Four days after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, Syria’s new authorities pledged to establish a "rule of law" state, marking a dramatic shift from over 50 years of Assad family rule known for its harsh repression.

The announcement came from Ubaida Arnaout, spokesperson for the Syrian Interim Government’s Political Affairs Administration. Arnaout revealed that Syria’s constitution and parliament would be suspended for a three-month transitional period, during which a legal and human rights committee would be formed to review and amend the constitution. He emphasized the protection of institutions, official documents, and legal records as a priority.

International Diplomacy in Motion

Jordan announced it would host a high-level meeting on Syria on Saturday, with the participation of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, foreign ministers from the EU, Turkey, and several Arab nations, as well as a representative from the United Nations.

The G7, convening in Rome, expressed readiness to support Syria’s transition toward an “inclusive and non-sectarian government,” calling on the new authorities to safeguard women’s rights, the rule of law, and the protection of religious and ethnic minorities.

Before departing for Turkey, Blinken underscored the importance of preventing new conflicts in Syria, saying, “When it comes to the many actors with real interests in Syria, it is critical that we all work to avoid sparking additional conflicts.”

Upon arriving in Ankara, Blinken met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the airport. Meanwhile, Turkey announced the appointment of Burhan Kuruglu as its acting ambassador to Syria, a step toward reopening its long-closed embassy in Damascus.

Turkey’s Military Activities and Israeli Strikes

Amid the political shift, Turkey has intensified its military operations in Syria, particularly in the northern region of Manbij, where Turkish-backed factions have clashed with the U.S.-supported Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-led group. Reports of deadly skirmishes have surfaced, and fears of further escalation remain.

On Wednesday, the SDF declared a U.S.-brokered ceasefire with the Turkish-backed factions. However, tensions remain high as Turkey pushes to expand its influence. Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin was spotted in Damascus, a sign of renewed Turkish-Syrian diplomatic ties.

Adding to the turmoil, Israel has launched a series of airstrikes targeting key military sites across Syria. U.S. Secretary of State Blinken stated that Israel's strikes aim to prevent "military equipment left behind by the Syrian army from falling into the wrong hands, including terrorists and extremists." The United Nations has voiced "deep concern" over Syria's territorial sovereignty and called for restraint from all sides.

Transitional Government Assures Minority Rights

With lingering fears over how the new Syrian authorities will treat ethnic and religious minorities, Interim Prime Minister Mohammed Al-Bashir sought to ease concerns. Speaking to the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, he promised that “the rights of all people and sects in Syria will be protected.”

Al-Bashir also called on Syrian expatriates to return home to "rebuild the country," signaling a desire to reconstruct a Syria that is ethnically and religiously diverse but predominantly Sunni Muslim.

Humanitarian Crisis and Population Displacement

The humanitarian impact of the regime’s collapse has been severe. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), over 1.1 million people — most of them women and children — have been displaced since fighting intensified on November 27.

The World Food Programme (WFP) issued an urgent appeal for $250 million in emergency aid, warning that food insecurity in Syria is growing at an alarming pace. WFP spokespersons stated that this funding is needed over the next six months to support up to 2.8 million displaced people.

At the border crossing in Cilvegözü, Turkey, more than 200 Syrians were seen attempting to return home after years in exile.

Human Rights and the Fate of Detainees

Syria's new authorities face mounting pressure to address the fate of those imprisoned under Assad’s rule. The UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, urged the new government to release those "arbitrarily detained" over the past decade, emphasizing that "tens of thousands remain missing" amid allegations of torture and extrajudicial killings.

The UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria confirmed that it has documented lists of individuals responsible for human rights abuses and war crimes in Syria.

American Citizen Freed from Captivity

In a development hailed as a diplomatic success, Syria’s interim authorities announced the release of U.S. citizen Travis Timmerman, who had been held in Syria during Assad's rule. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed the news, stating that efforts are underway to facilitate Timmerman’s safe return home.

The Syrian authorities also expressed a willingness to cooperate with Washington on tracking and freeing other missing Americans in Syria.

The Road Ahead for Syria

After an 11-day offensive led by a coalition of armed factions under the command of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Assad’s regime was toppled. While HTS had previously been affiliated with Al-Qaeda, it officially severed ties with the group in 2016, though many Western countries, including the United States, still list it as a terrorist organization.

Despite ongoing skepticism, HTS is now part of Syria’s new power structure, pledging to ensure justice, protect minorities, and rebuild the war-ravaged nation. Residents of Damascus have expressed relief, with Razan Halabi, a 38-year-old citizen, stating, "It feels like we were all imprisoned underground, and now we’ve come up to the surface.”

With diplomatic activity picking up, international actors are racing to influence Syria’s future. But with ongoing conflict in northern Syria, a refugee crisis, and new power dynamics emerging, the path to stability remains uncertain.