For today, links to reports from the Associated Press and Reuters, and to commentary from Middle East Eye and the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on its initials below. (GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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FROM DEC. 30  Now Syria’s long-ruling Baath party is collapsing, too, by Bassem Mroue | AP  DAMASCUS — A few days after insurgents in Syria overthrew President Bashar Assad, his ruling Baath party announced it was freezing its activities, marking a stunning change in fortunes for the political group that had ruled for more than six decades. READ MORE . . .

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In Syrian military housing, former rebel leaders take the homes of Assad’s officers. From Reuters. DAMASCUS — Families of military officers who served under Syria’s ousted Bashar al-Assad are being evicted from their subsidised housing at a compound outside Damascus to make way . . . READ MORE . . .

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Israel’s attacks on Syria threaten regional stability and will ultimately backfire, by Ali Bakir | Middle East Eye  On Dec. 10, mere days after the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government in Syria, Israel launched the most extensive aerial military campaign in its history against a neighbouring country. Dubbed “Bashan Arrow,” it . . . READ MORE . . .

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Regional powers jostle for influence, by Mawadda Iskandar | The Cradle  Despite efforts by Syria’s rebel-led interim leaders to seek a fresh start focused on ‘zeroing problems,’ embracing inclusivity, and delaying decisions on critical issues, the arrangement of the country’s future that is shaped by Turkish–Qatari sponsors and U.S. allies faces daunting challenges. READ MORE . . .