Friday Briefing: Syrian rebels storm another city

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December 6, 2024

	By Gaya Gupta

Good morning. We’re covering the storming of another major city by Syrian rebels and the manhunt for a gunman in New York City.

Plus, a celebration of art in Dakar.

Syrian rebel fighters riding through the streets of Hama yesterday. Abdulaziz Ketaz/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Syrian rebels advanced in the direction of Damascus

Syrian rebels stormed into the city of Hama yesterday as government forces withdrew in another stunning setback for President Bashar al-Assad. A rebel commander said on social media that their adversaries were in “a significant state of confusion,” with government soldiers and commanders abandoning their posts.

The advance on Hama comes just days after the rebels seized Aleppo, a major hub in the north. It has also shifted the front lines for the first time in a 13-year-old civil war that has ravaged Syria and created a refugee crisis for many of its neighbors.

What’s next: In a video circulated by the rebel group leading the offensive, their leader, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, called for the rebels to push on toward other cities, including the capital, Damascus. Read more about the rebels leading the offensive.

Context: Analysts attribute the rebels’ shocking success to the attrition of the civil war on al-Assad’s forces. In addition, the allies who have supported Syria’s forces — notably Russia, Iran and Hezbollah — are now preoccupied with their own crises.

The authorities said they were focusing on a man who stayed at a Manhattan hostel. Caitlin Ochs for The New York Times

A manhunt in New York entered its second day

A frantic manhunt is still underway in New York for the masked assailant who shot and killed the chief executive of UnitedHealthcare, one of the largest health insurers in the U.S., on Wednesday. The police released two photos of the suspected gunman, the first to show his face. Here’s the latest.

While investigators have not established a motive for the killing of Brian Thompson, the executive, the attack appeared to have been targeted.

The police said they were investigating messages found on bullet casings at the scene of the shooting, including “delay” and “deny,” possible references to ways that health insurance companies seek to avoid paying patients’ claims. UnitedHealthcare, which covers more than 50 million people, has faced a range of complaints and investigations for its denial of medical claims.

Military forces stood outside the National Assembly on Wednesday. Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters

A South Korean general testified on the martial law order

The general who led a short-lived spasm of martial law this week in South Korea was grilled in Parliament, a rambling appearance that cast the military as ill prepared and disorganized from the top down. It was the first chance lawmakers had to question the military about the martial law order handed down on Tuesday night by President Yoon Suk Yeol.

“We were not militarily prepared because it was put into action in such a hurry,” said Gen. Park An-su, the Army chief of staff. “There was confusion.”

Context: The military has spent decades trying to rehabilitate its image and win public trust after a brutal past. Its role in Yoon’s martial law raised a specter from that era.

What’s next: The National Assembly is scheduled to vote tomorrow about whether to impeach Yoon.

A neighborhood in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, after an Israeli airstrike this month. Bashar Taleb/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Sports

Annika Hammerschlag for The New York Times

Every two years, the Dakar Biennale draws in wealthy collectors and stylish art aficionados to exhibitions in Senegal’s capital. But this year, the country’s president has encouraged a different crowd of art lovers to attend: teenagers and young adults.`

“It’s fun, it’s free, it’s beautiful and it’s so Instagrammable,” said a 17-year-old high school student who came on a recent afternoon. Take a look.

Lives lived: Rohit Bal, who created modern Indian couture by updating traditional garments, died at 63.

James Estrin/The New York Times

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The New York Times

The most stylish people of 2024

It was an election year. An Olympic year. A year of brats and cowboys, witches and swans. Amid it all, a few fashionable people, characters and things stood out.

Our Styles desk made a list of the 63 people whose sartorial choices encapsulated 2024. The list includes Kim Yeji, the South Korean sharpshooter who came to the Olympics with a stuffed elephant and eyewear out of “Mad Max,” as well as the “Wicked” stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, who raised the bar for dressing the part with their steadfast commitment to wearing pink and green.

Everyone — or everything — on the list made us look, think and talk about the clothes we wear, the ways we live or the approaches we take to personal style and self-expression. Check out the full list here.

Armando Rafael for The New York Times

Cook: Espagueti verde is a rich, creamy dish that starts with roasted poblano peppers.

Listen: Jennifer Hudson shared a playlist of festive holiday songs.

Game: These are the best video games of 2024.

Consider: Does taking tiny amounts of weight loss medications work?

Play: Spelling Bee, the Mini Crossword, Wordle and Sudoku. Find all our games here.

That’s it for today. See you Monday. — Gaya

P.S. We’re asking readers about their favorite holiday traditions. Share yours here.

We welcome your feedback. Send us your suggestions at briefing@nytimes.com.

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