Mohammad Al-Bachir's appointment as Syria's transitional leader by HTS marked the formal end of Assad's rule, while Israel conducted over 300 strikes on military installations to prevent weapons transfer. French media coverage shifted from celebrating Assad's fall to examining the implications of an HTS-led Syria, with reports of French jihadists among Damascus's captors.
In Paris, Macron's political maneuvering dominated coverage as he promised to name a Prime Minister within 48 hours while excluding RN and LFI from consultations. His pledge not to dissolve the Assembly until 2027 aimed to secure cooperation from center-right parties. The Socialist Party and Greens demanded Macron's withdrawal from daily governance.
By evening, reports focused on preserving evidence of Assad regime crimes, while French authorities began addressing the implications of Syria's power transition for domestic security.