to his hosting its 10 toward certain date on the 10th of december 2024 in doha, tom shay come on the award for translation and international understanding from the arabic language to mankind, the serial position fighter is kept to the countries 4th largest city of hama, a major blow for president bashar assad, the, i'm sorry, that is good to have you with us. this is else has your life and also coming up each time for cds with at least 280000 people displaced in northwest syria. the un secretary general calls for

a political solution to end the blood shit is really forces hit another residential building and northern gaza. adding to dozens of people killed across the street. and the search for a new french prime minister and the show down here resigns. after a vote of no confidence leads to governments in terms of the so we're going to start in syria and i want to take you through some pictures that were just getting in. these are believed to be images of opposition fighters on their way to hunt. so opposition fighters who just as we said, took the city of hama now on their way. going south towards hans. syria is 3rd largest city, used to be a major rebel stronghold until a government forces captured it in 2015. so again, we're just getting these pictures and this appears to be a significant elements. very,

very rapid developments in the past week. opposition sliders and syria. as taken to major cities, a level which is serious, 2nd largest city, the financial and economic hub. then they took, hama, where we learned today, the government troops withdrew from emma, and we heard the gunshots of celebrations of the opposition fighters. and now that last shot that we showed you of opposition sliders. heading south towards phones, which is 45 kilometers south of homo. all of these rows, by the way, a level, a level home, uh, homes on the same highway, the m 5 highway that then leads to the capitol, damascus. all right. let's go to our correspondent russell sir dar, who was in collision at the syria turkey border rest. so we're gonna try and figure out with you how significant this is. but let's start with the facts on the ground . what are you hearing, based on, again,

in the context of this latest footage that we're getting an opposition fighter is going from, how about the homes? you told us last hour, an hour before that that that was their goal. they want to bridge that gap, go 4550 kilometers south, and after they've captured, hama, which they did today, they want to capture homes. what do you know about what's happening now? indeed it was just a little after the noon time that the physician forces thoughts to enter some neighbors or the city for them to use their inside. just remember, it has been quite a couple of days that the opposition forces off. they're taking control of all apple, the 2nd largest that you'll see over here. then they started to march, to where to the toward how about the 4th largest city. the most start from it live directly to the south. and they start to the, in clear of the city from the sides, north, west, and east. how the, there was

a huge of resistance off the government forces, particularly at the north side, and particularly around the, the mountain that is called van. and i'll be the and also the town of comb honda. now the position forces are confirming that that mountain and that total seas lived under the control. and so today, by the, after just after noon time, the position forces start to get into this different on the eastern side, the reason that you're talking about that, why do you decide? because the sites do that, are some of the enhancements and some of these that did this. the 1st lies of the city and government. but the east side was where the origin forces with government forces would extremely weak the middle and the position to advantage of that. and the got into the, into the city. and then they rapidly add moves to the city center. now, the social facilities that the health facilities go mental buildings, every part of the city is completely under the control of deposition forces. and

they have officially announced that on the other hand, the city and governments also confirming that it has to be throwing its forces and repositioned them outside of the city. how the question is there, where also the city? because now we know that between the city of hama, then homes, which is the for the 5 should on it has filled this out. there are no major towns. and where are going to be, disney made it to the positions of the government forces is not come here because it was not only how much the descent that has been taken by adult position. but also they have taken full control of how much military airport and that is extremely important, may be as cool as important off taking over the course of the city because that needed to these, these babies. how many of these has been used by the city and governments so intensively sees the signal award in city has begun in 2011?

