twice before i feel safe enough to say his name. that's how afraid we've all been of the regime. but having said that, he said, yes, we've been brought freedom, but we haven't been brought security. things are a bit chaotic right now. we don't know who's in control. so he said it's very important that this transition happens quickly and that there is some kind of security and governing structure put in place. he wasn't sure if that would happen. he's lived through 13 years of civil war. so you do have those feelings, too. also, extreme joy from the people that we spoke to in the umayyad square. one woman was was telling us that many of her relatives had died under the rule of bashar al—assad, and she was weeping with joy. will will and so you have very strong emotions here, very mixed emotions, and quite a lot of concern about whether this very unexpected upheaval, this very unexpected, um, change in syria, the old syria is gone. what will this bring? is this going to be an opportunity?

could this lead to a solution? could this lead to peace or will it lead to chaos and more violence? very much an uncertain day after the rebels took over last night. and, barbara, just in terms of people's day to day existence, obviously, for any state to function and for people to live, they have to be able to get food, water, have access to power, and all that requires a government to keep functioning, doesn't it? in the coming hours and days, do we have any idea how that might play out? we do have some suggestion about it because the leader of the rebels, abu mohammad al—juwlani, issued an order to his forces yesterday. i think it was in which he said that they should not publish. sorry, excuse me. target public institutions, that these were still under the authority of the prime

minister and they would need to eventually be officially handed over. so he was stressing there a certain continuity in the civic governing elements of the city. and it is true that the hayat tahrir al—sham, has been governing in the western province of northwestern province of idlib for some time, and they have paid attention to things like the condition of the roads and the power and so on. and the mrjuwlani himself has commented about it. so you can expect i mean, you can see that it doesn't come out of nowhere. i mean, he does have some governing experience and he is trying to project the idea that it will continue. also, the prime minister, in that statement he made on facebook, said that he would not leave. he would stay in authority over public institutions and that he was looking to be part of a handover, that there should be free elections and people

could choose their own government. so these are the kind of messages we're getting, and we will see exactly how that transpires. and when you talk about different regional powers having different interests, again, is it clear at this stage whether all the different factions are able to come together and whether they would all agree on the hts leader being the leader overall? well, that is very unclear because it wasn't just the offensive coming down from the north led by hts that was putting pressure on the regime. that whole surprise operation triggered unrest elsewhere and within quite a short space of time, the government lost control, or ceded control, frankly, in large parts of the sort of south east. the government soldiers just kind of melted away. and you had different armed groups seizing control of the city of daraa and sweida and areas south down

and areas south down to the jordan border. and then you had the kurdish military force with which the us is aligned, because they worked together to fight pockets of isis that still remain in the country. they took advantage of the fact that the government had forces had pulled out of this eastern town called deir ez—zor, which is where the iranians actually had quite a foothold with the army gone, though, the kurdish forces marched in. so things have changed quite a lot in terms of who's in control where. and it hasn't been a coordinated around amongst the different armed groups. so i don't know actually if there is an appetite for them to now co—ordinate in terms of governing the country. that is one of the big unknowns. will barbara played a certain damascus. syrians around the world have been reacting to the news. translation: may peace prevail in syria so that we can rebuild - it into a modern and more beautiful country than before, without assad and his allies. translation: many friends have died, unfortunately. _ many friends are on the run.

we are syrians. we are spread all over the world, everywhere. we all hope to be back in syria as we were before 2011 and even before. translation: i hope that a government will be - formed that grants rights to all syrians, regardless j of nationality or language — arabs, kurds, yazidis and i zoroastrians. i hope that a good - ruler will be appointed to lead the country. translation: to tell the truth, my joy is indescribable. - my brothers are imprisoned along with my friends and relatives. at the moment, i am waiting for them to be released from prison in peace, so that the joy can be full and a new syria can begin without killing and without war, and so that the people can return to their homes and live together as before. translation: i truly hope that syria will become - a country of rights, human rights ofjustice, and that all the criminals who have committed massacres in syria are brought tojustice. that, i think, is the

