Syria lifts curfew in Damascus

DAMASCUS — Syria's Military Operations Administration announced on Wednesday the lifting of a curfew in Damascus and surrounding areas, urging residents to return to work as the country grapples with the aftermath of Bashar al-Assad's ouster.

The announcement coincided with interim Prime Minister Mohamed al-Bashir's call for refugees to return home.

Al-Bashir, a former regional leader in northwestern Syria, was appointed on Tuesday to head a transitional government until March. His appointment follows a swift offensive by a militant alliance led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, which captured Damascus within 12 days after launching its offensive from northern Syria on Nov 27. Assad has fled the country, ending five decades of his family's rule.