So why did his feared military disintegrate when rebel fighters swept across Syria to take the capital? Leila Fadel reports from Syria, and we should warn you - this is a story about Syria's civil war ...

NPR's Leila Fadel, Jane Arraf, and Ruth Sherlock share their reporting from Syria more than a week after the fall of the Assad regime.

And, Leila, I spoke with a senior U.S. military ... that they will be equally safe in this new Syria. FADEL: And not to mention all of the outside influences, right? Turkey's influence.