c, n z positioning themselves because this is a new, serious in and way. and also there is another question whether the syrian government forces cool, really. okay, because the seat 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 i left, but in 2012. it took full years of the city, a government to re take it from the opposition. and by almost leveling down by the base price, our team of a shelving for years and years, they have been of the for use have read able, the city and governments have been able to rethink the control off of april. so now while the student government is, you know, we could position while you read names are in the record position. why the capacity office block. another major becker of the, of the student government is, you know, we could position why russian community treatments is less. so there is no,

there is no indicators that the student government would rapidly organize, regroup, and see it back hard re take the control of the cities and also it seems 2020 on particularly the positions of those costs and stated in the city of, in their own was the only strong hold of the position. they had been training, they had been operating that equipments. they had been dividing good strategies and working on the weaknesses off off the city and government as well. so while they opened, that's all, you know, we could position. so the physician forces seems to be in a bad their position regarding that equipment and the garden, their organizational skills, and meet it to our patients. renewal is the question i want to ask you about the age to us. which of you, as you explained is the leader of this coalition of opposition forces. so

you've explained who they were, their former job had done this right. former outside, you've explained that since 2017, they've transformed their, their, their politics and their world view, so to speak. but the question is about militarily, what can you tell us about the militarily? because it's what quite remarkable what they've been able to achieve over the last week, right? they're, they're facing the syrian military. they're facing the russian military to some extent, we understand that russians are occupied in ukraine. we understand that the syrian military has been degraded as long as well as has the line to some extent and ron's capabilities. we understand all of that. nonetheless, what can you tell us about h t s. militarily? what's the best estimate of how many fighters they have? what kind of weapon re, what kind of equipment they have, and what are their military capabilities? well the so 1st yes or formerly known as a most val, pearl,

has been fighting. i since has been fighting several other city in the position for actions. and so when i'm, it's relatively led by young leader mohammed jewelry, who was born in 1981. so, but it's some how has been able to manage english to remain as an important to me and when it comes to syria, they had been fighting almost every one. and it has been some base that many people believe that they are going to be diminished. that are going to be absolutely destroyed, but then more and more the head being costs are facing the power in, in, in the city or fed lift. remember in 2016 when the city and government forces were pounding east of all apple and backed by the russian a or strikes. so the main power douglas body seen over there also was a new stuff put on back them new stuff. and on the now it says heads that either some or h t s. so they have been withdrawn from the,

from the city or by level and had a to what the city of the people is based on an agreement that has the risk between the student government. you're wrong, russia and struck you that would be that created on the green bosses? nope, this is also another interesting stoppage that's back fighting because since 2016 on the cd and government has been taken rob of the position of fighters across syria and government, all of them into it live thinking that was there just to see if there's going to be an easy target, there is going to be easy to deal with them. but often that they start to these trainings more the treatments calling from various countries, particularly the took took. it has been the lifeline and the 3 and as well. but recently, when you've seen the warfare, the weapons that they're using, we're seeing much more tags. we have seen them using the, the, the new, our team of the systems. we've already seen them that they have ad vince, they have almost mazda piece, the new, the homes that are being created by the 3,

the technology. and that's why they are now in a better position off at taking the syrian government forces. then even today, there was another route, the post at the laser has been confirmed by the syrian government itself, saying that they have shut down to the homes that were flying over to the capital city. the mass goes. so it means now that these are position forces the spaced, yes, he's able to slide the dorms over the top of the roughly now 200 kilometers salt off where they are. so we can see that the mid 3 capacity has increased dramatically. so the one that is definitely not a, a, a how to figure that a trustable reliable figure that, that will tell us how many of the factors were in it. but the roughly that was an estimates or a number if you good, that's actually good. i agree, and on we're seeing roughly around $60000.00 fighters and the will say that 80

