a tom shay come on the award for translation and international understanding from the arabic language to mankind, the, [000:00:00;00] the hello, i'm sort of any 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 a major blow for president,

by charlotte each time was cds with at least $280000.00 people displaced the 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. the . so we start with breaking news, the rapid advance of the opposition fighters taking large swats of syria is the pictures on the ground. near homes are in groups or amassing troops and equipment as they headed toward syria's 3rd largest city. if captured, it would threaten the government's link between damascus and its coastal stronghold of le takia. and these are the latest pictures showing congested streets inside

home city residents are scrambling to escape heading towards the syrian whole staff . the reports of opposition forces advancing through the eastern country side. all of this coming, just hours after opposition fighters captured another of serious big cities. the takeover of hama comes days after they seized the commercial hub of a level and a surprise advance from the north. so in government, troops admit that they've lost control of home, and they say they've withdrawn off the days of intense lighting. it's the 1st time the president, bashar assad government has not been in charge of the city since the beginning of the conflict in 2011. the u. k based syrian observatory for human rights says opposition fighters now control homage, police command headquarters, and air base, and the central prison where they have released hundreds of inmates, houses 0 correspondence. so hey about how off is in the heart of hama city. people are on the streets, and there are scenes of celebration as opposition fighters enter. as the 6 of

opposition fighters have now entered our main square in the heart of hama, each group entering start, celebrated firing their guns in the air. not only is the entire home of province and circled by opposition fighters. they've also penetrate the city permits eastern side, and not a yonah nothing. i don't know what it's worth noting here is it the residence diploma city has come out to the st. welcoming the opposition fighters. 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 left the city, the saba was, and we're all of us. what are you at the total dba 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 add yourself? the same scenario was there a piece in the east where the opposition reese 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. we can now go to a suicide or you're in the torture city of guys, young pep, which is just north of the border with syria and your monitoring developments from their results. first of all, what's the very latest that you're hearing on the advance of the opposition fighters from home on towards homes as well? now, the things are actually done up in order to,

to acts on 1st. so the position forces. i'm now trying to clear off the city completely because steel, they believe that there must be some jobs. some of the sleeping solves belonging to the, to the city and government will remain in there. and also, on the other hand, the 2nd track they are as of now, already trying to march towards the city of homes for the 5 children. but there's so to the cell 222. how much so it has been couple of days that defies, were intensifying between the position and the government forces. and we have seen that there was that the, the, the, the city and government has not been able somehow to stop the address of the opposition forces despite so many at times. and then since yesterday, on the position of forces start to, to, through when clave across it onto the city of how much from the north or from 3

sides from north, east and west. so particularly from the know, the position forces phase, bees resistance. and the reason for that particularly was because of the town of comb, honda and also the mountain offices in aberdeen where the city and goldman has also had the supporters and also the defiance lines as well. so then the position forces, they change their strategy and they start to, to galvanize to, to, to more accommodate their city to the, to the minute to build a minute to the mass. but the messages made it to the power from the eastern side of the city where they taught the city and government forces are in a week position. that is to them. actually this strategy to be a right because it has worked an hour after the after they have particularly, and that's a huge minutes. the poet over there,

they managed to get into the city. then it has taken almost 4 or 5 hours for them to announce that completed. they are now in the control of the town of the city. but just before them, the city and government has announced that it has the throne is forces from the city center and the new position themselves out of the city. as i say, the reasons that they have done it is justin to not to cause mode city the most as so no, of course it was not only the city center that was taken by the position forces just kilometers away from the city or how much there is an importance a database, which is the how much emitted 3 s or a base. and it was a significant one is, was one of the major major, minnesota basis in syria. and it has play the crucial role over the course of the city. is city city of civil war. the start of the 2011. that community base has in

supposedly being used by the city government to bomb and to crash the positions. not only those that are attacking or coming close to hama, but those would in, in, in it live, those who were in level and the kind 3 sides of high level and it lip, or homes as well. so that military base has served almost or censor for the city and government to fly, be a crafts, particularly the russian maid megs and to bomb the position for years and years and years. and now, do position forces us taking control of that military bases, were loss of nations left by the city and government, as of now is not clear whether there were some of the airplanes you could have, is that the main depth is, are left by the syrian government forces or not have a bit in any way what is confirmed is that they have taken the control of the minute to the basis the, the, the, how much

a bees and also with lots of munitions and no. so the question is, how's the city of goldman saying that it has repositioned these forces out of the city? so here's where exactly out of the city right out of the city pending to them. but there's always the possibility that most of the actors are believing is that that's 25 kilometers away from this idea of how much there's a town called a rod less than an rust on this part of the residence or for us to have to additionally be pro position the geography of that town is quite the silly mountain this one and also it has them and that's called twice a kind of sufficient, the fast line for the city of governments forces. now we are expecting in the coming days, the fight intensified, particularly in and out on the toner of a raw stuff. sel. 0 is a. so we'll start our reporting there from the syria turkey a border. thank you very much. we're so we're going to go to bed route after that, we'll go to baghdad. this is the story with major regional implications. let's

