the iraqi army tries to recapture ramadi from i.s.i.l. but says it will take time. you're watching al jazeera live from my headquarters in doha. i'm jane dutton. also ahead. syria greece on key point for peace talks. - agrees. in bethlehem, christmas festivitys come with heightened security. refugees rebuilding their lives

in europe one note at a time. the iraq eau army says it has liberated large part of thes ramadi. an operation to recapture the city on tuesday but the advance is being slowed down by explosive devices left behind by the group >> reporter: as the days wear on, iraqi forces trying to retake ramadi has made a sobering admission. it will take time. the military is trying to overpower i.s.i.l. fighters who have been in control of the city since may. backed by air strikes, ground troops are edging forward, street by street towards the center. >> translation: moral doeses e is high and we will keep advancing to take the whole of the ramadi city, god willing. we will liberate the remaining

parts of ramadi. >> reporter: eye ago' intelligence says there are just a few hundred i.s.i.l. fighters left within the city parameters. they're proving a difficult foe. traps of capable of damaging 25 tonne vehicles. it has slowed down the troops but it hasn't stopped them. >> translation: following the liberation of the area, teams from the 16th division started work to remove and diffuse the bombs planted on the roads and in houses. all the bombs have been diffused. >> reporter: the iraqi government is confident that the security forces are in the final stages of this operation. >> translation: there is one plan followed by the counter terrorism forces that have surprised amp. it is to circle the areas and launch an attack from the center. i.s.i.l. has lost the balance of power and it doesn't know which section is being attacked. ramadi is littered with rubble and shrapnel. it is an urban battle field and

up to ten thousand civilians are thought to be trapped inside the city. the hope is that victory will come swiftly and with no further loss of life, but both seem unlikely. gerald dann as we mentioned, ramadi is the capital of iraq's largest province. the capture of the city was crucial for i.s.i.l. which needed to set up supply lines from syria to iraq. it allows the group to bring fighters from raqqa and other areas across the border to ramadi. it is an important link to falugia which is 70 kilometres away where i.s.i.l. has control. both cities have strategic importance as they are on the doorstep of the capital baghdad. the director of the iraqi institute for democracy and development, he says even if iraqi forces push i.s.i.l. out of ramadi, they still face

resistance elsewhere >> one of the factors which apparently they learn the lesson, that once liberated with the shia mobilisation force have taken over, and now they learned this lesson and they tried to avoid any involvement by the shia mobilization force. however, among the sunni tribes, there are still inner squabble and fighting, who will control it. they are against the previous governor, against the council. so who will council it even-- control it. this is hasn't been decided yet. in addition to that, there is a big problem because most of the i.s.i.l. who is fighting them are also parliament of the same tribes in the area how they will decide between these two, within the party, how they will deal with them. in addition to all this, what is the general vision political approach to the whole problem.

if in will end in ambar who how about mosul or the rest. no doubt, it is a victory for the government if they succeed in regaining ramadi, but it should not be considered as a change - as changing the game in iraq. it is only a milestone syria and china say they've agreed on key principles needed for next month's peace talks in geneva. syrian foreign minister is on a visit to beijing which has previously vetoed resolutions on syria. the u.n. hope talks will lead to the formation of a national unity government. a resolution was approved endorsing aan international road map for syrian peace. >> syria is ready to advance in

geneva without any foreign interference, and our delegation will be ready as soon as we receive a list of the opposition delegation. >> translation: we should stick to a peaceful solution on the syrian issue. the people of syria decide the future and state of syria. the u.n. plays a key role in the negotiations. we agree three principles should be upheld throughout the whole process the national association of international studies, a meeting between the foreign ministers an china is important because beijing doesn't have an agenda when it comes to syria. >> china has good relations with almost all these major players who have one set of vested interest or another in syria. china can apply a higher level of objectivity and impartiality

