Sharaa was already de facto head of Syria's government ever since a coalition of rebel fighters swept through most of Syria and ousted Assad's regime.

As the new Damascus authorities strive to restore their country and its diplomatic links they understand that Moscow is essential to this effort

While ostensibly aimed at restoring order, these operations have fueled further sectarian tensions, with reports of extrajudicial killings and sweeping crackdowns against local populations.

As insurgents raced across Syria in a surprise offensive launched in the country’s northwest late last year, officials from several

Humanitarians warned on Thursday that Syria continues to face major security and aid challenges in the northeast and beyond, in the uncertain aftermath of the overthrow of the Assad regime.

The occasion marked the conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul.

More than 500 military and civilians have been killed as a result of fighting since the change of power in the Syrian Arab Republic. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) told Izvestiya. In recent weeks,

Syria has entered a transitional phase with its de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, appointed as President, Al Jazeera reported, citing the state-run news agency SANA. Al-Sharaa has been given the authority to establish a temporary legislative body that will function until a new constitution is implemented.

Since the sudden downfall of Bashar al-Assad's government 50 days ago, Syria's transitional administration has been grappling with multiple challenges -- from surging violence to staggering economic instability.

You can’t extinguish fire with fire. You can’t address a mistake with another mistake. You have to correct the situation in Syria.”

Storyline: Syria's Military Operations Administration announced on Wednesday the appointment of Ahmed al-Sharaa as president during the transitional period, granting him authority to establish an interim legislative council until a permanent constitution is ratified.

Syrian Investigative Reporting for Accountability Journalism (SIRAJ), a collective of journalists and OCCRP partner, found the documents in late December while combing through files left behind during the hasty collapse of the Assad regime earlier that month.