Weeping, Fairuz Shalish grasps the red earth at an unmarked grave in Syria that she believes may hold her son, one of tens of thousands of people who vanished under ousted president Bashar al-Assad.Thousands poured out of the country's web of prisons in the final days of Assad's rule and after Islamist-led rebels toppled him on December 8.

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

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

With its wide boulevards and tree-lined neighborhoods, Homs bustled with business, an oil refinery, and agricultural production. Sunni and Alawite Muslims, Orthodox and Catholic Christians—diverse groups lived in adjoining enclaves, their ancient mosques and churches dominating the skyline.

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

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.”

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

However, “we entered Damascus and turned the tables on these ... officials that the rebels would stop their offensive in Homs and go to Geneva for negotiations on “transitional arrangements.”

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

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.