More now from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Iranian supreme leader, who has spoken for the first time since the downfall of his ally Bashar al Assad. We’ve just got his comments in full.

“What happened in Syria was mainly planned in the command rooms of America and Israel. We have evidence of this. A neighbouring government of Syria was also involved,” he said in a speech reported by Iranian state media. 

Khamenei also said Iran’s “resistance” would grow stronger despite Assad being removed from power.

“The more pressure you exert, the stronger the resistance becomes. The more crimes you commit, the more determined it becomes. The more you fight against it, the more it expands,” he said.

“I assure you, by divine power, the influence of the resistance will extend across the entire region more than ever before.”

Moscow ‘in touch’ with rebels over its military bases in Syria

The Kremlin says it is in touch with Syrian rebels over its military bases in the country.

Russia has a key air base in the Latakia province and a naval facility at Tartus, its only Mediterranean repair and replenishment hub.

“We, of course, maintain contacts with those who are currently controlling the situation in Syria,” Peskov said in a conference call with reporters.

“This is necessary because our bases are located there, our diplomatic mission is located there and, of course, the issue related to ensuring the security of these facilities is extremely important and of primary significance.”

Qatar will reopen embassy in Syria soon, says foreign ministry

Qatar says it will soon be reopening its embassy in Syria.

In a post on X, the country’s foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said Qatar will it would reopen “after completing the necessary arrangements”.

He described the situation in Syria as “historic days for the region,” and said there was a “ray of hope” for Syrian people.

Assad kept signed picture of late Queen in ‘treasure room’

A signed picture of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip has been found among the souvenirs in the packed “treasure room” of ousted Syrian leader Bashar al Assad.

Rebel fighters discovered the photo in the dictator’s so-called “People’s Palace” on the edge of Syrian capital Damascus.

The picture is hand-signed and dated 2002 – the same year Assad and his wife visited the royals in Buckingham Palace.

The visit took place two years after Assad took over as Syria’s president – before he became a pariah for his brutal crackdown on the pro-democracy Arab Spring protests of 2011 and the civil war that followed.

Other keepsakes found in the packed treasure room included gold and silver shields, ornaments and artwork, numerous boxes and chests, and a FIFA award for the world youth championships.