start with this. the leader of hezbollah in lebanon says that the group will continue to support serious president's name cuts them called siri. and opposition fighters terrace and says that they won't bring down the charlotte says government he promises his beloved fighters will help prevent them from achieving their goals . house was, there was a mis routed, joins us from the root, is saying, i think we need 2 things from you. i think we need a little bit of context on how important his blog has been. keeping the charlotte side in power. number one and number 2, what cosette missing today? well, we can't under state how significant a role is will a played in propping up a bushel. a search government fighters did go in. they fought against rebel forces . they fought against iso forces and so there was a great deal of involvement and cooperation has below, has been a long standing supporter of bushel assad government. and in this statement, in this speech made by the who's the leader,

he vowed to stand beside syria. i mean what he described as an advance for opposition forces that he described as terrorist scripts. now he went on to say that we in his below will be along side syria and supporting the goals of aggression against syria to the best of our ability. we're facing a very dangerous is really middle eastern project. now if you expand out and look at it from the point of view of his bullet, from the point of view of his bullet supporters, the lebanese people here who support his bullet and its actions in the region in the country. and more broadly in areas like israel and syria, you will hear similar things. you will hear that this is a coordinated effort to weaken longstanding nodes of power, his beloved being one of the bush alissa being another iran being another. and what we're hearing from people here is that this seems to them to be a coordinated effort. now to that effect, let's talk about his bullet support. how can they continue to support bush or all a sudden they're can stay there was very much licking their wounds they've since the seas far turn their attention to rebuilding reconstruction, getting people home from the front lines, but also civilians that have been displaced and burying their dead,

including their assassinated leader has some of the fellow who was killed in it is really missile strikes has not had his funeral yet, but they are focusing on these things. however, how they supported a bunch of all a sudden the past. well, but if you look at context, it's been with manpower, it's been with sending troops, sending funding forces, sending people into syria to, to carry out a battlefield operations. now, can they do that? now? we know that there's been a long border. there's more than 300 kilometers of shared border between syria and lebanon in the days ahead of the seas. far and on the day of the seas far incense these far israel and the united states did target a syrian targets inside syria. and along the 11th syria border saying that they were being used to transfer weapons, saying that there were his bullet targets. so that's and the days ahead of this uh, assault that we're seeing on him up on a level. and as result reported earlier, possibly heading into homes, there are some border crossings that remain open. we can only speculate that those

may be used to move people, but at the same time is, will, is at the moment in a state of disrepair itself, its leadership has been completely decimated. and the one year long air campaign with a with is real, with the ongoing war with israel. so how much they'll be able to provide, in terms of support that remains to be seen. but here that has below the current has boulevard or making it clear that they do at least politically and in spirit stand with the government. the serious is a mr. avi. thank you very much for that context. that explanation and the latest reporting out of be roots on what name cause them has said regarding his beloved continued support. the charlotte, the syrian presidents, now the leader of the arm group i had to rear alshaun. that's the, the opposition group that is carrying out this lightning offensive, and syria has dismissed reports of the syrian conflicts spreading through rocks. mohamed else elani calls them 100 percent wrong, in a message to iraq's prime minister. als elani urged the leadership to stay out of

any new conflict with syria. he specifically warned against allowing it rocky popular mobilization forces to intervene in series affairs or support what he described as quote, this vanishing regime. let's get more on all of this with mom would have the wide live in baghdad that we're getting word that syria is foreign minister has just arrived in baghdad just on the back of these comments by our lunney that were directed at the rocky prime minister. so what can you tell us? well, 1st of all, the, that's correct. according to the iraq, you stay to the t. v station that out said that to uh, excuse me, the state news agency that the stated that the, the city and fort administer is expected to a is that has arrived already in about that. and meanwhile, we understand that this comes into them as of

a token to the rocky side regarding that city and crisis. and meanwhile, we know that the, it, that you run in and best of the 2 loc as go to announce that the area today, that the iranian foreign minister a bus out up to is expected to visit my dad tomorrow friday to meet with his iraqi, come and talk about product and also with the iraqi prime minister them how much he a as to danny in terms of the corporation between the 2 countries also in the framework over the, the at city and crisis. but meanwhile, here in new york, as you know, that, that leader to come the come on the via to who to show about how much of july he has addressed the iraqi people. an iraq key administration as well. also asking them to co operate with the city young people and also to the, in a way or another to respect the wish of the city and the people. but here and you

