immigration rethink in Europe
On the outskirts of Damascus, Saydnaya holds the secrets to the fate of thousands who disappeared under the dictator
Netanyahu has justified the incursion as a temporary move to protect Israeli citizens
Geir Pedersen warns there is ‘no way to exclude’ Islamist group that led offensive against Assad regime
Lots could still go wrong but the demise of one of the world’s most cruel dictators is welcome
Also in this newsletter: How to protect critical undersea cables
Syria’s strongman was feted in Riyadh three weeks ago. Now he is an asylum seeker in Moscow
A decade of backing Syria’s armed opposition could pay off while reshaping the region’s balance of power
Overthrowing of regime marks culmination of lightning offensive by rebel groups
Deposed leader arrives in Russian capital, according to state newswire, after regime toppled
But euphoria is tempered by chaos as people overrun symbols of the former regime
Hafez and his son Bashar killed countless people over five decades and oversaw the country’s descent into kleptocracy
Insider says Tehran declined to provide more military support for now-deposed Syrian leader
Toppling of regime marks culmination of lightning offensive by rebel groups led by HTS