to the situation in syria. therefore, i think china can actually play an important and independsable role as a good between or good officers provider and china may eventually win the trust and confidence of not only the syrian government right now but also rebels in syria, but also more importantly, other major players who are now fighting their way out in the situation in syria. one thing is simple. that is, peace should prevail in syria rather than the war and destruction. if peace will prevail, this will not only set a good example for people in syria, but it can also set a good example for other conflicts in that part of the world at least four countries have issued security warnings for christmas in areas of beijing. police have increased patrols in the diplomatic and entertainment districts. the u.s. embassy said it had received information of possible threats. the french embassy, brittain's

foreign office and australian department of foreign averts issued similar alerts. huge fire has killed 25 people in saudi arabia. the blaze broke out in the intensive care unit and the maternity ward of a hospital. more than a hundred people are injured. it has taken 21 civil defense females to battle the fire on the first floor of the hospital. an investigation is underway. the taliban is fighting for control of helmand province in afghanistan. the afghan army has been surrounded by fighters in a number of districts after heavy fighting in the past few days. the key battle is now in sangin. british soldiers have been sent back to the area to advise a year after they withdrew from the region. the taliban have money making ares areas but opium is one most successful. it shrank by 20% this year. even sew afghanistan still produces nearly 90% of the

world's heroin supply. helmand's province is rich in own wham with an estimated worth of $3 billion a year. for diabetesing aids the drug-- decades it has been smuggled wavelet to the streets of europe. taliban and criminal gangs encourage farmers to grow poppies by providing tools, fertilizer and irrigation. as long as it brings the farmers more cash than other crops, then they will have support in countryside. the taliban are not the only ones benefitting from the drug trade in the region >> there is also another element involved in it which is some of the corrupt government officials who also benefit and are from the traffic of drugs that are produced and then processed to a start extent and different-- certain extent.

we say there are a number of different parties involved in that production. so it is very difficult to see if there is only-- say there is only one party who has the control of a drug business in helmand. it is in the districts and the proximity of sangin. it is a huge amount of money. that is why helmand has always been a place where there has been unrest for a decade. the international forces left helmand, it would be a better opportunity for taliban to have more access and control over the cultivation of porks pop parks es and how to basically get more or generation more rev news out of it a japanese court has lifted an injunction that stopped two nuclear reactors starting. the nuclear disaster at

fukashima. it is argued that it failed to meet tougher safety standards but the judge rule they didn't pose a danger on people living nearby. still ahead. >> we're regular americans, we're not white trash when the american dream turns into a nightmare, while some mobile home owners in the u.s. are seeking legal protection. plus. >> join me in search of hong kong's disappearing pink dolphins. a ah

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your home for the best entertainment this holiday season. >> "inside story" takes you beyond the headlines, beyond the quick cuts, beyond the soundbites. we're giving you a deeper dive into the stories that are making our world what it is.

you're watching al jazeera. the top stories. the iraqi military says it has liberated large parts of ramadi from i.s.i.l. iraqi soldiers backed by tribal fighters began an offence to recapture the city on tuesday. syria and china have agreed to key principles needed for next month's peace talks in geneva. the foreign minister has met with miss counterpart in beijing. in afghanistan the taliban is fighting for control of helmand province. the army has been surrounded by fighters in a number of districts after heavy fighting in the past few days. the key battle is now in sangin. in the third attack in the occupied west bank israeli police say a palestinian has been shot after an attempt at car ramming.

earlier a man was shot after trying to stab israeli force with a screwdriver. another palestinian was also shot and killed in the area. he stabbed two security guards at the entrance of the industrial area. violence from the start of act has left 123 palestinians and 23 israeli's death. last minute preparations to receive fill grams in bethlehem, but leaders have decided to tone down festivists this year as a wave of violence in the area continues. let's join our correspondent live in bethlehem. it seems to be quite busy behind you at the moment. >> reporter: that's right. it has been filling up since the last time we spoke. thousands of palestinians and people from all over the world here to celebrate this year on