percent of that belonged to age. yes. because just listed, remember we're seeing based he has level position is not on the h t s in the city or in the pony of the programs that are civil, all their seed in a position of factions as well. for example, like scent on what i gave or not it does include branches as well. however, based yes, has been the main par with me to totally controlling the city where you live. and now it has been the main fact that the main goal that is being terminated, leaving conduct in throwing the plans in the takeover of the city off i level and know how much and now the forces that are heading towards homes. and the thing is that off the whole of this access, as many of the seed in or positions factions are now joining them. that's why you're seeing the march of the new briggs put on my level problems to do

a good live from various pods of city or from the north. know, having to do of how much and then joining age. yes, but nobody's be as assess facing abdullah, i'm a how is that going to get the read of is past the being linked with ok that now that's why the saying that these are the scenarios that they are discussing and know also making it public as well. they might give up all the name h d s, and they might join the international it because nice. see it in a position or forming a new kind of administration and also seeking for this for, for, for, for the less them see as well. but as i said, for now, at least what is confirmed is that they have for $40000.00 fighters. more and more fighters are joining down them as they are marching towards the salts to rest. so listen, thank you very much for all of that. you've been walking us through all these latest developments on this very rapidly developing story for the last 30 plus

minutes. and again, we're showing these latest pictures that we have from what appears to be opposition syrian opposition fighters. we have taken hama today, and who are now heading south towards the city of homes where people are now fleeing. since they've heard that opposition fighters were on their way to take the city houses. there was rest. we'll start our, i will let you work your sources, work the phones news gather and we'll talk to you again very soon. thank you very much for that rest. so, um, now one thing i do want to add and just fill in the picture from what we're sewell was telling us, because there are multiple regional players involved here. the leader of h t. s. mama gilani the rest of the referred to multiple times h t. s. being the opposition to made opposition fighting group that is really spearheading this military operation. has i said to the rocky

prime minister, he has sent a message to the rocky prime minister asking him to hold or rather to, to make sure that iran aligned militias in iraq do not cross over into syria, to go and defend the governments of bashar assad he said that there are illusions in a rock that the war could extend from syria at their rock and he says, this is a 100 percent wrong. so that is the message of the head of the opposition fighters in syria to the rocky prime minister. essentially the message, if you didn't get what i just explained, now the messages don't send your flight is to syria. that's the message. alright, let's go to samuel romani, associate fellow at the royal united services institute. you're joining us from london, samuel. thank you. we spoke just what over an hour ago and already there's a significant development an hour ago. the news was opposition fighters have taken, hama, now the news is, they're on their way to pick homes. what do you make of that? one was actually going to be the next step,

right. and they were going to be homes after having because with him or they get pressure in damascus and the russian base latasha with homes, they devil down on that pressure more severely and the he can start me. he is serious, move towards the capital also is to be no worries at east. yes. has actually struck homes even during their created an opposition where the worst seemed to be dormant in 2023. they actually part of long range striking history. military academy in homes and killed around a 100 people. can they take homes? so i can certainly possible they can. i think that the issue yes, are operating under the idea that they have a relatively narrow window of opportunity right now. it was pretty clear from the statement kind of a gps cops that the russians are retiring to wherever groups essentially massive resources on this has behalf is unclear exactly what that means, of course, but it might mean the entry of some of those su, 35 rescue 30 gaps that of a 200 that before the ukraine war explained. yeah. so we're very devastating in the last 4, excuse me. the movement of africa,

core forces from molly's and traffic under probably to syria and the issues and the rebels want to move more quickly before the russians and the red line militias at the time it's evelyn. and also before we've started developing between different series and opposition patterns is she has emphasizing the fact that it's got the message of tolerance. but just to go over our thoughts. and that means as, as now, with the syria democratic forces and the y b, g has occurred in them are fighting. and also there's been a lot of internal occasions incited level whether dictation policies about corruption, about their recreational arrest and many other things. so she has wants to preempt a more expensive russian involvement and also wants to make sure that these are, you know, position is unified. and the best way to do that is to move very quickly and decisively like they've been doing now. but it's one thing to take your enemy by surprise. it's another thing to hold territory is the h d a or the h d s. able, you know, in terms of manpower in terms of strategy,

