the challenges here with the explosions in damascus and other areas of syria is really air strikes on the same day theory and celebrate the fall of a shot or less than the bottom. how much i'm doing this is how does it rely from to how also coming up all lies on the new administration in damascus. the us secretary of state is in the middle east to talk regional politics with serious neighbors. the palestinians are rushed to hospital after as

rarely strikes target homes in north and central gaza. at least 50 people have been killed. plus george as president sales. how does he or she wants to up down until new elections are held as thousands protests the government's plan to choose or replace the multiple explosions have been heard in the syrian capital, damascus that are believed to be is really air strikes. the city of us, the way the country southwest has also been targeted. these really military has been carrying out its largest air offensive on syria in recent memory, attacking what it says are strategic military sites. the latest strikes, commas, thousands of syrians had been out on the streets celebrating on the 1st friday since the fall of the subversion to those straight celebrations are a symbolic moment of change. less than

a week after opposition forces swept into the capital. the head of the new administration having to shut off its calling on the syrians to unite or so started our reports from damascus. the doors of damascus were close to the position for more than a decade. but now with them in church time, does this thousands are coming to celebrate the victory in the city's largest and oldest. most cool. my welcome bye coffee and students. new for that. the stripe and another star city and state. this is a new day. we feel like a free butterfly for 13 years we have feels like our country was stolen from us today. we feel this is our country and we have our rights for the for some, it's a bittersweet b as the remember the last as of the pattern. so the sub, the joy is mixed with sadness. the regime arrest took me a fast and then my 3 sons,

i'm free now, but they are still missing. i don't know why they all, if their lives raise your hand, you will have 3 city and they change on the 1st friday in a pretty serious believe it in a speech to the people, get the full try the pre or the new city and prime minister is hopeful about the future. utility and deliberation of the line is not just lifting the restrictions and raising the flags, but a new birth of the nation. they starting to a degree to of the nation and to i continue history for us. the city is being quoting these, the big duty friday, a set of rated the right the across the country. kind of an atmosphere estimate yes, squared in damascus. the sample that evolution is stones against assets comedies. this is the squared demonstrate there's tried to reach in 2011 when many of them were killed by emerging forces marked in the beginning of a saving award. that was the village of the country for more than

a decade. it seemed that on the birthplace of what many syrians cooled revolution in the north and of course, the city of less acura, which was regarded as of june stronghold and the, and i left the studio 2nd largest city. there were celebrations of the friday piers of the 13 years of war and 54 years of the routine. a savaging studio is october, the tires in the capitals, damascus. i put a piece in place of the decades of fear and oppression. many here says this is the joy, a pretty them to have long way to for half a century or leaving the family to 10 years of civil war. have devastated the economy. destroyed much of the country. i killed me and a half a 1000000 people. now the hope here is that the new ones version united communities i'm built in the syria business address, which is 0. the mascot level was the 1st city to fall to opposition fighters or

some a bunch of 8 is there where people have also been reluctant to leave the main square, [000:00:00;00] the austin, the question that the syria that we see on the screen seems to be divided and the arrow suddenly is interior and various other fractions which make this diverse concrete. and that is what they broke out, that the people of syria are one. this is the subdivision that has been ongoing here in the left most of square. let me show you some of the more hours and they want to do please. and another one joined them. and this has been ongoing for the last few hours. they come big guy that are the dogs,

vague jobs. they are very big flags. they come to the office, they're gonna become a part of a level from the countryside of it, from the country side of how much they're coming up on in that row. is they coming from all walks of life and you can see men, women, children die together. in celebration, they say they'd been waiting for this for the last 40 years. this is the freedom that they wanted. one man who spoke to said, i cannot explain to you in words. what freedom do you think this is a freedom? another man came to us and don't have the, the sacrifice to hold his sons for this war. and now he believed it was on his birthday. is your birth? remembering 14 years of age with squares like that, where you would see people coming together in the region touches to us the world to stand with them. demands the end of a dictator. now they're happy they, it's not just the charlotte that pitches ended,

but they believe it's also had the influence of iran and, and restaurants and other international viruses. it has ended adventure that button message for the rulers that they want this area to be routed by syrians for syrians, according to the aspirations of the city and people. some of the driver does avita level. the united nations security council is expected to meet on tuesday to discuss the political implemented terry and situation in syria. that's after syria's envoys sent a letter to the body, criticising is rarely strikes on his country. gabriel elizondo has more from the united nations headquarters in new york. a serious ambassador to the united nations is a hold over from the aside regime damascus asked him to stay on in his current position and continue his work. and that's exactly what he's doing. representing the new administration in syria and the syrian people more broadly. now, earlier this week, the ambassador sent a letter to the security council, which we have obtained,