christmas eve. the parade has been going along. there has been a lot of activities. people have been celebrating christmas. in the brock drop, as diabetesing diabetesing backdrop as you've been saying, it has claimed two thousand palestinian lives and that is in the back trop with the attacks going on. we have a doctor who is part of the executive economy of the palestine liberation organization. thank you for being with us this christmas eve. as you were saying, a lot of violence over the past few months. weighing going on? >> what is happening is an uprising. you can see we're celebrating christmas here and most of the people could not come to this land because of israeli military check points, because of operation, but despite the operation of occupation, palestinians are determined, palestinians are not allowing themselves to lose their

humanity or their resilience or their aspiration to freedom. that's what is happening. a struggle against an occupation that has become the longest in modern history and that has transformed after 48 years of occupation into a situation of oppression. people here in bethlehem are celebrating jesus christ birth. the first palestinian that suffered in this land. they're sending a message to the world. we're here and we're not going to go away regardless of occupation. we have resilience and determination that bets lehem will always be the place of christmas - bethlehem. >> reporter: resilience, determination, but, again, a lot of violence and anger on the street. we've been speaking to young palestinians for the past several months. they tell us they've lost hope. what do you say to these young palestinians who have lost hope?

>> actually, last year i was warning people not to lose hope. i don't think palestinians have lost hope. on the contrary, they're gaining hope by their actions, by their popular resistance. you speak about violence. at the time main violence is the violence of the israeli army which attacked our peaceful demonstrations, made many young people think that the only way to encounter violence is also violence. in reality, there are 153 families who lost their children. they were killed by the israeli army. many of them could not have the opportunity to dig re burry them in dignity. these young people understood the matters. we can't rely on anybody. we have to rely on ourselves and we have to take our futures in our own hands. >> reporter: there you have it. of course, as we've been saying,

a lot of celebrations here in the major square. many palestinians determined to celebrate christmas in this year but in the backdrop a lot of anger and sadness that the violence continues thanks for that. nine refugees have drowned after their boat sank off the turkish coast. 22 people were saved but 11 more are trying to be located. three of the victims were children. the group was headed for the greek island of lesbos. the refugee exodus to europe hasn't stopped despite the cold. three and a half million syrian refuse gees are sheltering in countries such as turkey, lab i don't know and jordan. hundreds of thousands more have travelled to europe. many take the west balkans europe travelling from greece and macedonia.

when hu in, gary built a razor bent, they were diverted. the slovenian government said a gate was temporary and designed to steer refugees towards controls entry points. since the refugee crisis began, many europeans have tried to help new arrivals rebuild their lives, but one group of refugees are doing it for themselves. they're all musicians and they've opinion busy record-- been busy recording a cd. lawrence lee reports from brussels. >> reporter: [ ♪ ] >> reporter: a few days ago they hadn't even met, yet now these men from syria and iraq are singing and playing traditional songs from their home lands in far away belgium.

this man told us he had to leave his lute behind when he fled iraq. some kind europeans raised the money for him to get a new one. ais he abaits his asylum hearing he uses his music to help him forget the journey he has had to make. >> when i touch the instrument, there is a lot of things just go away, just forget a lot of things. even when you play and remember things, but at the end when you finish, you just forget everything. you don't care about everything because music means everything for me. this man was a tv star in his native pakistan. when he tried to set up a music school in his home, the taliban came and told him it was forbidden and they wouldn't tell him twice.

>> a lot of music has been tightened and injured. they tried to kill them also. you can see most of them leave the country, most of them they could not, but they stop singing, they stop playing music. >> reporter: on guitar ask basil, a respected opposer from damascus. he carried his guitar with him all the way singing for the other refugees. [ ♪ ] >> we play music, what happened with us how we live in dam ask. that's all. >> reporter: the people helping organise this are close to their target of $13,000 to print the cds. music classes for refugee children and concerts are also

being planned. in the europe increasingly openly has till to all refugees, it is perhaps a reminder of how war affects all of us, even the most talented. >> not bad. >> reporter: lawrence lee, al jazeera. brussels ukraine's parliament has voted in favor of imposing a trade embargo against russia. the law will come into effect when it has been signed the president. politician says it is in response to a similar decision by moscow last week. russia announced it will suspend free trade zone with ukraine from next month. at least six people have died in a storm that has swept across the u.s. tornados struck an area where 20 homes were destroyed. rescuers continue their search