and the a have could have double flying from the airport, has been bomb being and crashing into a position for a course of a decade. so now the government forces have lost that important strategic a base. and it means that bad capacity or flying that you crave, can you perhaps to target to stride this position forces is significantly limited, is significantly reduced and the position is taking a look at the one thing that i know sphere to use. these drugs that can stop beat out once, that's why they've taken this opportunity. no further marching to the south city of homes, which is the total just city of syria. and if they manage to take over that, that is going to be, could be the change in the whole picture. russell, you may not have an answer to this because this is a very rapidly moving story is all very fluid at the moment. and as you said,

there's a pretty short distance between alma and homes. but as you speak, we're looking at these very latest pictures that we got from the highway. we understand this to be the highway between online homes. look, it's a very short clip, but it's significant, which is why we're playing it. and what we're seeing is a long line of vehicles, including some military vehicles. there's a pickup truck with armed men at the back. and we understand that this is part of the opposition groups heading towards hans. what are you hearing if anything, on your end, about movement of opposition fighters towards hans? well in the this is both to position forces, but also many people have left the, the city as well. how might as well just let's not forget that had been some of people residents or how much will be celebrating the take over of the position. but on the other hand, there were some pro government people also that were afraid to for their security. and that's why they left that so right,

the author of taking over the city or how much the position is not losing the time . they know that if they give time to the golden, the forces they will lead group and maybe enhance and enforce their defense lines. so they do not want to give that to which one to, to do the government forces. that's why you rapidly arrive up to take them to control of the city of how about now they are marching towards the south, towards the city of homes. that is not only those who are taking over the city more and more to position fighters are coming. now from my level, and also from in the north, a part of the country down to the south to, to, to hama. and then now they're marching toward steward holmes. so that's not only that the moment i, dan holmes, we are getting some reports that some of the the, the government offices are ordered, the vet create and their families. and some of the offices are leaving the pools. and people of homes that is just 45 kilometers so, so of how much people are also now starting to leave the city of homes as well. so

that is going to make homes as an easy. tar sioux falls for a 2nd because i think the most for a 2nd resume because we're seeing a hold on we're seeing what i think you're describing right now, which we are seeing footage that is near homes or could be in homes. we'll get you more details on that very soon, but just wanna make sure of yours understand what they're seeing on their screen. we're seeing footage near homes of a massive traffic jam. and that appears to be consistent with what you're describing, of pockets of population leaving the city of homes before the rebel advance. so i think we can start to, we can start to connect those dots and they would be leading towards coastal areas which are under government control, russell of the that is correct. so some of them are moving to the coastal areas we're talking about the city or the town of talk to us and the

city of las heck. yeah, there's the meditating in cost. so region has been to strong hold of the city and governments and also some of the people are moving towards the capital as well. so pitching over the homes, why it is so much in for the, for the god, for the position. you have to position managed to get the control of homes that practically then effectively will supply the, the government controlled area. so it means that the government control areas estimate the to the new cost that the government comfortable deal. yeah. starting from damascus on till data is or these 2 costs are going to be these connected. so what it means for the city and government, it means that they are practically losing the hall for more than out of the country in terms of the population. and in terms of the lens and 40 ron, which is one of the main backers of the city and government for them. also, it means they losing the land, but it's still yes. simply that is connected to your rock. you're on

a level for russia, that is also extremely important because russians, particularly, it's been to the new coastal cities, both parties and lucky. they have 2 major admitted to the bases. no, as the physician is marching towards the homes. now this to russian bays is also in huge risk for russia as well. so that's why the things are really moving extremely rapidly and the name sea of yeah, that is now we have seen is extremely different. and so the city a that's you have seen a week ago. so as i said as know, not only the city and uh, government officers and their families. and some of the minnesota officers are leaving the city of homes and, and heading to where the west and part of the content, the cost of cities. and also the on to sort this down south to the capital city, damascus. but also people, many residents off the city of homes are also leaving the city that, as i said,

is making the city of homes extremely vulnerable. and of course, increasing the chances of the position to take control of the city or so if we go back to hama, which opposition sliders took today. and the so reinforces the syrian military confirmed that they withdrew from homa. what information do you have on what's happening inside hama i asked specifically um, i'm specifically interested in what is happening to civilians there as well for that. there's also an interest in the angle of this this, this new k. so the bill position that has taken over the console or the city, or either for the 2nd largest to do a silver. yeah. now how about the 4th largest to do a problem or is it of syria and that's no marching toward the 3rd largest city homes. so this is what physician is lab by based. yes, we just have to have

