White House watching as Syrian regime seems to crumble

White House National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett says US President Joe Biden and his team are closely monitoring the extraordinary events in Syria and staying in constant touch with regional partners.

The last several hours have appeared to mark the stunning end to the 50-year rule of the Assad family in Syria, brought down by a lightning rebel offensive this week.

After reports that President Bashar al-Assad left the country for an undisclosed location, Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi Jalili says the government is ready to “extend its hand” to the opposition and hand over its functions to a transitional government.

“I am in my house and I have not left, and this is because of my belonging to this country,” Jalili says in a video statement.