in terms of just how they fight. they've been pretty much stationary for 4 years since the ceasefire in 20. 20 and now all of a sudden, lake 2024. here they are taking serious 2nd largest city and then home on in the same day heading to homes. you can take your enemy by surprise, but the whole entire tree is a very different endeavor. absolutely. i think a good analogy would be just what we saw over the course of the summer with the ukrainian defensive and curse, right? there was a rapid fire place there were that you go overseas. yeah. and they were moving forward, but then once directions at times to regroup, once north green forest, it started coming in at last about 40 percent of that territory. so definitely making that initial offensive, any complex zone is easier and holy territory. but the big thing that a she has has now, is it really official lightning fast case that the, the syrians, that government, the russians may not have enough time to be able to remove and take it over like a, there's a precedent obviously that damascus will be looking at that ices to go verse ways

of homes, 2015 and then from november, december of 2015 back when the russians over the course of 2 minds as, as far as his main issue that we captured the rest of homes and bush, isis, and other rebels to the brink of palmera suicide. are we looking to that as a positive president? by the end of the sheer speed of their advances still overwhelming the serial army? what do you think the syrian army is doing right now? i mean, would it be reasonable to assume that they're going to throw everything they have in this sort of hastily improvise defense of their territory of the territory that they controlled until just moments ago that they're going to throw everything they have at saving damascus, saving the capital perhaps it's not, you know, home says one thing. they would not want to lose homes, but they definitely do not want to lose damascus. and perhaps that's where they might be prioritizing their military efforts. absolutely, i mean obviously this massive who is the capital is game over that,

but the thing is that you'd have to throw a line at a she and she has got plenty a lot of impressive technology. now the best you may draw and see what train snipers. they might say artillery domestic weapons industry. it's not the same thing as about foreign. i travel to westside, their external sponsors in the ambrose and in the west and the end of them. after 2017, they're pretty self reliant and they're pretty tough. so i think that the steering army is definitely gonna throw everything they can get the running and the russians to the extent that do the side possible, will also do that. but i think it's going to be pretty hard to make gas significant gains or to roll back to me. she has the advances i think is accommodated, said earlier, it was very accurate to point out. they did take 4 years after the rebels and due to lack of a part of the city of a level without somebody were trying to assess hands and that kind of time may or may not be there this time. or what is this all happening now? after 4 years of stasis and ceasefire as well. my thesis of my argument is

basically that at the rotary instability that we've seen in this area where something of a mirage or something of a construct, kind of our own mind we, it's a complex look like it was frozen. but in reality, there was lots of that engines inside the country. there was a severe economic class that does not only send it to the syrian government health areas, but also to the publishing health areas where the chargers layers evaluation by the significant ross and they're growing. i can see inside syria consolidation of assets around the hands of 11 or 12 people in the ninety's system in economic sanctions has been sporadic clashes between the 3 and the government and the revel . a live chat forces accidentally and incited live. it's just been, i also horn interventions. he has kept it on and also against iran for his route. so usually the calls are in a forwarded your vengeance, economic labs perception and repression. but now it's certainly blowing out kind of like it did in 20 a letter. the reason why is that? i think the issue has rebel calculated that they build up their own domestic

arsenal, to drill destruction over 4 or 5 years. the the runny and it has glass that the darted at that side where degraded by israel. the russians are focusing on ukraine and a mobile just drank and they did. and that's what's happened. but uh, i think that this has been also a fact that besides it's a return instability was always more of an illusion in reality. all right, so listen, samuel romani, thank you very much. something tells me we're going to speak again very soon. thanks very much for joining us. a short notice this evening. you're associated fellow at the royal united surface services institute. that was samuel romani does give you some more context on why the syrian oppositions capture of hama is so important. the city is strategically located. it's 200 kilometers north of the capitol, damascus. it's a 130 kilometers south of a level series, 2nd largest city. it is considered crucial to syrian government forces as a buffer against attacks on damascus. it also borders with pack

