The rebel chief who led the overthrow of the longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad has been declared the head of government for a transitional period.

DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia will continue supporting Lebanon and is optimistic about the country's future after a ceasefire brought an end to a war between Israel and the militant Iran-aligned Hezbollah group, the kingdom's foreign minister said from Beirut.

Saudi Arabia's top diplomat, on his country's first high-level visit to Beirut after years of strained ties, said Thursday that he believed crisis-hit Lebanon's new leaders could spearhead long-sought reforms.

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister visits Lebanon on Thursday in the first trip to Beirut by Riyadh's top diplomat in 15 years, seeking a commitment to reform as the Gulf state reasserts sway in a country where Iranian influence is waning.

Syria's central bank has ordered commercial banks to freeze all accounts tied to people and companies linked to the ousted regime of former President Bashar al-Assad, according to a document seen by Reuters and people familiar with the decision.

French President Emmanuel Macron called on Israel on Friday to accelerate its troop withdrawal from southern Lebanon, as a deadline nears for the pullout under the terms of a ceasefire that ended the war with Hezbollah last year.

Saudi Arabia is optimistic about Lebanon's future following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. Prince Faisal bin Farhan emphasized the significance of proposed reforms in his meeting with Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun.

Ahmad al-Sharaa, Syria's new strongman since December 8, has been appointed as the country's interim president. He has been tasked with forming a "temporary" legislative council, whose mandate will last throughout the "transition period." This phase's duration was not specified.

Lebanon’s new government should prioritize protecting and promoting human rights, accountability, transparency, and the rule of law, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter to new prime minister-designate,

Sharaa, on Wednesday abolished the country’s constitution and declared himself president during a meeting of armed factions in Damascus. The former rebel leader will “assume the duties of the Presidency of the Syrian Arab Republic and represent it in international forums,

The leader of the former rebel group that toppled Syrian President Bashar Assad is named the country's interim president.

At least eight people were killed and 20 others were injured, including women and children, after Turkish airstrikes targeted a busy market in