condition fronting isil, the u.s. to expand its use of special forces on the ground in iraq and potentially syria. ♪ good to have your company. i'm david foster. you are watching al jazeera live from london. also in this program. back home 16 lebanese soldiers freed in a prisoner swap. burkina faso elects his first civilian president in

decades and japan resumes its whaling in antarctic. the u.s. defense secretary, ash carter has told congress he is prepared to expand the role of special operations troops taking on isil fighters in iraq and syria. here is what he said a short while ago. >> american special operators bring a unique suite of capabilities that make them force multipliers. they will help us garner ground intelligence, further enhance our air campaign, and enable local forces that could regain and then hold territory occupied by isil. rosiland jordan live for us now in washington, d.c. it is important to distinguish between what is happening on the ground in iraq and syria, and in terms of a different approach, this is strikingly different in

iraq, am i right? >> reporter: that's right, david, and that's because the iraqi government wants u.s. troops to be helping with the effort to move isil off its territory. so you have people working in the open with the support and consent of the ruling government, and they are able, then, to provide, really, hands on training and support, and more intelligence gathering than they otherwise would be able to do. the difference is that in syria, the president has approved a plan to send in special operating forces there, but they are doing so without the consent of the go of president bashar al-assad, and that has been something that has angered assad since the u.s.-lead coalition started air strikes more than a year ago. but even though we don't know yet when these special forces might be deployed to syria, the idea is that if the air strike campaign is going to be clearing

the way of isil and making it possible for moderate syrian fighters and for members of the kurdish peshmerga to try to retake the territory, the ideas that these special operating forces would make it easier for these groups to actually hold the territory, because that's the really big problem. it's one thing to clear the enemy out of the way. it's another thing to hold on to the territory and defend it. >> i think i'm right in saying there is something like 50 special forces working inside syria. this is new about iraq, do we have any idea about the expanded operation in terms of numbers in syria and the number of forces that might be going into iraq? >> reporter: we don't know yet how many forces are going to be deployed to either country, as you noted there are about 50 or so special operating forces inside syria right now. it is worth reminding our aidence that there are about 3500 or so u.s. troops inside

iraq for the express purpose of training and providing assistance, intelligence gathering, and other sorts of support to the iraqi military, as well as working with local sunni militias to help improve their capabilities, particularly as the fight fore ramadi seems to be almost at hand. but we don't know how many numbers, and certainly they would want to keep that number a bit of a surprise so the members of isil and those supporting them wouldn't be able to outflank them. >> so a new force inside iraq, an expanded force potentially in syria, and that expanded force according to ash carter, will be able to free hostages -- i'm taking just a little bit of what he said -- free hostages, gather intelligence and capture isil

leaders. is that different to the current policy? >> it is very different, because when you have more people they are more capable of doing all of those things. right now what they are having to do is rely wholly on members of the moderate syrian opposition, including some people that some in the u.s. government don't particularly care for, donth trust think actually pose a security threat to u.s. national security interests. this is actually taking more hands on control. it's a controversial moving ahead as it were, because there still has not been a decision here on capitol hill on whether the u.s. should be conducting this operation. there is also a question whether the u.s. public would support an increased military presence in iraq or syria, especially if they don't know what the result is supposed to be.

but it definitely is pushing that envelope and it's something which the obama administration has decided needs to be done especially in light of the paris attacks. >> rosland thank you for reports there from capitol hill. we're staying with syria, a long awaited prisoner swap has taken place between the lebanese army and the armed group al-nusra front. 16 soldiers were released after being held for more than a year. lebanon has freed 13 prisoners among them, an ex-wife of the isil leader. >> reporter: back in the arms of their families, 16 lebanese soldiers freed by al-nusra front. the result of a delicate prisoner exchange. they were captured in the northernty after force fighting

broke out in august of last year. >> translator: we call on our government to take the same steps to negotiate the release of our comrades being held by isil. >> reporter: 13 prisoners associated with al-nusra front have now been released by the lebanese government. it's not only al-nusra who had taken hostages in all 30 lebanese security personnel were captured. four were executed, one died of injuries, nine others remain in captivity. but they are being held by isil, a group which is at war with al-nusra. the lebanese government says it is doing all it can to secure the release of the remaining host agency. >> translator: we have a target, a big target that is a real challenge. i mean the military personnel being captive by isil, and we need to free them, and liberate

them for the sake of lebanon, for the sake of our nation. >> reporter: among those released was the former wife of the isil leader. she insists, though, she had nothing to do with him. >> translator: as i said, i'm his wife. i have been divorced for seven years. he was not the leader of isil at that time. i want to go to turkey. >> reporter: meanwhile the families of those released spoke to al jazeera about their release. >> translator: i can't withhold my happiness. what i have to say thanks so god for their safe return, and we hope we will see them soon. >> translator: their return was a dream for us, and thank god it happened. we thank everyone who worked to secure their release.