lot, you have to had a little situation is the situation of the, the official situation of the government of the institutions. they have been always denying any involvement in the city and then the ongoing board. but on the other hand, you have ministry come on, that is with especially those with the stomach resistors, a groups at that link to intervene in syria and also to support the city of regina. and i'm also, i also understand that iran storm mr. is coming to bagdad tomorrow. so to recap, we have serious foreign minister in baghdad now. and now i understand iran foreign minister will be in baghdad tomorrow. what can tell us about that? well, that's correct. the city and foot in minnesota has already arrived in belt, that according to iraq's it is data and use agency and the uranian 40 minutes of

a bus out off to you is expected to arrive to model. that is, according to the iranian ambassador to book that, who stated earlier today that the purpose of this visit is to enhance cooperation between the 2 countries. and also that is in terms of the regional intention and namely the city in a crisis. but on the other hand, we know that, well, how much? yeah, so daddy that iraq you, for them, is that it has been engaging in cole's phone calls with the original leaders, including the toothbrush present. right. so don't get plenty of others on discussing the city in a crisis, but hitting iraq you have the religious leaders wanting to end up wanting the groups. and also the date that the top of that mobilization courses not to get involved with in the city and crisis. but as i just mentioned that you have a positive situation from the stomach. resistance does an umbrella group aligned with iran,

made it to come under this with the stomach resistance photos state that the opposite they want and they're ready to get involved in support of the city. redeem the houses. there was nothing more of the head reporting from baghdad. thank you very much for that. this gives you more context on why the syrian all positions capture of hama is so important. the city is strategically located 200 kilometers north of damascus and a 130 kilometers south of a level which is serious, 2nd largest city. how many is considered crucial to syrian government forces as a buffer against attacks on damascus? it also borders live takia, a coastal region controlled by the assad government and home to a strategic russian airbase has long been a hub of opposition against the assad government in 2011. it hosted some of the biggest protests of the syrian uprising which were met with violent crackdowns. in 1982, it was the sites of a brutal massacre. up to $40000.00 people were killed during an uprising against

the current president's father affairs of assad. whether it's been relatively quiet since 2012 come on remains a symbol of opposition resistance. but joining us on sets is more one come along. he is director of policy analysis of the arab center for research and policy studies to what is always happening. now. there's been a ceasefire. the front lines have moved and for years, what has changed recently is all the fighting in the middle east between israel and what is also referred to as the axis of resistance. iran, syria has blah, israel has degraded, has belong, israel has degraded syria with regular strikes and syria. and iran is also weakened and all of a sudden we're seeing the rebels advance. is there a connection there? absolutely. okay. it's almost positive, actually on october 7th, with 2020 t when how much that that is r e a. and is it

a launch this campaign against the excess of resistance at destroying her mouth and garza and then moving up to the north dealing with the has the law dealing with the, with your on. and it's many she has in, in syria and also with the forces of the city and the team. so the opposition, this is an opportunity. i wouldn't opportunity here in order to change the balance of 4 on the on, you know, the, see the lesion has to be in the resisting or cause for political solution to the crisis says 2018 and 28 in the seed in the region with the sub both of its allies managed to take control of the, the escalation, so called the escalation zones in the south on damascus. and then that will comes in late with on the 19802028 looked like the sea and the gym. would its allies, the dishes and uh, with dish and support. if i actually to take also the 4th at the escalations on and i enabled the managed actually to take a good bottom of it. yeah. but then

a button and a brand. they came up with this agreement the ceasefire agreement, which actually kept um the, the, the, the, the, the, the situation and the crown depos inside the situation on the ground. since 5th of march 2020. so 40, more than 4 years. more than 40 is been the 7 of october, actually a. okay. it is a lot you still have to to degrade. the excess of resistance has been a lot on the see and the gym. the single position for this is a fine actually if the change the mind of that easy because that is gene has the feeling that it's one this one and it needs to make no concessions for the position or for the auto companies who stop the normalization process. with the g, as in uh in 2023. you remember the restaurant as it was called, i was invited to the, was invited back to the league and he was also absolutely invited to attend the summit for the, on the, on the, on up summit of and the odd and in 2023. so a shot us up for that's,

i won this so i need to give no concession to the old position. but there is something you the balance of vote and the on change by accident not been able to 34, and, and see about over the position. because is why any actions against that you're on the, as against it has the law against that easy. the balance of for the, the position for your says it's the only attended and then because you said unintended, i attended it. you're saying this is an unintended consequence for the position of israel's war against it's regional enemies off the vehicle up some of the believe took advantage of that. the city that is about it is actually they will not be able to. they will not actually, we think has been law because of the seat in a position where we can cause the lot here on, on the seat. and that easy because of the 7 of october as the attack a by how much. so the signal position then took the opportunity and they decided that this is the time actually to shift the balance of the at the bottom about on the ground. and what is the city of the gym towards accepting the political

