For the second year running, tourists are staying away and public festivities have been cancelled.

It also said that soldiers did not know the hostages were there when they began their operation.

Christians demonstrate to urge Syria's new Islamist leadership to protect minorities.

Ismail Haniyeh was Hamas's most prominent leader until his death in July.

Devices rigged with explosives killed and wounded thousands of people in Lebanon.

Under the burden of military service, some reservists are refusing to return to Israel's front lines.

Fergal Keane speaks to two Syrian refugees he met at the height of the migrant crisis in 2015.

Jamil Hassan, referred to as "the butcher" by people who lived on his street, is among the senior regime figures who have fled with their families.

A lively electronic music scene developed under the Assad regime. Now, it's unclear what comes next.

Kurdish forces say there's a real threat IS militants will try to break out comrades held in their jails in the north east.

Feras Killani grew up in Yarmouk in Damascus, which saw brutal fighting between rebel and government forces.

Orla Guerin visits Al-Sina prison in north-eastern Syria, where many suspected fighters have been held for years.

Sharaa led the rebel offensive that toppled the Assad regime in Syria less than two weeks ago.

The BBC's Hugo Bachega sees Syrians dancing, waving flags and making peace signs in Aleppo.

The BBC's Lina Sinjab says there is a joyous mood in the Syrian capital, as people mark the end of the Assad regime.