>> reporter: tuesday's release will ease pressure on the lebanese government which has come under increased criticism since the soldiers and policemen were captured. it may also boost the standing of al-nusra front. rob matherson, al jazeera. ♪ people in the central african country -- burr key that fas sew have elected a new leader. mohammed reports from the capitol. celebrations rocked the capitol the moment results of the election were announced. the former prime minister was proclaimed the winner. he will become the country's first civilian leader in almost

five decades. he promised to follow through on his campaign promises. >> translator: we owe to those who sacrificed their lives for our country, the restoration or our constitutional order, and national reconciliation. >> reporter: citizens are tonight celebrating the end of political turmoil in their country. it's the hope of many year that the election of a new president will usher in a new era of democracy. he was also the president of the national asunder -- national assembly under blaise compaore. not everyone is happy. >> translator: he was not my candidate and never will be. i don't see any difference between him and compaore

the elections also bring to on end a transitional administration in which blaise compaore was overthrown. compaore ceased power by force and won four elections, all of which were disputed. he was toppled when he tried to change the constitution to extend his rule even further. >> no political power will impose an idea or practice of government. this is a very good thing. and this is the biggest achievement since the election of october 2014. >> reporter: comfortable in the knowledge that months of turmoil are now behind them, the people continue to celebrate their country's new status. indonesian investigators say

it was a faulty part plus subsequent crew action that caused the airasia plane crash that killed 162 people. this is the first official explanation since the plane came down last december. steph vassen reports. >> reporter: more than 11 months after the crash, investigators have revealed the final minutes of the plight when the alarms kept going off for a small technical failure of the computer system, the piloted decided to turn off the automated protection system, this forced the pilots to fly the plane manually without any computer protection, which is when all went wrong. the airbus started rolling sharply left and right and almost flew veritily. the co-pilot who was plying the plane together with the pilot failed to take control. >> we issued a recommendation to

airbus first for all pilots to be trained with the [ inaudible ]. and the second recommendation to airbus to provide some [ inaudible ]. basically to prevent the pilot improvise something out of the [ inaudible ]. >> reporter: what's what he did. >> yes. >> reporter: a very serious message from investigators. pilots should get more training to fly their planes manual in a so-called upset condition. traditionally the commission never points fingers as to who is to blame, but the message for the pilot is clear. it took rescuers two months to recover 106 of the bodies from the crash. this woman lost her 24-year-old son who worked as an airasia

flight attendant. his body was recovered five days after the crash. to her the outcome of the investigation doesn't make any difference. >> translator: i cannot blame anyone. no human being would deliberately make this kind of mistake. i'm sure nobody wants to fail in his work. he must have done his best. >> reporter: airbus has included upset recovery training for pilots in their manuals, also the technical failure that caused the alarms to sound during the flight has been solved in all airbus planes. stay with us, if you can, we have this coming up -- it is a step forward for women in saudi arabia's next elections. and disappearing islands, we visit the small nations at greatest risk from climate change. ♪

the global headlines the u.s. defense secretary, ash carter has told congress that a force of specialized troops will be deployed to iraq now to fight isil. he said he was also, quote, prepared to expand the role of the u.s.'s special forces in syria. lebanon's prime minister has welcomed home 16 soldiers released in a prisoner swap with al-nusra front rebels inside of syria. and voters in burr kimo a

fewco, have elected a new president. hundreds of women are running for elections in saudi arabia. it's the first time they have campaigned since the late king gave them the right to run for office. sylvia lennon has this report. [ applause ] >> reporter: a small celebration of a first in saudi arabia's conservative history. this woman is one of about 900 women running for office. she and the male members of their campaign team are launching her election website. >> translator: we have been waiting to be given this opportunity as ladies to participate in the political and social decision making in the country. since the door opened for us, i was one of the first female entrepreneurs actually able to participate in decision making. >> reporter: in 2011, the late king granted women the right to play a part in saudi politics. but women are only allowed to

run for municipal office. he said women should take up 20% of the council which advises the king. but activists say any changes are minor at best, and women still face significant restrictions. they are discouraged from driving and have to get the approval of a male guardian to travel abroad, go to work, or open a bank account. >> translator: i think there are limitations in being able to meet with the public. so i decided to go to malls, so that i can meet with the community. this is what prompted me to focus on social media in my electoral campaign, where everyone can communicate, so i can get the largest number of voters. >> reporter: female voters say having women in office will make it easier to raise issues. >> translator: it was difficult in the past to communicate with men, but with the presence of a woman now i can speak to her directly.

>> reporter: it's a step towards greater freedom for women in saudi arabia, but critics say there still a way to go. israeli forces have shot and killed two palestinians say they were involved in separate knife attacks on the occupied west bank. a 16 year old was shot dead near the block of settlements south of jerusalem on tuesday. israeli forces say he tried to stab a pedestrian at a road junction. later a 19-year-old woman was shot after trying to stab a soldier. 106 palestinians and 21 israelis have died in the violence which began at the start of october. total number of refugees arriving in southern europe by sea is already four times as many as it was last year, with the month of 2015 still to go. that's according to the united nations refugee agency which goes on to say almost 900,000

