Following the fall of the Asad regime, the world continues to uncover the horrific crimes that the dictator has carried out in Syria. The latest discovery is the finding of fifteen civilians "brutally tortured to death" in Sednaya prison, located about 30 kilometers north of Damascus, adding up to "between 40 and 50" bodies found in that prison, "mostly recent executions," according to the director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The Syrian Civil Defense, known as the White Helmets, arrived at this prison on Monday, which was managed by the Syrian Military Police and known for the use of torture against thousands of prisoners, to rescue detainees in possible hidden underground cells.
In this prison, which is estimated to have housed between 10,000 and 20,000 detainees, according to Amnesty International, the use of torture and excessive force came to light after a prisoner uprising in 2008.
On Sunday, the insurgents declared Damascus "free," and the Syrian President, Bashar al Asad, fled to Moscow with his family as part of an insurgent offensive that began on November 27 and was led by the Levant Liberation Organization (Hayat Tahrir al Sham or HTS, in Arabic), the heir of the former Syrian branch of Al Qaeda.
Who is Mohamed Bashir, tasked with leading the transition in Syria?
Mohamed Bashir is an Islamist politician who graduated in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Aleppo in 2007 and later in Sharia (Islamic law) at the University of Idlib, the northeastern province that served as the main opposition stronghold to the Al Asad government in recent years and where he hails from, as reported by the AFP agency.
He entered politics after the popular uprisings of 2011 in the context of the so-called "Arab Spring," which later spread throughout Syria and was harshly repressed by the Bashar Asad government and its allies, including Iran and Russia. Bashir was appointed last January as the head of the Salvation Government, a kind of political branch linked to the Levant Liberation Organization (Hayat Tahrir al Sham or HTS, in Arabic), with its headquarters in Idlib.
Prior to assuming the position of prime minister of the Salvation Government in Idlib, Bashir first served as the director of Islamic Education and later as Minister of Development and Humanitarian Affairs between 2022 and 2023 in the mandate of Ali Keda, whom he later succeeded.
Leading this Salvation Government, he focused on modernizing this war-torn region and addressing the humanitarian needs of the approximately three million people in that province, half of whom are displaced and have suffered terrible attacks by the Syrian government and Russian airstrikes.
Established in 2017, this administration, which includes ministries, departments, and judicial and security authorities, was created to assist people in areas escaping Damascus' control and unable to return to access government services. Bashir faced several challenges during his tenure as head of the Salvation Government.
Last February, groups of protesters took to the streets of some cities in Idlib demanding the fall of Al Jolani, as reported by activists at that time, in protests that continued for several months. Their demands ranged from ending human rights violations in prisons, economic reforms in the region due to poor living conditions, and opposition to the monopoly of decision-making by HTS, just one of the dozens of groups opposing Asad in Syria.
Israel claims its attacks on Syria are to protect its borders
An Israeli military spokesperson stated on Tuesday that Israel was not intervening in Syria beyond taking measures to protect its borders and prevent strategic weapons from falling into hostile hands, denying that Israeli forces had advanced towards Damascus. Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani said that Israeli forces had remained in the demilitarized zone between Syria and the Golan Heights, occupied by Israel, apart from "a few additional points" near that area.
Mohamed Bashir officially appointed prime minister of Syria until March
Politician Mohamed Bashir was appointed acting prime minister of the transitional government of Syria until March, as reported by Syrian television, now controlled by the forces that overthrew Bashar Asad's regime.
"The transitional government lasts three months under the presidency of Mohamed Bashir," said sources from the Syrian Political Administration on television, following a Cabinet meeting where powers were transferred from the previous regime's cabinet to a new executive. In this meeting, attended by the former Syrian Prime Minister, Mohamed Ghazi al Jalali, Bashir, among others, to hand over portfolios and "start the work."
"This assignment was made by the General Command. We have been entrusted with running the Syrian government in an acting capacity until March 1, 2025," confirmed Bashir in a televised statement, broadcast by the Saudi channel Al Arabiya. According to sources, the new transitional government will begin taking security-related measures, such as the "dissolution of security authorities and the annulment of terrorism laws," although no further details were provided.
Between 40 and 50 bodies found in the Syrian prison of Sednaya
"Between 40 and 50 bodies" have been found in the Syrian prison of Sednaya, north of Damascus and known for the use of torture against prisoners, during rescue operations initiated shortly after the insurgents took the Syrian capital, said the director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abderrahman, in a phone call with EFE.
The head of the NGO, based in the UK but with a broad network of collaborators on the ground, said he believed "most of the bodies were from recent executions." Since the Islamist group Levant Liberation Organization (Hayat Tahrir al Sham or HTS), the heir of the former Syrian branch of Al Qaeda, took control of Damascus, the doors of this prison, previously managed by the Syrian Military Police, were opened, and several videos emerged showing some prisoners with clear signs of torture.
With the control of each city, the organization began opening prisons where numerous political prisoners were held, as human rights organizations have been denouncing for years. In Sednaya, which is estimated to have housed between 10,000 and 20,000 detainees, according to Amnesty International, the use of torture and excessive force came to light after a prisoner uprising in 2008.
The Embassy of Spain in Syria will remain open and strengthened in the new situation
The Embassy of Spain in Damascus "will not close, it remains operational," although adapted to security conditions, as confirmed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, who also announced plans to strengthen diplomatic presence by creating at least "a special envoy," as reported by Efe.
As explained by Albares on Tuesday in a press conference following the Council of Ministers, he analyzed with his team how to address the new situation in Syria after the fall of Bashar al Asad's regime and stated that they plan to increase personnel with at least "a special envoy" to support the Chargé d'Affaires. This proposal will be presented to the Council of Ministers for approval, said Albares, emphasizing that the Embassy, with its staff reduced to the "essential minimum," needs to be reinforced given the importance of Syria, "what is at stake for the Middle East, the Mediterranean, and the international community."
Robles warns of the consequences of Al Assad's fall in Syria for the Mediterranean and the Sahel
The Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, warned on Tuesday that the fall of Bashar al Asad's regime in Syria could increase Russia's presence in the regions of the Mediterranean Sea and the Sahel, as reported by Europa Press.
Deputy Sumar Félix Alonso Cantorné asked the minister in the Joint Committee on National Security in Congress to assess the collapse of the Syrian regime after a rebel offensive that lasted a few days.
Robles stated that the government is "closely monitoring and concerned" about the situation in Syria and warned that Al Asad's fall "has very clear implications for security and Russia's involvement" in the geopolitical landscape.
Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway also halt asylum processing for Syrians
The migration authorities of Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway have joined other European countries in announcing the suspension of asylum application processing for Syrian citizens in response to the overthrow of the authoritarian regime of Bashar al Asad, as reported by Efe.
The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) announced on Tuesday that it has suspended decision-making on the approximately 350 asylum requests from Syrian refugees currently in process due to the change in the security situation in Syria following the insurgents' takeover after a long and bloody civil war.
This measure is similar to the one announced on Monday by the migration services of Sweden, Denmark, and Norway following the confirmation of the fall of Al Asad's regime on Sunday.