transition indicated by the united nations? if you wish in 20 to 54. so now the opposition side or sees a situation that they, that, that is more favorable to them than anything they've had in years. so there's at least 4 years, but actually more than that. uh huh. um, how far do they want to take it? how far can they take? 33 factors. one is that depends on the, on the, and an on the, uh, the border of the old position. okay. how far can did go with their uh, with the military. they want to keep yeah. the most people are, how much was this? does that he is willing to, but i know that to stop them. yeah. and what about the, the restaurant context? what does the americans think of that medicaid has actually willing to let a shuttle asset for all of this in the dying days of the by since you mentioned the americans, the dying days of the bite and present the problem? and was also the way to do because because one of the gun actually decided to

support this photo, but agent by the city, a position the finding was very significant. yeah, for him, dick also into account that this is the last, this or the of the by that decision on before the, the coming of the new as administration. so if you think about all these things, because he also is really important to, to take into account more one again. and i'm sorry i'm having to do this to you again. i have to go to our correspondent because we haven't correspondence inside. all right now. so we can get the very latest. uh and that was more one couple on will speak to you again. nope. lets hit donna. we're joined by options here, a correspondence. so hey bob, hold off. you saw his tapes report earlier, but we can now speak to. so have live, so hey, what's the situation in home and now what are you seeing? what are you hearing anything you can give us? or i'm the kind of a take a few moments ago,

a opposition fighters have entered the odyssey square at the downtown, of how my city, which is the heart of the city of hama, it's a square that is very and highly symbolic. for the, a syrian revolution of this square used to be the square where all the 1000000 marches used to take place at the beginning of the or syrian revolution. however, when the syrian regime took over, how my city in 2011, all those manifestations and marches, have seized. and now the opposition fighters took over this square once again. after all this period of time. that is why there were there the opposition fighters in this square sort of and taking photos in order to memorize this moments and also an open and fire as it celebration of the

a. taking over of him off by the opposition forces those opposition fighters to control of the city. and now they are in all spread and all the main street. and also they were able to take control of the different neighborhoods in a very precise manner, looking for any soldiers of the regime of syria they done with the fighters, also paid a visit to, to have the most of i might have been cut up where the 1st, march took place. look and how my that's what the residence of how my you told us today. they also went to another very famous around about where there was a statute of the former president of syria. so they destroyed it and they also a tour and all the photos and pictures of the car and presidents, a set, and every symbol that is linked to the regime. so the fighters entered this evening from 3 different points. the 1st entry points was from the eastern side where the

opposition forces were able to take control of this side after a very severe and harsh clashes as they described. how would we open arms? they tried yes, today to enter from the same point, but they failed according to what we received to shut all the information and because of the received forces that were spread there. but today, when they were able to get closer to my city from different points, they were able to break down all those reinforcements and take control of how much as far as the eastern and the west 3rd and the south are inside. also the city where they were able to take control of is some basis, including the airports and that was under the origin forces. and after that they were able to enter the city. we are now what the main rhonda font where we've seen earlier, the

a tanks and vehicles of the regimes that were set on fire. we have followed the opposition fighters as they moved into the city that was sunday and we reached out to see the square where we've seen people celebrate think and to also open in a fire in the as the symbol of celebration. we have noticed also that the residents came out in order to take part, but also to see without any fear. although the situation was a very harsh and a, there were a lot of clashes, it was violence between the 2 forces. when we entered the tanks of the, the regime where a bomb and the western side of the city, however, the resistance took to the street and wanted to see what is happening, the product, the questions that we are talking about. we are good with the receive met forces they were d, nate in the northern side of the city because of the reinforcements there were that

were sent by the received from the cum honda region and from as a lab between mountain so the opposition forces were t late because of this reinforcement today, there were classes that were described as being violent to hold. one was the battles that are conducted by the opposition forces, as with witness, are not the same for the bottles. like the ones that we used to see before. it seems that the opposition forces is well equipped with all the needed weapons and april, to attack in an aggressive way with a sophisticated weapons before entering any city. in the past. they used to use only traditional, conventional weapons, but now it seems that they have a regular that they have weapons that are similar to the regular machines or forces weapons. and they make sure that they have the whole parts under their control

before entering the opposition forces also through the different military operations that they are needing where april is to. as with witness on m 5, it's got a road which is and then came the city with damascus, which seemed that there were a lot of equipments arriving. that's where that's distributed to 3 different funds to asylum. yeah. and also to come honda city and on the west side that was is sent to the airport of how my city. all right, so hey, but i'll hold off reporting from the town that was taken today just a few hours ago by serial position sliders. thank you very much for that reporting . so hey, i'm going to go to joshua elandis now director of the center for me at least studies at the university of oklahoma. you are joining us from norman in oklahoma, and i'll just recap, since this is the very latest reporting from the ground, joshua and i don't know how much of it you could here. i'm just gonna recap for your benefit for mine as well. and for the viewers, what,

