Syria holds national dialogue conference to shape future after Assad's ouster

Syria held a national dialogue conference in Damascus to discuss the country's future after the ousting of Bashar Assad. About 600 attendees aimed to create nonbinding recommendations for interim governance, but minority groups reported under-representation. The conference, led by interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa, focused on unity and rebuilding after 14 years of civil war. However, Kurdish and other minority representatives expressed concerns about their lack of inclusion in the discussions. The transitional government is set to take power on March 1, facing challenges like economic recovery and drafting a new constitution. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces were not invited due to restrictions on armed groups.