World News – Page 165 – Prologue Journal

Amid U.S. pressure, Ukraine starts thinking about drafting 18-year-olds

Washington Post As Russia gains ground on the battlefield in high-attrition combat, Zelensky is facing increased pressure to deploy younger people to the front lines. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/12/08/ukraine-war-draft-18-conscription-debate/

Syria Live Updates: Rebels Declare Damascus Free of al-Assad

New York Times After just a few days of rapid advances, the rebels appeared to control Syria’s capital. They said they would work with a top official in President Bashar al-Assad’s government. Mr. al-Assad’s location was unclear. https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/12/08/world/syria-war-damascus

Live updates: Syrian rebels say they’re in Damascus and looking for Assad

Washington Post Hayat Tahrir al-Sham said its forces entered the Syrian capital, bringing the rebels one step closer to their goal of overthrowing President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/12/07/syria-war-news-israel-hamas-gaza-lebanon/

Syrian dictator Bashar Assad flees into exile as Islamist rebels conquer country

Fox News JERUSALEM—Syrian dictator Bashar Assad, who used chemical weapons multiple times on his population, has fled Syria after rebels stormed the capital city of Damascus, according to Reuters. Assad, who was traineed as an eye doctor in the United Kingdom before succeeding his father, and his British-born wife, Asma al-Assad, fled with their three children,…

Syrian insurgents reach gates of Damascus, threatening decades-long Assad regime

Fox News Insurgents’ stunning march across Syria accelerated Saturday with news that they had reached the gates of the capital and that government forces had abandoned the central city of Homs. The government was forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The loss of Homs was a potentially crippling blow…

The shocking speed of Syria’s rebel advance against Assad: A visual timeline

Washington Post Videos, photos and maps show how Syrian fighters mounted a stunning offensive against the Assad regime, overtaking Aleppo and Hama, and closing in on Homs and Damascus. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/12/07/syria-assad-homs-damascus-timeline/

Trump says U.S. should stay out of Syria conflict as Assad regime teeters

Washington Post The president-elect seems to be sending a signal about possible future U.S. policy toward the region. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/12/07/trump-syria-assad/

Sweeping Syrian rebel advance resurrects U.S. fears of Islamist takeover

Washington Post A string of stunning victories has spurred White House worries about a “catastrophic success” in Syria if Islamist fighters gain control. But experts say the rebels have changed. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/12/07/syria-rebels-biden-intelligence-islamists/

Zelensky meets with Trump in Paris as he tries to build support for Ukraine

Washington Post The meeting marks the first time Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has joined President-elect Donald Trump in-person since the U.S. election. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/12/07/trump-zelensky-macron-meeting-paris-ukraine/

Syrian rebels threaten Damascus, Assad from north and south

Washington Post The rapid advance on Damascus is the greatest threat yet to President Bashar al-Assad’s 24-year rule. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/12/07/syria-rebels-homs-damascus-daraa/