so he was telling us that 1st of all, he was saying, the opposition fighters, their weaponry is on a par with that of government forces. number 2, they were able to take the city of homa entering from the east, and the overwhelming the government forces defense is there. after trying the same thing and failing yesterday, they managed to do it today. he said also that they are headed for a square and hama city. i didn't catch the name of the square, which was symbolic because it was the center of the protests in hama. and lastly, that the residents are out in the streets and are showing no fear of the opposition fighters from what he's been able to report. so that's the very latest from hama which opposition fighters have taken today. what do you make of today's developments? joshua? well, it's very big, you know, that the, the syrian military is melting away. it's clearly and chaos. it's falling back to humps, which is the 2nd, the 3rd largest city in syria. but it's the major city on the way to damascus. and

it's t for controlling all the transit roads that go between damascus and the heart land of the ally white mountains where the president of syria comes from, where his family lives, and wherever most of the ally whites of syria lived. so. so that's going to be an already, we've heard the troops are moving towards homes, should homes fall, it really will be a guest now for this regime because damascus will be shortly will be, will be next in line. and it seems they were game isn't really quite some chaos because it's, it claimed that it had pulled out of a level and it had fallen back because that would be better defensive lines ahead of hama. now, with hama those lines completely broke apart with just one day of battling. and

they've fled south of the city of hama there is going to be clearly a much bigger battle north of pumps. but that's the battle that everybody's eyes are going to be on. because should humps fall, that means that the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th largest cities in syria are now in rebels. hands with much of the population and ability to sever damascus is transit routes to lot of kia tart coast and all the coastal cities, which are so important to this really is joshua as, as we speak. and this is a tricky thing about this, this conversation. we don't want to get into too much conjecture. but we do have a lot to do a little bit of what else, because as you said, if holmes falls, then this is a very significant and a very, very significant deal for the regime. a very deep wound for the syrian government. but when the rebuttal be that, as any government would do, they would then throw all their defenses around the capital around damascus, and

a few other points may be left the key, talk to us, and cetera. and that they would at least keep those until such time as perhaps they can mount the counter offensive. well, that's true and they'll try to do it. but the roads that go between the coastal cities in damascus, travel right along pumps and, and i'm says is close to 11 and border there. the next move would be then to, to, to move to the lebanese border and to shut off communication between damascus and the, the coastal cities. and that, that would be very strategically damaging. also, should homes fall. there was a big christian population around humps. many regime supporters around homes, but it would also mean that the, the districts by jordan debt,

which was the cradle of the revolution. it was the starting point of the revolution and has been boiling ever since. could be an effort could be made by people. and that ought to rise up the general druids, the druids region, as many drew's leaders. so that's right on the jordanian border. they have been in protest for over 6 months against the regime. now of course they're fearful of islam is taking over surgery up. but at the same time, they're not supporting the regime and, and they're been calls from drugs leaders for syrians to abandon the syrian army for drew's band and the syrian army. and to go back to the general drew's. so there's a lot of potential other regions that could light up around damascus and this, this is clearly going to have people very anxious. but i think the, the point that it hasn't been underlined in here last coverage for the half an hour is the extent to which syrians have lost hope. in this regime.

they lost hope for a number of reasons. one, they wanted, they expected a peace dividend after 2000 when the war had really petered out and become frozen. they thought electricity was coming back, jobs would come back to the economy, would begin to grow again. schools. none of that happened. in fact, the economy is continued to shrink and you know, the effectiveness of european and american sanctions on syria as quite something and the government's inability to restart the economy and to get to get jobs flowing or for an investment has um, has really prevented and made most young, serious look at their future, hopeless way and see no hope. so they don't want to die for this regime. and that is, and that's what i think we're seeing here, is just an exhaustion on the part of the syrian population. and you mentioned as well how the troops coming down to the rebel troops. you look at their outfits,

they've got night vision goggles, they all have walkie talkies. they. they are cheated out in a way that's much better than originally. and troops who look hungry, who have been under fed for these trips are full of z o, they're well equipped and they're ready to go. and that's it. that's it is an important factor in this collapse of the syrian regime that we've seen so far. and joshua landis, director of the center for me, at least, studies at the university of oklahoma. thank you very much. pleasure. still ahead on houses. there are thousands of protesters in south korea demand their president resign after his failed bid to impose marshal protest or his head out on the streets of police. e for an 8th night in a row,

demonstrating against the author a decade of honoring individuals and institutions working and translation between arabic and 40 other world languages. shay come on. the award for translation and international understanding is hosting. it's 10 towards serve. on the 10th of december 2024 in doha guitar, shea come on the award for translation and international understanding from the arabic language to mankind, the, to watching l 0 a reminder of our headlines this hour,

