live from washington, this is bbc news. syrian rebels say they are entering the capital damascas, as reports say president bashar al—assad has left for an unknown destination. south korea's president avoids impeachment over his brief declaration of martial law but questions remain about his future. storm darragh rages across the uk, leaving two people dead and hundreds of thousands of people without power. hello, i'm helena humphrey. syria's opposition forces say the country's president has fled the capital damascus, after they entered the city

essentially unopposed. in a statement, hayat al—tahrir al—sham, or hts, said , "we declare the city of damascus free from the tyrant bashar al—assad. we announce the end of this dark era and the beginning of a new era for syria." the country's prime minister, mohammad ghazi al—jalali, filmed a video statement in the past hour saying he would work with the opposition to facilitate a transition of power. despite the opposition�*s claims, it's not been confirmed that mr assad has fled syria. residents in the city say they are hearing gunfire and heavy fighting. opposition forces rapidly moved south towards damascus from aleppo and the key strategic crossroads of homs. the head of the rebel advance has said his forces have taken full control of homs in the last few hours. other opposition factions are converging on the capital from the south, having taken control of daraa province. there had been signs all saturday the government's control over damascus was slipping: this footage from the suburbs shows protesters toppling a statue of assad's late father, who founded the ruling dynasty. a few hours ago, our security correspondent, frank gardner, filed this report. they think they've won already.

these are syrian rebels in the south of the country, in daraa, part of a pincer movement that is closing in on the capital, damascus. more celebrations today in the north, in the city of hama. the rebels�* advance across the country has been lightning—fast. there is little sign of the president, basharal—assad. this does now feel like the dying days of the al—assad regime, a family dynasty that has held syria within its brutal grasp for more than half a century. but where is the syrian army in all of this? because they mostly seem to be surrendering or defecting. but tonight syrian state television did put out a video with the impression that the al—assad regime is still very much in charge. the reality is syria's army is weak. without enough support from russia, iran and hezbollah, it has been unable to

hold back the rebels. we do have some pictures of the syrian army. here they are today crossing the border into iraq to get away from the fighting. assad had really been absent, and this tells you a great deal about psychological warfare. it seems to me that the opposition has already won, because they have really won the psychological warfare against the regime itself, and the syrian army does not really seem to be standing up. bashar al—assad was last seen on sunday, meeting his backers from iran. but that country has been weakened by conflict with israel and can no longer give him the support he needs. the assad regime has murdered, gassed and tortured thousands of its own people, but a big question mark now hangs over what comes next. as his rule crumbles around him, many fear what could follow for syria. frank gardner, bbc news. let speak now to mohamed taha,

from bbc arabic. mohamed, what's the latest you can tell us? thank you. the statement that was issued by the syrian prime minister now that he is ready to co—operate with any force that would be elected or chosen by the syrian people, that particular statement means that all the reports we are talking about are fairly correct. at the syrian president, bashar al—assad, probably has left the country and the opposition now is under control. this is a historic moment for the syrian people and the region. we saw the syrian president, bashar

al—assad, defiant against the opposition for nearly 14 years while in this time there were many arab leaders who fell into what was called the arab uprising or the arab spring, amongst them their tunisian president, the egyptian president, the egyptian president, the egyptian president, the sudanese president, the yemeni president and of course before all of them was the iraqi president. we are now in the moment we can see hts is in control of damascus and we report that they are asking for the civilians not to approach the sensitive or important buildings, important institutions, as they will be guided by these forces. the latest news, that statement by

the syrian prime minister, now from damascus, says he is ready to co—operate with any organisation that the syrian people chooses, this means that these reports are most likely confirmed. we do not know the whereabouts of the syrian president. he has not been seen for days. do we have any indication or ideas where he may have gone to? film; indication or ideas where he may have gone to? any places that may be — may have gone to? any places that may be friendly _ may have gone to? any places that may be friendly towards l that may be friendly towards him? ~ ., ., 4' ., that may be friendly towards him? ., ., 4' ., , ~ him? we do not know yet. we heard in the _ him? we do not know yet. we heard in the beginning - him? we do not know yet. we heard in the beginning of - him? we do not know yet. we heard in the beginning of the l heard in the beginning of the night a helicopter left a military base in damascus and we understand the helicopter hard bashar al—assad in it and we know that as a family, bashar al—assad left to the

united arab emirates, —— — we united arab emirates, -- - we know his united arab emirates, —— — we know his family left for the uae but we do not know whether he will follow but most likely he will follow but most likely he will follow but most likely he will be in one of these countries, either russia, iran or the uae. joining me now to discuss the latest is ambassador robert ford. he served as the us ambassador to syria from 2011 to 2014 and is now a senior fellow at the middle east institute. ambassador, an evening of rapidly evolving devlopments. bashar al—assad, according to rebels, leaving the country, rebels, leaving the country, rebel fighters saying they are in the capital. i wonder, as the former us ambassador to the country, what do you make of these moments? i