a coastal region controlled by the assad government and home to a strategic russian airbase, hama has long been a hubbub opposition against the assad government in 2011. it hosted some of the biggest protests of the syrian uprising which were met with violent crackdowns. and in 1982, it was the site of a brutal massacre up to 40000 people were killed during an uprising against the current president's father hafez assad. while it has been relatively quiet since 2012, how much remains a symbol of off addition resistance? house is there a correspondence? so have, i'll fall off is in a square in the heart of hama city. people have come out on the streets and there are scenes of celebration as all physician fighters enter. here's his report. insight on a fix of opposition. fighters have now entered aisle seat main square in the heart of comma, each group entering start celebrating,

firing their guns in the air. not only is the entire hum, a province circled by opposition fighters. they've also penetrate the city permits, eastern side and nadia. i wanna know if it's on a wire or what is worth noting here is that the residence diploma city has come out to the street, welcoming the opposition. by thursday, we were surprised. see residents taking to the streets given the dire situation. local residents came out to celebrate as groups of opposition fighters continued to enter the city after the government forces the web to city the sava wilds. and we're all of us. what are you at the on? we're in all of the square in the heart of how much it carries great symbolism among the syrians and the revolution. this square used to be packed with civilians rallying against the government. when the syrian revolution 1st began, yet the city was controlled by the government in 2011. the city was in the government's iron grip. opposition fighters were engaged in fierce fighting with government troops in the west of the city. get the opposite and seize control of the home, a military air base,

then penetrate the city from the west side. after that, the roads, the center of hama was clear ahead of them. well, how does that? how does that? did you have to stop the same scenario? was repeat in the east, where the opposition rece thomas central prison, and freed all the prisoners who, after that the entire city was wide open to them. here is another group entering the city. they're celebrating to firing in the air. they continue to arrive in the heart of the cities main square. and that's our exclusive report from inside hama, which filled the position fighters today. joining us on set now to discuss all of this is more one, couple on he is director of policy analysis of the art of center for research and policy studies. more one, thanks for coming. i'll add 2 things just because there are so many rapid developments we're trying to keep an eye on everything. one i've just been told that the syrians far administer has arrived in baghdad. so clearly there's something important at playing out in iraq because we were saying earlier that the head of the opposition fighters was telling the rocky prime minister don't send you

or fighters fight to support the government. and now the foreign minister. so the government isn't baghdad, maybe to tell them the exact opposite. that's one thing. also there's a communication blackout in syria is 2nd largest city, a level which fell to the opposition couple of days ago. all right, those are the latest things on our radar. anything else to keep you apprised? what do you make of what you're seeing now? positions fighters in hama, and heading to homes. well, i think this is maybe it's as important as affordable, fallible because uh, as we mentioned before, honda is a highly symbolic because uh the city is the 4th largest city and syria is the product center location in the center of city. i go next that used to the west no to the, to the south. and it's also a just sent to the other white villages, which is very important also to the west of the of the city where we are expecting to have otherwise the christian community of president bashar assad. yeah,

i do rely on the government for protection. i think exactly, and the opposition is running actually is to calm them down because you have been courting for them at for them not to not to get to panic because of the, of the advance of the opposition because as we have the vision, indeed there's today talking about them and forgiveness and talking about that they are not seeking revenge because of the, you know, the deeds of the, of that easy inside the, that thing actually it's gone down. i mean, the, the lawyer list be, is the, can we maybe see this part of the story clear for of yours? this is significant. the opposition fighters, a lead by h t. s which as are corresponded explained, or former al qaeda even though they have since separate their ties to al qaeda as they advanced into territory. and they go into parts of syria, which has been under government control. they are telling people talk about it. don't worry. okay, we've changed. okay, we're not going to go after you. is that,

is that right? exactly. this is what they are thing they have sending this message and they are asking people for the thing actually to, to minimize and not only the fear of the people, but also they are asking the fight. that is to lay down their arms because they are trying to say that's as syrians, we are fighting each other. we want actually to, at that we don't want to spend lots and this and this, this in this conflict and to be yeah, i knew that when you look at about 34 i live bore and also for how much the fighting has, must have really gotten you as big as we have expected and even the number of clothing and how much the government forces just left. and i didn't, but i mean, i mean, it was, i mean, amazing. i mean the, when you i, we have seen the city an army adjustments. thing i wait. yeah. so i think the position is, is coming out with this message in order to specify the people, especially those who used to be the,