the rapid advance of opposition fighters taking large swats of syria, these are pictures on the ground near homes, armed groups or massing troops and equipment as they head toward syria's 3rd largest city. if captured, it would threaten the government's link between damascus and its coastal stronghold of laughter. kia this coming, just hours after opposition fighters captured another, a serious big cities. the takeover of hama comes days after they seize the commercial hub on a level. and a surprise advanced. and the north syrian government troops admit that they've lost control of hama and say that they have withdrawn after days of intense lighting. it's the 1st time president bush carlos government has not been in charge of the city since the beginning of the conflict in 2011. let's take a look at the changing situation in syria. these areas in red, are controlled by government forces backed by iran and russia until recently they have held much of the central region of the country. now the green areas show territory controlled by the opposition arm group, hyatt,

country or else some. and the torque is backed syria national army. a week ago they launched a surprise offensive from a live capturing serious 2nd largest city. a level that you see there. the opposition is now pushing southwards. it's taking control of the city of hama after several days of intense fighting, hama lies, as you can see along that major highway that links the city to homes and then to the capital of damascus. moscow has responded to this by increasing airstrikes. in northern syria, the yellow areas are controlled by the as the, the syrian democratic forces. they are kurdish, lead fighters, supported by us troops. and they've been fighting against government forces. and i saw fighters in the area. we can talk now to the hood, beraskigy, president of the american coalition for syria. you spent your childhood in hama, and you're joining us from houston. it's good to have you on the line right now. how do you, how does this news hit you? the news that opposition fighters have read, taking or taking i should say,

your charlotte down. thank you. i am all but well, i can't express my joy to the extreme. however, i'm expressing a little bit of caution because this is the way i have been growing up in a way you always feel there's something is going to happen. something is going to turn as, it's that the benefit for students to be better, especially in my laptop. how about a now i'm facing it and i'm facing the reality that this is the 1st time since i was more that pam a is deprived. if anything has to do with the south family, this is a dream of 3 generation of my family. and now i'm witnessing this today and it's very overwhelming. yeah. how about for us all the remainder of yours have a little bit of context? and 1982, hama was the sight of a really infamous massacre in syria in history. right there was an uprising in hama,

and the un office of a side been president. father of the current president, infamously, decided to crush the uprising, killed $40000.00 people and said, make it into a parking lot, at least that's how the story goes and that entire neighborhood was leveled um. do you have information, any like, recent up to date up to the minute information from people in hama on what's happening there now that we are contacting them personally and then turn that drug down disconnected. but what i am here from them right now, they are staying at home. they are holding this not going to escalate. the biggest concern that for any problem is the air strike, which we are trying really hard to provide protection 10 with the with it all the while. i live in cherokee or within the us administration. this is a long past, but we are hoping we could say something about this. because we want to express to

the people of how much to the people of syria. this is not around to of fights with best, that this is done a deal. we are moving on, we're going to establish our beloved country, and we're holding, we're gonna stop disability and, and come on the contrived for all syrians. and this is something which we're looking forward to happen at this point. so going back to you at all, sir? yes, uh, i'm a good establishing connection with them and i'm hearing some positive feedback from that. but how do people feel towards the arm groups that have now taken it's very conflicting because in a way you are worried what's next. and this is the history of syria for the past a 100 years. you never know what's gonna happen next. and that's why you need to express costs. but at the same time, the, the end there, the typical age of that south family for almost 50 years. you kind of way you feel like i'm done with that face. i am done with that as part of my life that has be

overwhelmed with a brutality. and what you mentioned, 82. it's like still a one that has never healed in the history. come up, we still have people we don't know yet about. and so you know, way you have to look at it from a positive plencik this point on you holes that the rebels, the ability to understand what the b would wants and to be able to offer the next stage or what syria needs. so as i listen to you, i'm reminded of what our correspondent in hama was saying. uh the news that he was bringing is just a short while ago he was saying. and i think this will speak volumes to you, that the opposition groups headed to a central square in hama and i didn't catch the name, which was which, which was the center of the home of protest. and that they took down hafez assad statues. they tore down by charlotte,

sad portraits. all of this must be quite stirring for somebody with your history. this is called all c square. they're the center of the box that is ation there. and it's next to the water wheel. that is how much is known for about 3000 years. and this is over just because again, as you mention, this is exactly the area where 11000000 protest showed up in june 2011 where they expressed their peaceful demonstration for change in syria and fast forward 2 months later i a non nothing. we did not know nothing about the how about that time for a couple of weeks because they took control. they tried to make sure there's nothing is going to happen again because this is, was an eye opening for everyone in the world to witness something that they have not seen in syria for many, many years. it's the same month where and passenger robert ford visited hemma to check on what is that about. and he realized this is, this is

