Syrian President Bashar al-Assad released a statement via social media, marking his first public communication since his regime's collapse. He detailed his evacuation from Damascus to a Russian air base on December 8th, amidst intensified drone attacks. Assad emphasized that he never considered stepping down or seeking refuge. The fall of his regime has led to uncertainty about Syria's future. In Eastern Syria, American-backed forces control a significant portion of the country, maintaining stability in former ISIS strongholds. However, they are concerned that the regime's collapse could create a power vacuum, potentially allowing ISIS to regain strength. There are fears that ISIS might align with rebel forces that contributed to the regime's downfall. A high-security jail in the region, housing thousands of ISIS prisoners, remains a target for ISIS operatives, who still exist as sleeper cells. The jail's warden is withholding news of the regime's fall from prisoners to prevent unrest.