Sharaa's Islamist group is stamping its authority on Syria's state with the same lightning speed that it seized the country, deploying police, installing an interim government and meeting foreign envoys - raising concerns over how inclusive Damascus' new rulers intend to be.

Syria's brutal civil war rekindled suddenly after 13 years, with rebels staging a shock offensive that forced long-time dictator Bashar al-Assad to flee to Russia.

Syrian rebel fighters have destroyed the tomb of late president Hafez al-Assad, father of ousted president Bashar, in the family's hometown. Videos verified by the BBC showed armed men chanting as they walked around the burning mausoleum in Qardaha,

The main commander of the fighters who toppled Bashar al-Assad said on Wednesday that he would dissolve the security forces of the former regime, close its prisons and hunt down anyone involved in the torture or killing of detainees.

The commander of Syria's rebels who overthrew the regime of President Bashar Assad, Ahmad Sharaa, said Wednesday that those involved in torturing and killing thousands of detainees will not be pardoned.

Syrian rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa has vowed to hunt down "war criminals" with his multi-million pound warchest, even dragging them back from abroad.

Rewards will be offered to those who will provide information about senior army and security officers involved in war crime.” It comes as Israel vehemently denies that its troops are now 16 miles (25km) from Syrian capital Damascus,