a big turning point. and now we're seeing that portion of that big turning point after 13 years. whereas the presidents of the american coalition for syria, thank you very much for joining us on the office here. a news our thank the gaza, dozens of palestinians have been killed in multiple is really or strikes on thursday in the north. they attack the residential building and bait law here at least 15 palestinians have been killed. there are many injured including children, and is really drones have shot at people inside the come all at one hospital. at least 7 people there or dead, hospital staff or among the injured israel has targeted the hospital multiple times and further north in gaza. city another attack on at home killed at least $25.00 palestinians. these really strike reduced this residential square for ruins. the

bodies of children were among those pulled from the rubble, but civil defense cruise has been unable to remove others were still buried underneath abraham l. so lately went to the scene of the attack and gaza city and spoke to some of the survivors. i am right now standing and how you are more clear yet, and others never hushed in northern guns. a city specifically in this complete residential building that has been targeted, but it is what you'd be fight urges at least 25 housing is have been killed and dozens were injured and transferred to the hospital. this killable destruction after fees with the war planes targeted this residential building a letter from the last night of a sudden we felt what seemed like a massive earthquake for multi story buildings were flattened by the israeli war, plains, and many were killed and injured. i suffered this injury in the head. no, it's me for, for probably good for one of my sons was killed in an earlier air strike,

the arteries displaced and i don't know his whereabouts. i'm a 70 year old man to dos, waiting for justice from the international court of justice guy. i raised my hands to submit my complain only to the divine court of justice. i don't really like what it was later, a business. i wonder why these right ease of doing this to us. we are all civilians, mostly women and children. we do not have any political affiliation. i wonder why the states have a band and that's that to and will come. they will be types the same. we have been done in justice and all those who have not sided with us will make the same mean. tens of civilians are still stuck under the rubble of these destroyed buildings. we have one building here, another building there. as you can see, the devastation inflicted to this residential building. the civilians are trying to retrieve and look for the tribes civilian.

at least 50 pelting had been years the use of this attack. these houses have been children, palestinians who took with me from different parts of the script from business. yeah. but i don't have to verify the time they came here. we had been plug it in brooklyn, killed in an overnight attack without any sort of war named volumes. i d, b, i 0 northern gauze on how does find protestors in georgia or on the streets for an 8th night in a row, calling for the government to step down. they are angry about a decision to delay talks on joining the european union. the interest escalated after elections in october, which governments, critics say, we're reg. on wednesday police detained a prominent opposition leader as 120000. me to met the didn't go. you're outside the parliament building in the capital. the leasing retreat. who is this opposition? leader was beaten,

interested actually there was several, so let me tell you about, but that was a big one of the uh, he's the leader of the coalition for change. now he was beaten, unconscious and arrested. that was filmed by several cameras. there was another one . his name is alex hall and he supposed to be he's one of the leaders of the a strong and georgia group of. 1 he's so, so i called a lesson and this is a stand out case because there are videos which proportionally showed a man looking like him, a assaulting another bus news, also another politician. so he was arrested off to that and now he's the hospital with an injury, but he has quite the reputation because he's a sort of a political brawler. if i, uh, in april he famously attacked one of the ruling a georgia dream policy, the latest i'm gonna cover, the not i'd say that was broadcast on live tv. so this is, this is, this is his particular him, oh, basically, what are we expecting tonight?

demetrius, the 8 nights of protests, you're outside the part of the building. they want the government to step down. obviously, the government's not doing that. the government is definitely not doing that. this is indeed the like. let me give you a little tool of kind of a situation here. so we are right. buying houses of parliament. this is where the pros, that's happened every night. it's a bit older right now. i was about to say quieter than yesterday, but it's really changing in the pos house though. now there was a, a demonstration of force of thoughts with several people fired fireworks. now, why is this important tonight? because several nights ago, this was kind of the main weapon of choice for the protest as they were using fireworks and sort of a launch weapon, kind of like a portable rocket launcher against police. police responded with water cannon and tear gas bots. in the past 24 hours,

sales of fireworks of pirates atlas have been banned in the city. the previous night has been quiet. no water cannon was used, people would not pushed out of the square because they would not attacking with fireworks. and now with these launches that we've seen in the past 5 minutes. uh, this is basically a demonstration that the fireworks awesome. how box in protest is hands now the 2 side streets to the left and right of the parliament where there's a quote in the police every night that guarding basically the entrance is to uh to the sides of the following. usually says uh, several apc's with the uh what's the account on the floodlights? the not here yet. so this looks like it might be peaceful, but it does more fireworks, things might escalate quite quickly tonight on the 8th night approach as introducing. all right, that's a live look in, at least just before i let you go, what time is it where you are to be 3?