hope of all syrians. some voices from syrians around the world reacting to today's news. here's a quick shot of what we are seeing at the white housein what we are seeing at the white house in washington because we are expecting to hear from president biden in the next few minutes, within the next hour certainly. we had expected it in the last half an hour, we will go live as soon as we get that. this comes in the last half so from sources in the kremlin on syria reported by russian news agencies, saying bashar al—assad and his family have been granted political asylum and they are in moscow, we have been unable to confirm this ourselves but that is what is reported by russian news agencies that bashar al—assad and his family are in moscow and his family are in moscow and russia is saying it has

always called to search for a political solution in the settlement of the syrian crisis, resume talks under the un auspices and also russian officials are in contact apparently with leaders of the armed syrian opposition who have guaranteed security to the russian military bases and diplomatic establishments in syrian territory. we hope that the syrian dialogue will continue on the interests of the syrian people and bilateral relations between russia and syria. reports there apparently of kremlin reaching out to those opposition groups effectively with of course to military bases belonging to russia still in syrian territory. jon b alterman is the director of the middle east programme at the centre for strategic and international studies, a think—tank based in washington dc. he explains how the syrian regime was run under bashir el assad. under bashar el assad. well, it was rotten, but it wasn't collapsing. i mean, i think everybody knew

that this was a regime that was supporting itself through illicit drug sales. it was a regime that was having problems paying its people that there were it was shot through with corruption and bribery. but what it didn't have was the thing that pushed against it, that made it collapse. and i think everybody was shocked. everybody was shocked, including hayat tahrir al—sham, this group that came down from the north—west, that it collapsed quite so quickly, quite so spectacularly. and now the question is, how do you, with a vacuum in syria, have any certainty about what comes later? one of the characteristics of syria — and some of your correspondents alluded to this — there are a lot of foreign parties, a lot of different groups that have carved out spheres of influence in syria. how you keep syria together, how you keep one of those groups from fighting against all the other groups, and making chaos in the area

is a serious problem for everybody to talk about. the turks seem to be the ones with the most influence, but nobody has control over the situation. and what is known about the hts leader? because that group had its foundations in al-anda, had strong links with is. he's smart, he's ambitious. he obviously has a decent relationship with turks. he has been trying to reshape his image, make himself more acceptable. you know, syria is a relatively multi—confessional country. there are christians, there are kurds, there are other groups that don't fall into the sunni majority. over half a century of brutal authoritarian rule by bashir al-assad _ authoritarian rule by bashir al—assad and his father before him, _ al—assad and his father before him, forced him to resign his office — him, forced him to resign his office and _ him, forced him to resign his office and flee the country. we

are not— office and flee the country. we are not sure, we've heard he is in moscow _ are not sure, we've heard he is in moscow. at long last the assad — in moscow. at long last the assad regime has fallen. brutalised tortured and killed literally hundreds of thousands of innocent syrians, the fall of innocent syrians, the fall of this— of innocent syrians, the fall of this regime is a fundamental act of— of this regime is a fundamental act ofjustice. it's a moment of historic_ act ofjustice. it's a moment of historic opportunity for the long—suffering people of syria to build — long—suffering people of syria to build a better future for the proud country. it's also a moment_ the proud country. it's also a moment of risk and uncertainty. as we _ moment of risk and uncertainty. as we ali— moment of risk and uncertainty. as we all turned to the question of what comes next, the united states will work with— the united states will work with our— the united states will work with our partners and stakeholders in syria. to help them — stakeholders in syria. to help them see _ stakeholders in syria. to help them see as an opportunity to manage — them see as an opportunity to manage the risks. for years, the main _ manage the risks. for years, the main backers of assad have been _ the main backers of assad have been iran, _ the main backers of assad have been iran, hezbollah and russia _ been iran, hezbollah and russia. overthe been iran, hezbollah and russia. over the last week their— russia. over the last week their support collapse, all three _ their support collapse, all three of— their support collapse, all three of them, because all three — three of them, because all three of— three of them, because all three of them, because all three of them are far weaker today— three of them are far weaker today than they were when i took — today than they were when i took office. and let's remember

