The surrender of the Mazzeh air base triggered Israeli air strikes to prevent Assad’s former arsenal from falling into rebel hands. A former detainee revisited the site, recounting his month-long ordeal in Assad’s detention center. The rebels now control the base, where evidence of abuse, drug production, and destruction by airstrikes is evident.
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Once a pro-Iran bastion, Damascus shrine district now in rebel hands
Shortly before Sunni Islamist-led rebels took over the Syrian capital, Iran-backed guards fled their posts at the gates of the Sayyida Zeinab shrine in Damascus. Hezbollah fighters also left the area, leaving residents worried about the new guards. Despite assurances from the rebels, there is unease among the Shiite community in Syria, especially those associated with Iran-backed groups. Full Article
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