deploring israel's aggression and breaches of serious sovereignty, particularly bombing of military sites, as well as violations of the 1974 disengagement agreement overseen by the un disengagement observer for us now on friday, the secretary general's spokesperson commented about exactly that. since the december, 7th, and off has been observed, has observed a significant increase in israel. defense forces, movements within the air of a separation. and along the seas far line where they've been constructing counter mobility obstacles since july 2024, and off confirms that as of 13 december, the idea for mains in the area of separation in multiple locations and office informed it's is really counterparts of the actions constitute a violation of the 1974, this engagement agreement, the letter from serious ambassador calls on the security council to do whatever it

can to compel is real, to stop all of its attacks, as well as withdrawal from areas immediately. the israel has occupied the past few days. on tuesday, the security council will meet to discuss serious political and humanitarian situation. gabriel is on the, i'll just say the united nations in new york. the kingdom of jordan is set to host high level talks on the political transition in syria era. foreign ministers, us secretary of st. anthony blinking answer key is for administer. are expected to attend your normal day in october, jordan, on own you for you as syrian celebrate their new found freedom and public squares across their liberated country. the meanwhile diplomats are scrambling to catch up with the regional and international aftershocks of the subdivisions. doubtful jordan is due to host

a summit and it's coastal city of africa to coordinate a response to syria's immediate needs. on the agenda to monetary and release security, serious, precarious road to recovery, reconciliation, and democratic rule. you and agencies say the task ahead will be difficult for jordan and the you are sending him monetary and aid stability in syria is a goal. every one attending jacob a summit agrees on, but not necessarily how to secure it in the us and european union are being cautious towards the new administration, saying they want to judge actions, not words. we spend time talking about understand what the situation is yury and the conviction of so many countries in the region beyond that, as syria transitions from the side dictatorship to hopefully

a democracy. it does so in a way that, of course, protects all of the minorities and syria that produces an inclusive nonce, return government, and does not become in any way a platform for cares. regional countries want a united and functional syria to welcome back millions of refugees who fled during the civil war are also concerned by israel's destabilizing actions. launching an unprecedented number of air strikes that destroyed all of syria's military and defensive capabilities. find also invading and occupying more serious territory in the golan heights assets, allies, iran and russia will be watching the summit from afar. their influence of interest did not align with those meeting and about absent from the meeting or the syrians

whose breathtaking victory has changed the politics of this volatile region. what happens in the alcohol but will affect them immediately and strategically? the challenge for them now is to safely maneuver all those agendas to get the job of syria and recovery. done no to all day. i just need to talk about jordan. robert ford is the former us ambassador to syria and is currently a senior fellow at the middle east institute. he joins us from bank or in maine. robert, thanks so much for being with us today. us secretary of state anthony, blinking the had been in turkey holding talks with the turkish foreign minister. how kind of feed on they spoke about the importance of calendar and any resurgence of iso in syria, but throughout the syrian civil war. the u. s. center key have backed rival opposition groups. can the us answer key actually reconcile their positions going forward? and how will all this play out?

i don't think they've reconciled their positions yet to. they both agree that a return of dash into the central and eastern syria would be a bad thing. but they disagree on strategies to achieve that objective, that common interest. and i have seen no evidence yet, that the americans are prepared to relinquish their use and partnership with the syrian and democratic forces that i have seen no indication that turkey has back tracked from its animosity towards the syrian democratic forces. robert israel has been carrying on strikes across syria and it's been condemned by the united nations for taking control of former syrian army positions . the u. s. has backed is real to the hilt when it comes to gaza and there's no

indication that will be different in syria at this point is there, as i have seen, no criticism of the israeli action from the united states governments, folks, people in washington. robert, what kind of role can the us play in all this at the moment president biden is, in these waning days of his administration engaged. how much influence came he have on the events and the new administration in syria as his term comes to a close? well, i think viewers should understand that syrians over through the outside governments themselves and without significant outside help. and syrians are in control of what's happening in damascus right now. and so the group meeting endured in the group of countries meeting and jordan are in a position to offer assistance, but are not in

a position to dictate terms. there is no international negotiation as one long imagined. bind happened under united nations auspices by humanitarian aid is still very much needed in syria. 90 percent of the population is in need of humanitarian aid. according to un data, it's important to engage directly with the actors in damascus, all of the actors. and like the united states influence with the syrian democratic forces and in particular, it's kurdish leadership is important to forestall serious fighting in the eastern part of syria. ok, robert you, we've talked about the by the administration and their engagement, but you have donald trump coming back to the white house. he said that the us will stay out of syria. so where does that leave things? is that a practical position for the united states going forward as well?