a to shop and say that that really some is formerly known as, as the most up for don't. and before that it was linked to al qaeda. however, starting from 2016 on it has transformed the remarkably mean to look through through the last 7 days, a base we again and again repeatedly receive the announcements and the statements. but i'm headed terribly to sounds live there to my med july needs and seen that bent forces are going to be merciful bid, as is not based on the revenge. so celia belongs to every one different approaches, different backgrounds, different from the cities, and so one barrel given to get into security guarantees to the chris g is to the, to the shell appropriate ations to that otherwise population to this one is that so again again, bit on for size in the city is almost like it belongs to all of the syrians. so

this is quite a new album. and this is showing huge cost formation of h t s level position to the years as well because just remember, money analyst was saying, well, the stadium so cool city of the nation has been hijacked by the radical moments. so now h d. s. and the forces that are align with is, are trying their best to show that they're not the to that particularly to the civilians and they're seeking for the public consent. and even today that has been some of the reports that she has is saying that what of office taking the full control of this, it is often a spot in the garden, the forces out of these, the cities, they are not going to over this. it is me to totally, but rather there will be some of the call, so that are going to run the phase of the cities and also to day to have once again lose. so this is we have seen the statements directly with the made by the, the,

the, the, the mean either of these or position force them. how much will i need given specific guarantees to the she i populations and the christian population of the city off off how much? having said that, as i said today, that will have the miss reactions when the forces and there's the, the entered of april and entered, hama, we have seen that many people was coming to a position for us to celebrate him. better takeover of the city. but on the other hand, a significant portion of the society that are loyal to the government. also a fee, i mean, fee is of the, or save at the they do not know what the future is going to bring to them. that's why they're leaving the city. so as i said, as of now, one thing is clear, though not seen that blog shots as much as ballasa that they have seen in 2016, 1514, and before that. so that is relatively b is more of this expression of the position is happening with less plot,

bloodshot under, to import the fact that for that 1st no position is much more organized now. um, it seems that they got more mature. they realized that the cd it belongs to a serious, but on the other hand, the see it in the government and russia. they do not have the power that they had the 2060 of the member when the city and government was having the bomb being the position of forces in east divided in 2016, they all most leveled on that part of the city and it was backed by the heavy russian a strides. know what is confirmed is that russia has only 4 scribes, they have trucks. and the syrian government. on the other hand, those, the items that are being used by them are quite old. outdated. mic 20 threes. and the most, most fact we've had to cope is that they're chasing off to do

a position that is given a huge advantage to the position of forces. but on the other hand, it is significantly decreasing. the number of the civilian law says also in this battle have been sent out. so the civil defense for the defense center that is affiliated to the position as just so they said that to the last 7 days as a result of the russian. and does he didn't, government is tribes. 9 to 4 people had been killed and 320 people have been injured. but as i said, when i compared the figures to what happens in the 1st 4 years of the, the city of the city of civil war, it's rather to the last now. okay, russell, the syrian rebel chief of mohammed, also lunney, whose fighters have launched a lightning offensive on thursday, urged prime minister mohammed, she also donnie of neighboring iraq to keep his country distant from serious war.

all right, that's a, another data point that i want to introduce in this conversation because there are many groups from different countries and different regional powers that are involved in the syrian situation. and what this means here in this information we got just this afternoon, is that the head of the opposition groups? mohammed also lani has urged to run affiliated rocky groups not to join to fight against them in syria. so if, if you're having trouble following it, it's completely normal. there are many groups involved, but we will run you through it, restore and have a question for you. i'm gonna ask you a question. you think about it and, and just after that, i'll do a little recap for of yours. um, can you give us some context on the homes, the city that the syrian opposition fighters? oh no targeting. alright. can you pull together what our viewers need to know about homes? i'll come back to you in just 30 seconds, but i, i, it's 1718 g

