Syrian prime minister asserts government remains operational despite recent upheaval

Syria's Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi Jalali stated that the government is still operational despite the recent overthrow of President Bashar Assad by rebels. Most cabinet ministers are working in Damascus, and life is slowly returning to normal, though challenges remain. Rebels, led by a former al-Qaida militant, have promised personal freedoms and will not impose dress codes on women. Meanwhile, Israel has conducted airstrikes on suspected chemical weapons sites to prevent them from falling into extremist hands, following the chaos of Assad's departure. In northern Syria, Turkish-backed forces have taken control of the town of Manbij from U.S.-supported Kurdish forces. Turkey's foreign minister expressed hopes for a peaceful future in Syria, while warning against the rise of extremist groups in the region.