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This is the World In Brief from the Economist.

Our top stories.

Abu Muhammad Al Jalani, a rebel leader, visited Damascus after anti-government forces took control

of the Syrian capital.

Mr. Jalani controls Hayatahar al-Sham, an Islamist group that spearheaded the surprise offensive

which toppled Syria's regime, though another group based in the country

south beat him to Damascus. Bashar al-Assad, the country's dictator for 24 years, has resigned

and fled to Moscow. Russia, which supported him during Syria's long civil war, granted him asylum.

Crowds celebrated in the country's big cities. In a statement on state television,

Mr. Jolani declared that the future is ours. Western governments welcomed the collapse of the

Assad family's rule. Kayakhalis, the European Union's top diplomat, observed that the regime's

collapse shows the weakness of Assad's backers,

Russia and Iran. America, which has some 900 soldiers based in Syria, said the troops would

remain there to continue their fight against Islamic State, a weakened jihadist group.

...