country, what do you make of these moments?— country, what do you make of these moments? i was in syria when the _ these moments? i was in syria when the syrian _ these moments? i was in syria when the syrian uprising - these moments? i was in syria| when the syrian uprising began in 2011, with peaceful protests across the country. and the situation that the government then pushed into civil war, tragic civil war, and a look at this tonight with amazement. i do not think almost anyone could have foreseen this two weeks ago, myself and most other analysts did not expect it, and it is truly remarkable. i interestingly, you were the last us ambassador to serve in syria and i have read that you at that time you were there, you are travelling across the country. you are travelling across the count . ., you are travelling across the count . . .. .,,, country. travelling across s ria country. travelling across syria and _ country. travelling across syria and meeting - country. travelling across syria and meeting much i country. travelling acrossl syria and meeting much of country. travelling across - syria and meeting much of the opposition before you had to leave and i wonder, when you look at the rebels now, how much of that original idea do you see when you look at them, compared to for example, what led to the beginning of these

pro—democracy protests, the beginning of the arab spring? at the very beginning, syria, in march, april, may, even into june of 2011, 13 years ago, the principal demand of the peaceful protest movement was that the syrian government respect the dignity of citizens and that they hold security force members who committed human rights violations accountable for those actions and that they be prosecuted and the syrian government responded by shooting at the protesters. fast forward to 2024, many of the demands in terms of justice, accountability, freedom, i still there but unlike 2011, now they actually have a chance to build something and we hope that they

do. i certainly do but, for now,, today, today is a day for celebrations amongst syrians. you have the hope and a sense of optimism but i wonder when you look at how we know that oppositions can splinter, if you also have concerns today as well about what could be next? i certainly do. almost anyone watching this will understand the difficulty of rebuilding a state from essentially a state that depended on terror and repression to a state that respects citizens and allows essential freedoms such as those found in the united nations universal declaration after freedom rights, nations universal declaration afterfreedom rights, freedom after freedom rights, freedom of afterfreedom rights, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom to protest, it is hard. what is in front of the syrian

people is of course a challenge, especially with a segmented political and armed opposition but i go back to what i said. i think first there is a moment to celebrate and for syrians, this is that moment. and for syrians, this is that moment-— moment. as he 'ust said, rebuilding_ moment. as he just said, rebuilding institutions - moment. as he just said, rebuilding institutions is i moment. as he just said, l rebuilding institutions is of course very difficult. it has been such a long time since the beginning of the arab spring that led to this. i know you quit the state department over some frustration with us policy on syria. i wonder whether you think there should be support from the united states and whatever happens going forward, and we have had this weekend from donald trump and he said the us should let this play out, advocating for a hands off approach. how do you assess that? i approach. how do you assess that? 4' approach. how do you assess that? ~ ., ~ , that? i think frankly, president _ that? i think frankly, president trump - that? i think frankly, president trump is l that? i think frankly, i president trump is right that? i think frankly, - president trump is right that the united states does not need to get in the middle of this. i

think syrians need to determine how to build a better syria. really, foreigners need to give the syrian people and parties, armed opposition elements and political elements in syria, we need to give them the space to talk to each other and work this out. and when they want international help through the united nations or other mechanisms, for sure, provide that. in the meantime, 90% of syrians, according to the un humanitarian organisations, 90% of syrians live below the poverty line and need humanitarian assistance to survive. they are going into winter. winter is cold in syria, its nose. i hope the united states and international community continues to provide humanitarian assistance. it is as necessary now as ever and as they develop their economy and

infrastructure, , they develop their economy and infrastructure,, when they need international help and they ask for it, i hope the international community steps forward. but let's give these syrians a space to work on that's first.— that's first. and in these coming _ that's first. and in these coming weeks _ that's first. and in these coming weeks and - that's first. and in these l coming weeks and months that's first. and in these - coming weeks and months and as you say, that aid that will be needed with winter approaching, i wonder depending on what happens, whether you think whether what we are witnessing tonight could have the power to potentially reshape the middle east? i potentially reshape the middle east? ., �* ., ., ., potentially reshape the middle east? ., ., ., ., east? i don't want to go that far. east? i don't want to go that far- how _ east? i don't want to go that far. how many _ east? i don't want to go that far. how many americans i east? i don't want to go that l far. how many americans over the past year said they would reshape the middle east all see events reshape the middle east. i would just say this, i think syrians will earn admiration across the region for their patients and persistence in opposing tyranny and opposing

repression and if they are able to build a better state and country, they will earn further admiration among people in the region but beyond that, i would not want to speculate now on how this may change the region. robert ford, formerly the us ambassador to syria from 2011— 2014, the last us ambassador to serve in that country, with thank you very much for your insights. thank you. by, thank you very much for your insights. thank you. a pleasure to be with _ insights. thank you. a pleasure to be with you. _ health officials in gaza say israeli strikes killed at least 34 people on saturday. the israeli raids hit a house in gaza city. four women are among those killed. israel has not commented on any of the strikes. it comes as qatari officials say there is momentum for a possible ceasefire deal between israel and hamas. qatar's prime minister says the country is engaging with president—elect donald trump's incoming administration.