0 god. it's 10 minutes to 11 local time. okay. i just wanted to establish that it's late and you still have a ton of people outside the front of the building. so these things are happening really overnight and throughout the night. oh, it is late, but these protests go on till 5 and 6 am exactly. yeah, they go on till 5 or 6 am local time to meet or maybe then co reporting live from outside permanent buildings in the state of georgia and capital. thank you very much. french prime minister and michelle danye has resigned after losing a new confidence motion in parliament on wednesday. but he will stay on as care take a prime minister until president amendment mccomb finds, the replacement for his minority government was toppled by left and right wing and peace and the vote for pushing through the controversial austerity budget. it is the 1st time and more than 60 years that the french government has lost such a vote. but she focused on that a good time and not the president. i think he knows better than me what's to do quite honestly,

i really and hot water and we're not going to get out of the i think the president will find a way to find a new prime minister. i think he's a very confident man, and i fully trust him. he is not going to do that point us. he will do what he's needed and it has to butler has more from powers on what the french president may do next. what we do know is that micro will address the nation at 8 o'clock in the evening of french time. now willie, come up with a name, then it would be very short notice if so, but he mind too many people are saying that michael might want to point someone rapidly because just in a couple of days. so i most, let's say he has the grand, we haven't even noticed, i'm can see to the paris. it's a say to coming in. also coming in the us present selected donald trump is going to be, i think of friends and son is emanuel. michael does not want it over shadowed by political chaos, but the time he'd named somebody say false, that's the problem. and whoever takes the job is going to be really challenging for

them because they're gonna have to try to form a government. the probably words have a majority and work in a deeply divided parliamentary products. the south korea's governing people power parts. he says it will oppose saturdays impeachment. motion brought by the on position. it follows president union suck yo's failed, attempt to impose martial law earlier this week, which plugs the nation into a crisis. the police are investigating him for insurrection, a crime that carries the death penalty. and his former defense minister is also facing a travel band officer as rob mcbride reports from so in the national assembly that he tried to sideline with a declaration of martial law. president, june sic y'all, is facing growing efforts to oust him opposition, policies pushing and impeachment motion say unit appears to have been rooted by a loop response from the military corners funds. you can fortunately, many troops refused to complain with this absurd commodity,

though. even those officers and soldiers who followed the orders try to minimize home to civilians, they made efforts to reduce destruction, to avoid it using firearms and refrain from causing the full injuries, opting instead for the bare minimum action is required of them. moreover, it was thanks to the courageous assets of party officials, aged makers and the citizens who woke from their beds in the dead of the night and rushed to the national assembly that these 2 attempt what's toward south korea's national assembly will vote on president june's impeachment this saturday, so whatever the outcome, many people here believe his field fated attempt at martial law completely disqualifies him from office. that street protests, people have been calling for you to go these to college students with just children . the last time mass protest forced a president out of office to go popcorn. yeah,

i attended the board when he took this with my parents, but now i'm an adult. i felt i needed to step up myself or others, so i'm, he's home and then what it was unimaginable. i was with a friend when i had the news and i couldn't believe the many oldest south koreans have painful memories of previous declarations of martial lo, decades ago. and do not want to see over to, especially for what many regard as a domestic political dispute. and present that the current medical situation in south korea did not reach the level to the claim. also, that seems to be a view shed by an increasing number of south koreans with opinion polls showing 3 quarters of people. one president, you removed from office public broad, i'll just say right, so that wraps up this news hour and that's it for me. serial venue a sarah. hi, ross will be here in a moment with more of the day's news, including the rapid military advance of the syrian opposition. after taking syria's

2nd largest city a level a few days ago, it took control of how about just a few hours ago and are now headed south towards homes. stay with obviously, or the unique perspective. we don't want ahead to well, but we no longer have any private spaces on the incident. that's a scary well on heard voices a year into this genocide, it still remains large. one section connect with our community and tap into conversations you will find elsewhere, but humanity, the number of people who want to stop sending weapons has gone up and up despite what they hear in the mainstream media in the united states. the stream on out to 0 in a meeting of minds all over the. busy the top is the rise of 80 pullers, the climate catastrophe. where do you put the resulting anger? well,

i'm hoping we can use that as the fuel to change society for the better musical innovative brian, you know, between now and economist hardoon tang taught to for most of the funniest economies in the world. i don't have any competition to do a b on split data analysis era while pursue, as amazon gets most of the attention, the less atlantic forest has gone largely overlooked. we kind of have a walk, blew up here on what used to be for families farm. these lands have been in my family since the early 19 hundreds. we used to log plant coffee and sugar cane and reese cattle. it was a very different approach to developing the economy. 20 years ago. these used to be grazing lands, filled with horses and cows. now it's filled with trees. 810000 representing 500 species of the atlantic forest. the farm was transformed into the

environmental n g o had won the lot, families still runs it now was one of preserves the largest reforestation project this year has tested for sale yet in the have what reserve people keep moving forward. a forest re born one trees at a time, the on the rights of home. so position fights is continue their adults recapture the city which was once the hearts of the syrian revolution, the other on sort of height of self 0 life from the ha. also coming up on the program, the celebrations and how much