why - _ took office. and let's remember why - after— took office. and let's remember why — after hamas attacked isreel— why — after hamas attacked israet on _ why — after hamas attacked israel on october 7, 2023, and much — israel on october 7, 2023, and much of— israel on october 7, 2023, and much of the world responded with— much of the world responded with horror, iran and its proxies— with horror, iran and its proxies chose to launch a multi—front war against israel. thet— multi—front war against israel. that was— multi—front war against israel. that was a _ multi—front war against israel. that was a historic mistake on iran's— that was a historic mistake on iran's bart~ _ that was a historic mistake on iran's part. to today arendt 's main — iran's part. to today arendt 's main proxy, hezbollah, is also on its — main proxy, hezbollah, is also on its back. 12 days ago i spoke _ on its back. 12 days ago i spoke in _ on its back. 12 days ago i spoke in the rose garden about the cease—fire deal in lebanon, it was— the cease—fire deal in lebanon, it was only— the cease—fire deal in lebanon, it was only possible because hezbollah has been badly degraded. meanwhile, hamas has been— degraded. meanwhile, hamas has been badly degraded as well. iran's— been badly degraded as well. iran's own military capabilities have been weakened. iran tried two times to attack— weakened. iran tried two times to attack israel and the united states— to attack israel and the united states build a coalition of countries to directly defend israei— countries to directly defend israel and help defeat those attacks _ israel and help defeat those attacks. all this made possible for iran— attacks. all this made possible for iran and hezbollah to continue to prop up, made it impossible i should say, for them —

impossible i should say, for them to— impossible i should say, for them to prop up the assad regime _ them to prop up the assad regime. initially it also failed _ regime. initially it also failed because ukraine backed by american allies put up a wait— by american allies put up a wail of— by american allies put up a wall of resistance against the invading _ wall of resistance against the invading russian forces, inflicting massive damage on the russian forces, unable to protect— the russian forces, unable to protect its main ally in the middle _ protect its main ally in the middle east. excuse my cold. the upshot for all of this is for the _ the upshot for all of this is for the first time ever, neither— for the first time ever, neither russia, nor iran, nor hezbollah _ neither russia, nor iran, nor hezbollah could defend this abhorrent regime in syria, this is a direct— abhorrent regime in syria, this is a direct result of the blows that— is a direct result of the blows that ukraine, israel have delivered upon their own self—defense with a unflagging sopbort— self—defense with a unflagging support of the united states. 0ver— support of the united states. over the _ support of the united states. over the past four years, my administration has had a clear principle — administration has had a clear principle policy towards syria. first. — principle policy towards syria. first. we _ principle policy towards syria. first, we made clear from the start— first, we made clear from the start sanctions on assad would remain— start sanctions on assad would remain in— start sanctions on assad would remain in place unless he engaged seriously in a political process to end the

civii— political process to end the civil war _ political process to end the civil war. as outlined by the united _ civil war. as outlined by the united nation's security councit— united nation's security council resolution. we carried out a — council resolution. we carried out a comprehensive sanction programme, all those responsible for atrocities against _ responsible for atrocities against the syrian people. second. _ against the syrian people. second, we maintain our military— second, we maintain our military presence in syria. our counter— military presence in syria. our counter isis, counter the sopport_ counter isis, counter the support of local partners as well— support of local partners as well on _ support of local partners as well on the ground, their partners. never seated an inch of territory, taking out leaders of isis ensuring that isis leaders of isis ensuring that isis can _ leaders of isis ensuring that isis can never establish a safe haven — isis can never establish a safe haven there again. third, we have — haven there again. third, we have supported action against iranian— have supported action against iranian networks in syria, aiigned _ iranian networks in syria, aligned with iran transported aid to— aligned with iran transported aid to lebanon. and if necessary ordered the use of force — necessary ordered the use of force against her and you networks to protect us forces. our approach has shifted the balance _ our approach has shifted the balance of power in the middle east, _ balance of power in the middle east, through this combination of support for our partners,

sanctions. _ of support for our partners, sanctions, diplomacy and targeted military force when necessary, we now seek new opportunities opening up for the people of syria and for the entire — the people of syria and for the entire region. looking ahead, the united states will do the following — first, we will sopport_ following — first, we will support syria's neighbours including jordan, support syria's neighbours includingjordan, lebanon, iraq including jordan, lebanon, iraq and israei~ _ includingjordan, lebanon, iraq and israel. during this period of transition. i will speak with— of transition. i will speak with leaders of the region in the coming days, i had long discussions with all of our people _ discussions with all of our people earlier this morning. and — people earlier this morning. and iti— people earlier this morning. and i'll send senior officials from — and i'll send senior officials from my— and i'll send senior officials from my administration to the region— from my administration to the region as _ from my administration to the region as well. second, we will help— region as well. second, we will help ensure stability in eastern syria, protect the united _ eastern syria, protect the united personnel, our personnel against — united personnel, our personnel against any threats and remain in our— against any threats and remain in our mission against isis witt— in our mission against isis will be _ in our mission against isis will be maintained including security— will be maintained including security of detention facilities where isis fighters are being held as prisoners. we are being held as prisoners. we are clear— are being held as prisoners. we are clear eyed about the fact that — are clear eyed about the fact that isis _ are clear eyed about the fact that isis will try to take

