His overthrow brought to a stunning end five decades of rule by the Assad clan that was marked by fear and horrific abuses, but it also plunged Syria into the unknown.

Here are some of the latest key developments:

- UN envoy warns conflict not over -

United Nations special envoy Geir Pedersen warned that Syria's protracted conflict "has not ended yet" despite Assad's overthrow, highlighting clashes between Turkish-backed and Kurdish groups in the north.

"There have been significant hostilities in the last two weeks, before a ceasefire was brokered... A five-day ceasefire has now expired and I am seriously concerned about reports of military escalation," he said.

The UN's migration chief, Amy Pope, meanwhile warned against a "large-scale return" of refugees to Syria, adding that "sending people back will only destabilise the country further".

She also told AFP that "tens of thousands" of people have fled Syria since Assad's overthrow and "we are hearing that especially religious minorities are leaving".

- Rebel factions to be 'disbanded' -

HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani said that all rebel factions in Syria would "be disbanded and the fighters trained to join the ranks of the defence ministry".

"All will be subject to the law," Jolani, now using his real name Ahmed al-Sharaa, said on his group's Telegram channel.

- European diplomats in Damascus -

A French diplomatic delegation arrived at the country's embassy in Damascus, which has been shuttered for years, an AFP correspondent said.

Britain and Germany have also said they had sent delegations to hold talks with Syria's new leadership.

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Rome was "ready to engage with the new Syrian leadership", but urged "maximum caution".

"Words must be followed by actions and we will judge the new Syrian authorities on their actions," she said.

EU chief Ursula Von der Leyen said the bloc would intensify its "direct engagement" with Syria's new rulers.

- Trump sees 'unfriendly takeover' -

US president-elect Donald Trump characterised Assad's ouster as an "unfriendly takeover" by Turkey, which has historically backed the opposition.

"I think Turkey is very smart... Turkey did an unfriendly takeover, without a lot of lives being lost. I can say that Assad was a butcher, what he did to children," Trump told reporters.

burs-ysm/kir