Diplomats gather in Jordan for summit; Iran warns Syria could turn into 'safe haven' for terrorists

'Unjustified' Israeli attacks on Syria 'terrorising civilians', says civil defence

Syria's civil defence has condemned the ongoing Israeli attacks on Syrian territory.

Israel's military has conducted hundreds of strikes across Syria since the fall of the Assad regime, claiming to have destroyed military sites and stopped weapons stockpiles from falling into the hands of extremists.

Its troops have also occupied land on the border between Syria, Lebanon and a UN demilitarised buffer zone in the Golan Heights.

The White Helmets humanitarian organisation said Israel's strikes are "terrorising civilians" and "constitute a flagrant violation of all international laws".

The group said "unjustified attacks and assaults on Syrian territory" lead to more tension in the region and prevent the return of stability to Syria. 

In a statement, it urged the UN Security Council and the United Nations to "take the necessary measures to ensure an immediate cessation of these attacks, which threaten the peace of the region and deepen its wounds".

Blinken meets with special UN envoy for Syria in Jordan

We've received images coming from a meeting in Jordan between Antony Blinken and the UN's special envoy for Syria.

Jordan is hosting a summit on Syria today, with diplomats from the EU, US, Turkey and Arab nations expected to attend.

Blinken has been on a trip to the region that has seen him visit Jordan, Turkey and Iraq in the last few days.

The US secretary of state was pictured meeting with Geir Pedersen in the coastal city of Aqaba this morning.

Who controls territory in Syria?

Despite the scenes of unified celebration seen in Syria following the end of the Assad regime, there is still a lot of division within the country.

The Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS) group are currently in charge of Syria after toppling Assad. 

The former al Qaeda affiliate remain on the terror list of several Western countries but have promised safety to Syrians and peaceful relations with neighbours.

It controls a large part of the country's west, including the key cities of Aleppo, Hama, Homs and the capital Damascus.

In the north, there's fighting going on between Turkish-backed groups and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), largely made up of Kurdish fighters.

The SDF want an independent Kurdish state across Syria, Iraq, and Turkey - although there are Christian and Arab militias who fight for them as well.

The group currently holds Kobani and Qamishli on the northern Turkish border, plus Deir Ez Zor in the east.

Who are the different rebel groups in Syria – and what territory do they control?

Sky News

Splitting apart the SDF areas of control is territory held by the Syrian National Army (SNA).

The SNA is a network of Turkish-backed militias that formed after Turkey sent troops into Syria to push back both Islamic State and Kurdish groups in 2016.

There are many more smaller militias active across the country, including Islamic State, and various other wider coalitions of rebel groups, like the Southern Operations Group.

Over in the southwest of Syria, the country is dealing with the Israeli military. 

It has troops on Mount Hermon, which sits on the border between Syria, Lebanon and a UN demilitarised buffer zone in the Golan Heights.

Israel's defence minister has instructed troops to prepare to stay for winter there.

Russia appears to pull back forces from Syria

A Russian cargo plane has left one of Russia's air bases in Syria this morning, a Syrian security official stationed outside the facility said. 

The official at the gate told the Reuters news agency that additional Russian departures from the air base are expected in the coming days. 

Russia has several military sites in Syria as a legacy of its intervention in the country's civil war from 2015 when it backed Bashar al Assad's fight against rebels.

After the Assad regime fell last week, satellite images showed Russia moving its military equipment at its air base in Latakia, with two cargo planes visible there yesterday.

Other images show helicopters and air defences being disassembled.

Footage of Russian convoys were also spotted near Homs yesterday, said to be heading northwest towards a Russian military base on Syria's Mediterranean coast.

Despite appearing to be removing material from Syria, the Kremlin has said it's been talking to the new government about keeping a presence within the country, 

Iran warns that Syria could turn into 'safe haven' for terrorists

Iran's foreign minister says there is a fear that Syria could turn into a "safe haven" for terrorists following the fall of the Assad regime.

Writing in an op-ed for the Lebanese-based Al Akhbar newspaper, Abbas Araghchi says that Syria is currently faced with a “difficult test”.

"There is a threat from terrorist movements such as Al Qaeda and ISIS, which has exacerbated the anxiety in the region. There is also a fear that terrorists will make Syria a safe haven for them."

Araghchi also says Syria faces challenges resulting from Israeli military intervention across the country "and behind it America, and their regional challengers from abroad".

"They have committed unforgivable strategic mistakes in their calculations, which cannot be hidden," he adds. 

"The clear goal of the attacks and intervention is to demolish Syria's social structures, scientific wealth, economic infrastructure, and defensive."

Araghchi says the only way out for Syria is to "preserve the banner of independence" and to hold free elections.

US general meets with Israeli officials ahead of Jordan summit

A top US military official has visited Israel to discuss the situation in Syria and "other strategic and regional threats".

The US Central Command (Centcom) chief, General Michael Kurilla, met with the chief of staff of the Israeli military and Israeli defence minister Israel Katz.

"The leaders discussed a range of regional security issues, to include the ongoing situation in Syria, and preparedness against other strategic and regional threats," a Centcom statement said.

Katz has ordered Israeli troops to prepare to stay over the winter on Mount Hermon, a strategic location overlooking Damascus, adding to signs that Israel is planning a prolonged military presence in Syria. 

The Israeli military has conducted hundreds of strikes in Syria and claimed to have destroyed most of the country's strategic weapons stockpiles to stop them falling into the hands of extremists.

Diplomats to gather in Jordan

There'll be a chance for some big related actors to discuss the situation in Syria later today in Jordan.

Diplomats from Turkey, the EU, US and Arab nations will convene to discuss what the future might look like for Syria following the end of the Assad regime.

-SKY NEWS