AP PHOTOS: Portraits of former Syrian rebels now soldiers

Former Syrian rebels who now serve as part of the new Syrian government's armed forces posed for photo portraits with their weapons Friday. The soldiers, who took part in the overthrow of former president Bashar Assad’s government, were gathered together to wait for a military parade to begin in the central square of the capital Damascus. Syria’s transition has been surprisingly smooth but it’s only been a few weeks since Assad fled the country and his administration and forces melted away. The insurgents who ousted Assad are rooted in fundamentalist Islamist ideology, and though they have vowed to create a pluralist system, it isn’t clear how or whether they plan to share power.

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Syrian Villagers Bristle at Israeli Incursions

Protests have been breaking out in some southern Syrian villages against a presence by the Israeli military, which seized control over the border area as the Assad regime collapsed.
The Wall Street Journal - 1d
Syrian Rebel Government Hunts for Senior Assad Official, Prompting Deadly Clashes

Syria’s new government is searching for a senior official from the Assad dictatorship and for military forces loyal to the ousted president.
The New York Times - 2d
Best Arts Photos of 2024

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The New York Times - 2d
17 reported killed in Syrian clashes after attempted arrest of former prison officer

Security personnel and three armed men killed in clashes in Tartus province, a former Assad stronghold, say monitors. Fourteen security personnel from Syria’s new authorities and three armed men ...
The Guardian - 2d
Thursday Briefing: Rebel Factions Try to Unite Syria

Plus, “Squid Game” returns.
The New York Times - 2d
Kurdish-led forces push back Turkish-backed Syrian rebels in a tense offensive

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces says they have launched a counter-offensive against the Ankara-backed Syrian National Army to take back areas near Syria’s northern border with Turkey
ABC News - 4d
In Pictures: Sporting photos of the week

A selection of some of the most striking sports photographs taken around the world over the past seven days.
BBC News - 4d
Syria's Rebel Leaders Have Control of the Country. Now What?

The new Islamist-led government promises moderation, but officials aren’t committing to such issues as women’s rights or free elections.
The Wall Street Journal - 4d
Kilauea volcano in Hawaii erupts again. See the photos.

Kilauea began erupting around 2:30 a.m. Monday morning local time at the base of the Halemaumau Crater within the summit caldera after elevated seismic activity was detected overnight.
CBS News - 5d