Assad, who has been living in exile in Russia since his 2024 ouster, was sentenced for crimes against humanity and war crimes during the country's years-long civil war.
Dogs and drones have been deployed to search for those trapped under collapsed buildings, with local authorities reporting at least 150 deaths from the nation's strongest earthquake in a decade.
Researchers took brain scans mostly of border collies because they are highly skilled at following social cues and particularly willing to interact with humans.
While the Israeli leader touts a willingness to defy the U.S. on Gaza, the president needs to show progress in the foreign entanglements weighing on his approval rating.