n t. and i want to recap 4 of yours. what we're looking at. it all looks a little messy, a little confusing because this is a very rapidly developing situation for context. the syrian, the opposition sliders, which had not really made any significant military movements. and the last 4 years since they agreed to a cease fire that was broken by rusher and iran, back in 2020, just in the last week it has seized 2 major cities. first, it was a level a few days ago us there is 2nd largest city economic hub, financial hub of the country, and then it was homage just today. we got the confirmation there in the town, and those are the pictures you're looking at right now. exclusive footage, this is inside hama, hours after the opposition sliders took the city. so you see some celebrations. you see both civilian and some military vehicles driving around. that's what hama looks like. if we can move on to the next set of pictures that we got, and it's not much, but it's something you're saying this long line of vehicles this we understand to

be opposition fighters heading from home on the home. so this is near homes. so they are heading south towards, along the m 5 highway from home of the homes. and the next set of pictures we can show you appears to show people fleeing. again, this is in home, so near homes. this is people fleeing as they heard the opposition fighters were heading towards them and you heard russell was on the line with us and i'll be back with you in just a 2nd. first of all, you heard was still report that the government officials uh, were packing up their belongings or at least fleeing leaving their, their offices, their families instead of are all heading either towards the capital, damascus, or towards the coast attack. yeah. to our to so there is panic, it appears sitting in in, all right, that's the context at 1720 gmc russell, back to you homes. he used to be known as the capital of the syrian revolution.

what can you tell us about homes that are of us need to know at this point? indeed, so it is the total bit lot of city in syria. and it has a very dramatic past, as well by the history 0, just to remind all to our weavers homes was one of the cities that have seen one of the most severe humans, tati and cries is right off the suit. instead, he has to be what has stopped to get the remains almost for 3 years on the seas for of the syrian government and the forces that was back in the government's damascus governments. then i remember back then why would competing celia, seeing the dramatic scenes of people hungry people trying to find out foods once we use a big enough store. so the door for cooking the grasses to, to feed the children. and so one that the map, the things where us,

the of that name is, are still leave it and also might have been deceived or holmes was one of the nickel. she gave him points between the parties for years during the negotiating table that was set in geneva. so now almost like 8 years later, the position forces are rapidly heading toward the city. does so holmes, how such as she's 3 brothers, i say it is the 3rd largest city, and it is a know is that most of another major city that is teaching on um 5 highway, which is the most important hiring in the country. it is directly connecting the north of the country, starting for them on april, then going to hama, then going to homes, and then connecting to the capital damascus. so um 5, the most important highway connection is the north of the contact to the south. so homes is on that highway as well. so you have to position guides to control of

homes. so that means 3 major cities. i'm on for on high go on m 5, how highway are going to be being taken on the control, bye. do position. i'm done for the house was it's the syrian capital damascus, 100. 32 kilometers away for the south. and there are no major defense lines, no major towns that the golden, the forces could use. so as i said, if they take over the control of homes, then the city and capital damascus also is going to be an extremely, you know, a little little bit about the situation there and also, or stop there for a 2nd and most cool senate community. so can we probe that for just a little bit, russell? so you've mentioned this a couple of times. i understand this from a logical standpoint. you're saying look, if they keep going down the highway and they take a level, they have a label. obviously they already had it, then they take hama, as they did today,

then they take homes, if that's an if they haven't taken the homes yet. and you're saying that if that happens is that would then leave the capital damascus in a vulnerable position. look, taking the 2nd largest city, taking home and taking home. so those are all if they happen achievements. and some of them already have achievements for the position fighters taking the capital would be a very different proposition altogether. i would expect. i mean, how, how realistic is this, how feasible is this, this idea that they may actually really seriously target damascus? absolutely, it is a number of stories that some of the on sort of for now, but just remember 10 days ago. if any one will tell, the whole state is go that's remain being placed since 2016 on when the student government, by the help of russia and iran, took over control off of how of a level that that state is school. that chaise will shudders like days later,