to the so that easy on them at the right feeling surprised that trying to tell everybody that we can actually live to get that okay, well i'm not going to have this and that dumb domestic that we once we once see at, during the early, the early days of the, of the scene in crisis. so this is, this is the, i'm both and i believe as far as the meeting in bucket that is, is concerned. yes. i mean, you ought to like the city and for the minister is there. because having this meeting between these 3 allies, syria, iraq and iran yacht or is going to send about to the, the funds of the old position that the iraqi officials, they have disclosed. the president bush on a side, he called for a big or bulky government to a i need to add to send any of the supplies and there's a board for his 4 days of the team. but they're not divisions within that reading coalition. in fact, that you have them on the one hand,

those who are actually in favor of intervening in syria as about to push on as a model. those who i'm going to have to jump in, i'm sorry to be rude, but we're coming up on the end of the hour and i see we have our corresponded zane bas robbie, who is in be rude shortly after the speech of named cassette and the new secretary general of hezbollah, he spoke about serious. so we want to know what he was saying, saying, what can you bring us? obviously, we're following a minute to minute developments of the opposition fighters advance heading south towards not i was gonna say the capital no, but towards homes from honda, towards homes in syria, you're in neighboring lebanon. what is the new secretary general of hezbollah upset about this? well i'll get to that in just a moment, but we should give us the context, the syria, the for the, the, the regime of bush are all a side is a close ally of hezbollah and 11 on his bullet has supported partial assad

government throughout the several years that they've been fighting against the rebel movement against the fighters that are now moving into homa, and further forward now has beula, is very much dealing with the fallout with the aftermath of its own, almost one year along the air campaign with israel with his bull as war with israel during the seas far so the speech centered largely on reconstruction. he baked, he began to part about syria by saying we call it all arrow brothers and friendly countries to assist in reconstruction. making this append error problem that he felt needs to be resolved in concert with surrounding neighboring countries. and then he said we and his beloved will be along side syria and supporting the goals of aggression against syria to the best of our ability. and he went on to say we are facing a very dangerous is really mid or middle east, certain projects, referencing the ongoing events inside syria. now, there are bit unconfirmed reports that they have lent a manpower that has gone into serious since we've seen this movement of revel

fighters into a level, into how much of those reports made and confirmed that they wouldn't be surprised and considering as bullets relationship with the government and syria, a long standing one at that. but what we can tell you now is that this is a, his will love. it is deeply we can however, this is an important strategic land bridge for iran. and they want to maintain that they want to maintain a connection between syria and lebanon, so they can provide support. and that connection is likely to be something that this will make has below will make leaders in iran look at what's happening and they will be concerned about the events of the coming hours and days, no doubt, but his bullet, making it clear that they still support the government and in syria, but to what extent they can do that in their own we can state that's still a question mark. same is for avi reporting from the roads and thank you very much for that. and yours was a, was talking, have seen this latest footage that we're getting out of how most of this is opposition fighters filming themselves inside a government building in homage. so accordingly,

as proof that they are occupying the city, that they control the landmarks that they control the government buildings. again, this is quite remarkable. the development that we're seeing because for years, the syrian government held him up pretty much uncontested after initially crushing the rebellion. what you're seeing now when we're going to go to break very shortly, but what you're seeing now when i leave you with these latest pictures, are people fling homes. why? because they got the news that all positions sliders who, who are just taking home a. we're now heading south along the m 5 highway that leads them to homes. so the government employees as well as the civilian population of homes are essentially fleeing ahead of the opposition flight or advance. so that is where we stand at almost $1800.00 gmc, a remarkable offensive advance by opposition fighters who in the space of a week of taking a lift both or a 2nd largest city, then hama,

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award for translation and international understanding from the arabic language to mankind, the, [000:00:00;00] the hello, i'm sort of any, it's good to have you with us. this is the news, our life from the coming up in the program today on the road to holmes opposition fighters continue their advance and a bit to recapture the syrian city, the serial position fighters capture the countries 4th, largest city of hama and