for residents who are missing. at least 15 people have been arrested at a black lives matter in a protest in minimum society a - minneso torics. it was in one of the busiest malls. the protesters moved to an airport in the area. demonstrators want to draw attention to the recent police shooting of a black man in the city. >> there is such racial disparity in our state and in the metro area and i'm here to stand in solidarity with my black and brown brothers and sisters to fight for racial equity and to stand for justice for jamal clerk and hi family more than 20 million people are living in mobile homes in the u.s. most of them don't own the land that their homes sit on. in our second part of the series. >> end up being worse >> reporter: this has lived in

her mobile home with her husband for 13 years. she was planning on buying another one nearby for her children >> we were actually in the process of looking when we got the notice >> reporter: that notice from her mobile home park informed her it would close to build million dollar homes in its place. then her husband lost his job. now they're both out of work. their home is not moveable and they owe $17,000 on it. >> it is either going into the garbage and the bank will take it back and they will have to figure out what to do with it. we're not children, home makers. school teachers, whatever. we're just dollar signs. just because we live in a motor bike i'm home and not in a stick built house. >> reporter: it is an indeath suffered over and over. they endure the jokes and

epitheps. >> you might be a read neck if you have to help family with a trailer. >> reporter: those with homes on it, they get nothing with the land is sold >> we're regular americans, not white trash. we have chosen to own our own home. what is happening in our society is that people in a lower bracket are being excluded from, i think, having their own american dream, which is very sad. >> reporter: the mobile home park owners wouldn't meet with us. mobile homes are not mobile at all so moving is not an option. >> they're mobile so far as getting from the factory and to the site. they're not intended to be move again and there is nowhere to

move to. they're losing everything. all their equity. they still have a mortgage on that home. they are prisoners in their own homes. >> reporter: these home owners were advised that this park is about to closed next spring. so all 32 have to be moved. one home owner bought their home two weeks before the notice in part 3 we move from mobile homes to vans. it is often a lack of retirement savings which leaves ageing americans to live in their vehicle. a report on the van dwellers, can degree gating in the desert for winter. p pink dolphins are dwindle iing.

>> reporter: the first thing they tell you on the dolphin watch tour is not to have high expectations. but it has turned out to be a good day for these visitors. >> it was really lucky. you could see two pink dolphins. it was so fantastic. so beautiful. >> i was so surprised when i saw them. jumping from the water >> reporter: it is a surprise for everyone on the boat, even the tour guides. >> nowadays dolphins are quite scary of us. this morning's sighting, they get quite close to the boat. it is very real. >> reporter: the numbers of dolphins have dropped more than 60% in the last decade. conservationalist say it is mostly due to building projects in hong kong waters. they point out the 50 kilometer bridge, which cuts through areas with the highest density of dolphins in the pearl river, and they fear plans to ex-per

annumed hong kong's airport would drive away what's left of the dolphin population. this area is known as a doll anyone corridor. they travel through to feeding spots and clean klair waters. this is the proposed site for the airport's third runway. construction would involve dumping thousands of sand to reclaim a sea area. the government have been lobbied. a marine sanctuary after the runway is finished in 2023. >> can they survive for the seven years of the construction period and come back later and enjoy that marine sanctuary. i think there is a huge question mark and i think it is unalmost that the dolphin will be able to hang on for that long. >> reporter: the dolphins have been swimming in these waters for centuries.

they have paid the price for the city's growth with less and less space to call home that story and so much more on our website, al jazeera.com. >> in a little more than two years i.s.i.l. has become a major player in the conflicts raging in the middle east. in that time the group has overtaken al qaeda as the biggest foreign terrorist threat in most americans. smuggling of oil mountain territory it controls in are syria and iraq. howard shatz is a senior economist at the think tank rand, studied organizational structure ever i.l