i say donald trump sooner and later is going to remove those remaining 900 american soldiers and the contractors providing logistical support to the main eastern syria . cannot imagine that they are going to be there for years from now. the question is, what fills in behind to them? i would hope that all incur in washington might start having this conversation soon and let's remember they need to bring in the syrian government. um, let me ask you, how, in your opinion, can the news syrian administration balance the external competing interest going on here? um, you know, when it comes to whether it's the u. s. when it comes to other powers, when it comes to the region, how is that going to play out? so the best thing that the, the news syrian temporary government in damascus can do to reduce

for an intervention in their country is to build a, uh, a government, a state which is inclusive and where syrians prefer to work with each other rather than work with foreign states to bring down what the temporary government and then the transitional government after it. and we're trying to bill in other words and unity among the syrians, a chief through consensus, political dialogue, political consultation, and ultimately agreement on the big issues after political process. uh, that's the best way that the syrians can avoid having foreign states marketing around in their business. all right, robert ford, great to get your insights. thanks so much for joining us on august here. thank you . still ahead on al jazeera, a, france gets a new prime minister. we looked at the challenges ahead for centrist liter francois by

the highlight of the web. it's looking pretty quiet for china at present any date for the korean peninsula. we have still got some bits and pieces of rain sleepless night into japan and a bit of cloud. as you can see, just looking away. we have got to watch the weather, making its way across the sea of japan. uh, maybe i have of the woman was this with the cool air in place. that'd be good with that. see a fix. know close the western and northern side of japan coming in behind time because those statements got to around 3 celsius stuff. a so a, some of the temperature, 2 full baths a lifetime, but just to just pick up a touch as we go through sunday. more dry weather for having to a good parts of china pushing down towards the fall south of the country. but you, me, south is that, that know,

safely monsoon that's driving heavy down pools into vietnam, central and southern vietnam in particular, cambodia saying some really heavy right. big heavy down poll still continuing into southern todd and just rolling across them a light peninsula. and that is causing siding and that will be further flooding to come in the coming days. tiny a show us the recross malaysia and indonesia and probably a shelves to into southern parts of india. and we'll see some what the weather is moving across the piping goal. as we go for sunday into monday, big heavy rain coming into franca, most of that is dry of the unique perspectives. what could my community be gaining if we weren't spending money on all of those bonds? killing innocence? and as i said, 11 on, on her voices, the world has turned its back on so that our lives to match. so many people matter just as much as any other connect with our community and be part of the conversation. we feel very unsafe because of the 2nd 12 presidency. they don't see

the need and then trying to a piece of people are social media. the stream on out just the or news the you're watching obviously are on a reminder of our top story. is this how multiple explosions have been heard, and the syrian capital damascus believe to be is really yours, right? in the city of us, the way the in the country southwest has also been talking. the latest strikes come as hundreds of thousands of jubilant syrians afford onto the streets and several cities after the 1st friday prayers since the fall of a shot since coming sorry and opposition forces have uncovered vast quantities of

the drug. capt gone into warehouses and even a military air base, despite the said, resumes, denial of backing the trade. it was seen as a lifeline for the cash strapped government over the course of the civil war. for the your car reports, you know, warehouse and side of damascus syrian fighters find what remains for one of the most important resources for the former assad government. it's not weapons for intelligence. it's these drugs thousands of captive gone pills. similar to amphetamines, the drug is banned in most countries because of how addictive it can be. a copy of on for a full have about this is how they wrapped them and send them to countries abroad. these are these drugs, they're sending them to saudi arabia to the entire gulf. this is how they're loading trucks with them. since the civil war began in 2011, millions of details produced under the sad regime had been shipped to neighboring

countries, counting for 80 percent of the world's production. despite massive boss, sometimes recovering several tons of the drug. trade has fueled addiction in countries like a wreck, jordan and saudi arabia. the drugs were a vital source of cash for the heavily sanctioned government. these individuals and these key elements of the syrian regime were really able to use these revenues to ensure that their lifestyles continued, that they remained comfortable to spite international sanctions and a collapsed economy in syria. and the trade served as a to, for us that's government to pressure regional arrivals. isaac continued to have these max lowest demands for normalization and refresh me on it. really try to use it as a negotiation tool to essentially walk to the negotiation table and tablets, regional neighbors and say, look, we can start to cut down on this list at trade. if you give us something else. in exchange,