sources tell the reuters news agency mr trump's middle east envoy travelled to qatar this week to facilitate an agreement before his inauguration on january 20th. hamas says it will only agree to a ceasefire that brings the war in gaza to a lasting end. israel says the war will end once hamas is eradicated. hamas released a video saturday that shows israeli hostage matan zangauker. in the video — which we will not show — a man who introduces himself as matan can be seen pleading with israeli political leaders to make a deal that would secure the release of people held by hamas. matan�*s mother responded to the release of the video, urging israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu to bring her son home. translation: after 14 months of hell, sleepless _ translation: after 14 months of hell, sleepless and _ translation: after 14 months of hell, sleepless and anxiety - hell, sleepless and anxiety that cannot be described in words, i have sign of life from my son. he is alive. at the beginning of my speech i wanted to say any deal that does not return everyone is a death

sentence for the rest. benjamin netanyahu and the war and return everyone. —— israeli airstrikes on two villages in southern lebanon killed six people on saturday. the lebanese health ministry says five people were killed in an attack on the beit lif village while one person was killed in a drone strike on deir seryan. israel has not commented on either incident. it is the latest attack to test the ceasefire agreement between israel and hezbollah that has been in place for less than two weeks. south korean president yoon suk—yeol will not be involved in foreign or state affairs prior to his early departure. this was confirmed by the leader of yoon�*s ruling party. south korean prosecutors have arrested former defence minister kim yong—hyun over his alleged role in president yoon suk yeol�*s declaration of martial law. this comes as opposition mps vow they will continue efforts to impeach yoon. on saturday he narrowly survived an attempt to oust him by just a handful of votes. tens of thousands of people had gathered outside the country's parliament, calling on president yoon to resign. he declared martial law

earlier this week — only to reverse just a few hours later amid widspread public and political outrage. our correspondent, laura bicker reports. k-pop music plays. mass protests can feel like pop concerts in korea, even when they're calling for the impeachment of a president. young and young—at—heart sang together, united in the hope that yoon suk yeol will be removed. the president suddenly declared martial law late on tuesday night, and the country's elected politicians were forced to battle their own military to overturn it. today he said sorry, to try to save his career. translation: i sincerely apologise to the citizens, | who were likely alarmed and disturbed by these events. the crowds still cried for his removal, but soon they realised the president's

own party would not vote to impeach him, and the singing stopped. translation: what i believed and thought as democracy - and freedom, it all collapsed in a single moment. i'm very angry, but now is the time for each person to rise and come out here with us. the lawmakers — they should represent the people, not the president. and we're very angry, we're very upset. we are not going to back down until he is impeached. in contrast to the crowded streets, the seats of the ruling party sat empty as they boycotted the vote. all efforts to get them to return were in vain. this was not the result that they were hoping for. president yoon might think that he can stay on for another two years as a lame—duck

president, or his party might think of other ways to get rid of him. but south koreans have proved themselves to be resilient and determined protesters, and these demonstrations are only going to get louder and larger. with one last plea, the crowd pushed forward towards the parliament gates, calling on mps to get back inside and vote. the people of south korea are now challenging the politicians and, disconsolate but defiant, they have vowed to return. laura bicker, bbc news, seoul. two people have been killed by falling trees as storm darragh brings severe weather to parts of the uk. 200,000 are without power, mainly in wales and northern ireland. a wind gust of 93mph was recorded this morning in wales, and there's been

travel disruption across rail networks and at airports. our wales correspondent hywel griffith reports. damage and disruption in the wake of storm darragh. after standing strong for almost 150 years, llandudno's pier couldn't cope with hurricane—force gusts of wind. we got up this morning to, like everybody else, a nightmare, really. and to see the damage and how rough the weather's been has really shocked us. it's heart—wrenching. overnight, roofs were ripped off. the hope is that something can be salvaged from this chapel near newtown. fallen trees, closed railway lines and roads. here in lancashire, one claimed the life of a driver in his 40s. a second motorist was killed in birmingham this afternoon. in swansea, the occupants of this car were fortunate to get out unscathed.

flights were cancelled. those already in the air were in for a bumpy landing. the winds may have eased, but the risks from storm darragh remain. persistent rain has triggered flood warnings right across wales. falling on already saturated ground, the fear is that river levels will rise quickly. at builth wells, cars were close to being submerged as the river wye burst its banks. tonight, flood warnings remain in place. thousands of people are still without power. it looks like the worst part is over, but there's still very, very high winds, more rain to come, and people should be very, very careful. as the fourth named storm of the season keeps sweeping through, people around the country are left to count the cost.

hywel griffith, bbc news, cardiff. five years after a devastating fire ripped through notre dame cathedral in paris, it reopened in a lavish restoration ceremony on saturday evening. the colossal project — costing more than $700 million — has been completed in the timeframe promised by french president emmanuel macron. world leaders descended on paris to mark the reopening.