and the position will take the full control of the city of other people, which even during the peace time of the city of civil war, new position has never been able to take the full control of the city because was just called me quarterly and particularly the eastern part of the city and even in the city of how much during the peak of the city and stephen ward in 2012, 13 and 14, the position has never been able to take control of city of how much a know within the base they to control of this to a city. so a week ago, 10 days ago someone was told that to the people, perhaps it wouldn't make much sense. so this is showing, showing a new natured off of syria. so we can see that the city and government is not the city and governments of 2016, and definitely be a rush that doesn't have that capacity. it had in 2016 because it's extremely busy in, in, in, in ukraine. and it has a beautiful and most of his forces and the coupons to be use in, in ukraine at the,

for all the lines. on the other hand, standing in governments want to see didn't governance main back us. you ramos is not in the same position just in the course of last year as well, has been targeting the running positions, the city and government positions, targeting the top of the shows, targeting the military men. those would have, you know, seeing the bottom, the ground and also another major back cause of the see didn't government. his ball law has been why it's reduce their capacity had been reduced by the ongoing, but it is rarely a strikes and he's very limited to a parisian. so now that's why the syrian government is in a much more fragile position. when you compare that to a year ago and 2 years ago, that's why everything seems possible how they're there. but i'm you called correlation based us level position just starting from it live and then rapidly taking over to the 2nd largest city. then the 4th largest city, and then no motion toward the 3rd largest city,

and then nearly expressing being willing this. and then they became that they will eventually try to capture the capital is surely alas, the cut over the things that has happened in syria in the last couple of days. the last 7 a days already quite realistic. but as i said, as of now, what we can see is that this media that we're seeing now is an extremely different celia that you have seen a week ago. nobody. and the one that has happened, you'll just have said that they did the delete of their off h d s moment july need to they also res phones to, to, to, to the statements that has been made by the, like a prime minister who said that you actually remain neutral. this is an internal issue of syria and it has to be handled by serious, i mean, and that's why he has been quoted. so that's also showing another nature of the new position here. so they are not only a shooting, the civilians and the,

the christians, the non muslims, the she, i'm in the sure go minute is all syria in terms of the guarantees that also given guarantees to the regional powers and the neighboring companies as well. the, the ad was read because edwards is not at to that to the original stage is good, but rather they are just a means to bring the seed in government dawn of use as you also said. another statement that is impart little with this kind of statement came for almost a that's of a powerful she, a kinetic and liter for your loss, caught him on a rocky government to remain neutral and not interested in seeing him. domestic affairs pulled up. it'll be, i'll be talking about you on russia, but there are 2 other major for the use as well. here. students with turkey and united states of america. so for turkey, for them, the priority was to take the control of the noise. want to create a buffer zone between yourself and bridge human dakota's forces. and just why don't

these law will happen in 2 days ago. the position forces to the control of tab decides which is another important strategic tone at the north of our apple. that has been taken for them to cut this fight as well. so when it comes to americans, americans repeatedly to the last week. they had been a cruise in the city and government or not anticipating to sort of not participating to the dues process candidly. and this seemed to the as a result, all this lack of can lack of lack of seriousness. the will position is no separately for the scene toward the capital and taking the cities of the city. so the state is go of the last 8 years, the case of the loss is years ration has collapse. and each of the major stakeholders in caea yet because it is a very could all the international scene. so these major players, russia, you want turkey, united states, they all are re calibration data movements and re positioning themselves because

this is a new syria in and way. and also there is another question whether the syrian government forces cool, really good because the feed back and re take the control of the cities. i will say it will be extremely, extremely difficult because just remember window positions to just eastern parts of it. but in 2012, it took full years of the city, a government to re take it from the a position and by almost leveling down by the base price, our team of shelling for years and years. they have been of the for years have read able, the city and governments have been able to retake the control off of april. so now why the city and government is, you know, we could position what you read names are in the record position. why the capacity of physical law and other major becker of the, of the student government is, you know, you could position white russian ministry treatments is less. so there is no,

there is no indicators that the student government would not the least organized legal.