Nebenzia jokingly offered U.S. help in finding HTS leader al-Julani

Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN Vasily Nebenzya jokingly offered the United States to help the United States find the leader of Syria's armed opposition and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) (banned in Russia) Abu Mohammed al-Julani, for assistance in the capture of which the US State Department promises $10 million, the diplomat told reporters on December 9 following the UN Security Council (UNSC) consultations on Syria.

"The State Department recognizes al-Julani as the leader of the HTS and offers a reward of $10 million to those who will help to apprehend him. I told the Americans: give us $10 million, we know how to help you. We will give you an address where you can find him," TASS quoted the postpresident as saying.

Rules of Transition: How Events in Syria are Changing the Balance of Power in the Middle East

And who Russian authorities have been in contact with in the country since Assad left it

At the same time, Vasily Nebeznya said that the Security Council may publish a document on the situation in Syria in the coming days. The Russian envoy also noted that the UN Security Council members are "more or less united" in their opinion on the need to preserve the territorial integrity of Syria.

On the same day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the indefinite transfer of the Golan Heights under Israeli control. To all this, Netanyahu added that Israeli strikes against the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah and Iran were the reason for the end of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's rule.

Shortly before, on December 9, Syrian Foreign Minister Bassam Sabbagh said that the country intends to notify the UN Security Council of violations of the republic's sovereignty following the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) strikes on Damascus and the military's actions in the Golan Heights.

On the eve of the national coalition of revolutionary and opposition forces of Syria announced to work on the formation of a transitional authority. In turn, Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi al-Jalali said that most of the ministers of the Syrian government remain in Damascus, and he himself is ready to cooperate with any elected leadership.

Against this backdrop, the IDF announced the deployment of forces along the Syrian border to ensure the safety of communities in the Golan Heights and Israeli citizens. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the demarcation agreement with Syria has been terminated due to the withdrawal of Syrian troops. Later it was reported that the Israeli military took control of Mount Hermon.

The situation in Syria escalated as a result of a major attack by armed formations in Aleppo and Idlib, which began on November 28 and led to the Syrian army's retaliation against the militants.