the proliferation of capital gone through the middle east is just one of the enduring impacts for serious civil war. now, serious new administration has promised to purify the country of the truck and shed it's reputation as a norco stay. for the car, which is 0, the israel has launched air attacks against multiple cities across northern cause. the region has been under a military siege for more than 2 months. now. the, there's been heavy artillery fire and the date let him ambulances have been hit that come out as one hospital. the barely functioning hospital has been targeted repeatedly at access to medical supplies has been cut off. the united nation says

israel has been denying an over whelming number of admissions destined for northern cause. since october 6th, the you and our partners have tried to coordinate a $137.00 missions to those parts of the north, more than 90 percent. that's about a $124.00. planned admission were denied right. the other 13 were approved but then faced impediments along the way. since monday we submitted 16 requests that's between $3.00 and $5.00 each day. almost all were flat out denied the only mission to get the green light was prevented from moving into all the areas it set out to reach. ready stresses a once again or humanitarian movements must be facilitated across garza, including areas in the north where thousands of palestinians are facing a politic conditions after almost 10 weeks under siege. power. couple as long as in dead and by the hand. central gaza with more on israel's

ongoing siege of the north of the street as there has been no new, significant change in terms of the reality taking place in the north of this trip. because i do value a big lie in vitamins these board at towns and villages are completely on the coast . and that tax by the east valley of ground forces which continue its military peroration from the 17th days so far on the ground. but we, one of the main significance updates that we've managed to get from eye witnesses in the notes is that these cross forces continue to a bound to the ground residential homes in the city of la have this bottom of attacks have been similarly taking place in the valley of refuge account and we have been seeing, we have a seen really see the aerial image just from f for the devalue of refugee camp. so when the wide scale disruption have been close to the city and to become a do to be a military operation of this is gradually now taking place

a lot of to forcing hundreds of thousands of families to evacuate and to move to the gods of security so one of the latest provides of a text took place at the gates of college, one hosted to a web, an engine and speak and was a targeted eye. witnesses have seen that this vehicle was completely on fire, and this is a part of the systematic attacks on a medical sector. and even for those templates as war 2, i would continue to up to operate and that's seconds all over the territory. it means that the, the is really military is trying to inject these implants is out of service. on the same time they are trying to exec move pressure on the medical teams who are still trapped in come on at one hospital to georgia. now where the ruling party is due to name a far right lawyer list as president, it will be the 1st time in the country's history that in peace rather than the public will be choosing the president. the move has angered protestors who accused the governing georgian dream party. i'm reading elections in october. there been

nighttime protests for weeks. the demonstrations were triggered by the government's decision to put new accession talks on hold. the current president, telling me is or by severely is backing the move. she's refusing to sit down until new elections are held. demitria meant everything co sat down with the georgian president to discuss the political crisis and the country. the matter i'm present. thank you very much for finding the time to talk to the general out as they are. now. december 29th is the last day of your term in office. that will be another president, and i'll get rated on that day. you said earlier that you were not planning to vacate the post. is this still your plan? well, it's not the plan, it's effect. because the elections that elected the parliament were not the free and fair elections the there were stolen

elections hence and the parliament is not legitimate. department is a one party parliament where the furniture closed parties of the position that participated in the elections did not enter it. because of the solar and elections and so this makes a whole the whole of the exist size not to legitimate, including the designation of the president. and then he's integration or whatever. my mandate by constitution runs until the time when the president is integrated, which it has to be a legitimate president. so my men between run as long as there is no new elections and by the new elections in new parliament, the toilet elect a legitimate president. and then with pleasure, i stepped out. do you see the possibility that you might be forced into exile?

no, no, no, i'm not going to be an executive. i don't think that that's a place where you can stay with your people. if i think that it's necessary to have a legitimate president, it's because i think that this country means that these thing a crucial time of crisis needs continue and needs a stability. and the only states continued to is income newton via is it, is it that has been elected by the people and not by a parliament that does not receive legitimacy as so for that reason, these continued t, i needs to stay in the country. we have seen more than 2 weeks of protests in b c, across other cities of the country. what effect have these protests had, which we are seeing is a very massive movement because it was never the case before. we've had many protests in this country, but never before was it so extended to the different cities in the country. this

truly inc, and the sense in the population is that we are a to we are turning point either of the this is tied struggle succeeds from the population to resist the ser. uh or we will enter into a region that will be more or less the russian regime of 14. you have called earlier for international pressure in sanctions to be applied against members of the government. i've been calling for support for this movement and for putting pressure on authorities that are now a reality of relying on sure repression. and that sometimes turns into torture, because that's the qualification that the public defender has given to the acts of the police forces of the refreshing forces. because there is