advantage of the vacuum, to reestablish this capability to create — reestablish this capability to create a _ reestablish this capability to create a safe haven. we will not let — create a safe haven. we will not let that happen. in fact, just— not let that happen. in fact, just today, us forces conducted dozens— just today, us forces conducted dozens of— just today, us forces conducted dozens of precision strikes, air strikes, within syria, targeting isis camps and isis operatives. third, we will engage _ operatives. third, we will engage with all syrian groups including within the process led including within the process ted by— including within the process led by the united nations, to establish a transition away from — establish a transition away from the assad regime. toward an independent sovereign, independent, iwant an independent sovereign, independent, i want to say it again. — independent, i want to say it again, sovereign syria. with a new— again, sovereign syria. with a new constitution, new government that serves all svrians. _ government that serves all syrians, and this process will be determined by the syrian peobie — be determined by the syrian people themselves. the united states— people themselves. the united states will do whatever we can to support them including through humanitarian relief, to help— through humanitarian relief, to help restore syria after more than — help restore syria after more than a — help restore syria after more than a decade of war. and generations of brutality by the assad — generations of brutality by the assad family. and finally, we

will remain vigilant, make no mistake. _ will remain vigilant, make no mistake, some of the rebel groups— mistake, some of the rebel groups that took down assad have — groups that took down assad have their own room record of terrorism _ have their own room record of terrorism. we've taken note of statements by the leaders of the rebel groups in recent days and they— the rebel groups in recent days and they are saying the right things— and they are saying the right things now, but as they take on greater— things now, but as they take on greater responsibility we will assess— greater responsibility we will assess notjust their greater responsibility we will assess not just their words with— assess not just their words with their actions. and we are mindful, _ with their actions. and we are mindful, we are mindful that there — mindful, we are mindful that there are _ mindful, we are mindful that there are americans in syria, including _ there are americans in syria, including those who reside there~ _ including those who reside there. as well as austin tice who— there. as well as austin tice who taken more captive more than — who taken more captive more than 12— who taken more captive more than 12 years ago, we are committed to returning him to his family. this is a moment of considerable risk and uncertainty but i also believe this is— uncertainty but i also believe this is the best opportunity in generations for syrians to form their— generations for syrians to form their own — generations for syrians to form their own future. free of opposition. it's also an opportunity that is far from

certain. _ opportunity that is far from certain, fora opportunity that is far from certain, for a more secure and prosperous _ certain, for a more secure and prosperous middle east, where our friends are safe, our enemies _ our friends are safe, our enemies are contained and would be a waste — enemies are contained and would be a waste of this extraordinary opportunity if one — extraordinary opportunity if one tower were to topple only to see — one tower were to topple only to see a — one tower were to topple only to see a new one rise up in its place — to see a new one rise up in its place now— to see a new one rise up in its place. now i'm coming up on all the opposition groups who seek a role _ the opposition groups who seek a role in — the opposition groups who seek a role in governing syria. to demonstrate their commitment, to the _ demonstrate their commitment, to the rights of all syrians, the — to the rights of all syrians, the rule _ to the rights of all syrians, the rule of law and protection of religious and ethnic minorities. these past few days have _ minorities. these past few days have been— minorities. these past few days have been historic. and, you know. — have been historic. and, you know. so— have been historic. and, you know, so the days ahead will determine the future of this countrv _ determine the future of this country. we intend to approach that with — country. we intend to approach that with strength, wisdom and resolve — that with strength, wisdom and resolve. thank you very much, god _ resolve. thank you very much, god bless— resolve. thank you very much, god bless america and god protects _ god bless america and god protects our troops. thank you. president — protects our troops. thank you. president biden they are making that statement on 1527 00:17:57,525 -->