have crossed in the past 11 months. and that is just those who arrived safely. the number dropped in november compared to october, mainly because of bad weather and more work by the turkish coast guard. france says it is going to give african countries $8.5 billion to invest in renewable energy and increased access to electricity. at a meeting on the sidelines of the climate change conference, the french president francois hollande said although africa is not responsible for emitting greenhouse gases, it is suffering the consequences. african union is one of the biggest group of nations to commit more money to the green climate fund. >> africa pays dearly. lake charles is almost gone. we must not abandon africa. africa has been shortchanged by

climate change. africa must not be shortchanged by climate violence. >> pretty much all of us will feel an effect of climate change. our environment editor, nick clark has been the pacific nation which lies no more than three meters above sea level to see how people there are managing. >> reporter: from above it's evident now narrow the main island is. yet this is where 50,000 people live. it has a population density similar to tokyo or hong kong and it's growing fast. wherever you look, it seems there are children, and you can only wonder what the future holds for them. from the water, you can really see how low-lying the island is. there is practically noel vagus at all. there is just a lagoon this side and more water on the other side in the middle of millions and millions of square miles of open

ocean. there's nowhere to go up, sideways, or at all. we put to shore at this village, where the sea wall has been destroyed by ever-more powerful and persistent storms. where there were once homes, there's now open water. people are being forced to relocate to already crowded areas. there's still some stuff here. >> still some of their stuff here. they will come back for their stuff. >> reporter: the village elder showed me a house vak indicated just a month ago. >> they moved away. they don't come back. >> reporter: so they finally had enough. >> they finally had enough. too much. we're losing communities in this place because of climate change. >> reporter: while we were here the president hosted a conference on the troublesome issue of climate-induced

migration, also there the prime minister, highlighting the challenges they face. >> i don't think any of us here, knowing the history of human kind, has ever faced this same situation we are facing in our nation. >> reporter: the president has long campaigned for urgent global action. he invited me to enjoy him at home where he enjoys time with his grandchildren. >> i have always referred to climate change as the greatest moral challenge for humanity. because if these people knew that this is happening to us, why do they continue to do it? i cannot understand it? how can you pretend to be a moral person if you know that what you are doing is hurting people in this area of the world? >> reporter: there is no doubt that raising sea levels threaten the very existence of these communities, perhaps with

massive investment, the islands can be built up to defend themselves against the encroaching ocean, but time is running out. this ship lost its morgues in a recent storm. the ship's name translates to good luck, something these children desperately need. the whaling ships of japan are on their way back to the southern oceans after a 2014 international court of justice ruling had forced them to halt their hunts. four vessels have left for the start of the whaling season that runs from the end of this year, until march of next year. the fleet wants to take more than 300 whiles before the end of the season. environmentalists have condemned what is happening, but japan says the hunt once again is for scientific reasons and not commercial purposes. here is harry fawcett in japan.

>> reporter: two else haves from japan's whaling fleet left the southwestern town on tuesday, they will meet up with two other ships, including the mother ship and a fishery's agency patrol boat. the whaling will resume from the end of december and carry on through march. the mayor said there was nothing happier than this day, because it remarked the resumption of whaling season. last year they took no whales, because of the ruling that japan's scientific whales had no scientific basis whatsoever. there was no need to kill the whales to monitor their eating habits, and reproduction. however, japan has always said it wants to resume whaling, and it will continue, it says to take a reduced number, about a third of what it used to take,

333 whales every year between now and 2027. the australian government has said it does not agree at all with the concept of killing whales for research, and has been examining its legal options and as well as that the pressure group sea shepherd says it will head towards the osha to resume the confrontational tactics it has used in the past. it is 17 years since hugo chavez came to power saying he would transform venezuela with his own brand of socialism. but as people head to another crucial vote this sunday, many predict change of tide there. virginia lopez spoke to some of chavez's supporters who says they will protect the revolution no matter what. >> reporter: a free musical education for her granddaughter is just one of the achievements

of the revolution that this woman enjoys. she says the transformations achieved during hugo chavez's government run deep. >> translator: venezuelans had to cue for hours outside of shops for what they need. today i came home without toilet paper, but i still continue to support my revolution. >> reporter: her views are shared by neighborhoods in the community in car aks a known for its revolutionary fervor and being home to armed groups that would defend the revolution. these leaders can sit along jesus christ in a deprominently

catholic country and raise no eyebrows. but polls have shown that support has faded, and for the first time in 16 years the opposition could control the congress. for robert longa, leader of his group, a government defeat is unthinkable. >> translator: the popular movements will defend the social gains of the revolution on the streets. if the opposition say they lost and claim it is a fraud, we will remain in the streets to defend the revolution. >> reporter: he prefers to refer to his party as a public movement. but they also monitor the streets and local police are not aloud here. these grainy videos shot during last year's wave of violent protests that left 43 people dead, allegedly show armed members alongside security

forces. with stakes so high, many fear renewed episodes of violence could flair up once more. sunday's election could prove to be as much a test of venezuela's democracy as the future of the ruling party. virginia lopez, al jazeera, caracas. ♪ a potential new strategy to defeat isil, the u.s. spending more special operations troops to iraq. >> this one trend, climate change effects all trends. >> president obama pushing for an international agreement on climate change and for more cooperation over isil and the war in syria. russia signs off on new sanctions against turkey, retaliation for the shooting down of that russian