Syrian president Assad's mysterious departure as conflict escalates

• Syrian President Bashar al-Assad departed Damascus on a plane heading in an unknown direction on Sunday night, according to global agencies, which cited local media and sources within the Syrian army. This information was corroborated in an interview with the German dpa agency by Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). Earlier, Syrian rebels reported that their forces had entered Damascus without facing resistance from government troops. Later, social media noted that the aircraft possibly carrying Assad disappeared from radar. Videos surfaced online showing Assad’s supporters or associates attempting to reach the plane at the airport.

• At least 34 people were killed on Saturday in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, as reported by Reuters, citing local medical sources. Hamas released a video featuring one of the Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip. The Gaza Strip's Ministry of Health had earlier reported at least 30 deaths and numerous injuries from Saturday’s attacks, which included strikes on the cities of Gaza and Rafah. Rockets also hit a hospital, injuring children among others.

• Former South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun was arrested on Sunday. According to Reuters, citing local media, he faces charges of treason related to his role in President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration and implementation of martial law last Tuesday. The former Minister of National Defense was arrested as part of an investigation into the martial law declaration, which lasted only six hours before being revoked due to parliamentary and public protest.

• Masked individuals in black clothing violently attacked participants at a pro-European demonstration in downtown Tbilisi on Saturday. Journalists were also targeted in the violence. Media reports indicated that the police did not intervene.

• Portuguese and Spanish police seized nearly 4 tons of cocaine on the Atlantic on Saturday. The cocaine was being smuggled into Europe on a ship traveling from Venezuela. Ten crew members were detained. Officers boarded the Venezuelan-flagged vessel when it was 1,000 miles west of the Canary Islands. "Onboard, there were 110 packages of cocaine, each weighing 77 lbs," clarified the Portuguese police.

Source: PAP/Reuters/X/WP