the people had to put up with his brutal regime for far too long. we are talking to regional allies, long. we are talking to regionalallies, it's long. we are talking to regional allies, it's very important that there is a political settlement, political way forward. it's very important that we emphasise that civilians and minorities must be protected in this process but very pleased that assad has fallen. the process but very pleased that assad has fallen.— assad has fallen. the rebel u-rou assad has fallen. the rebel grow) hds _ assad has fallen. the rebel grow) hds is _ assad has fallen. the rebel group hds is designated i assad has fallen. the rebel group hds is designated a | group hds is designated a terrorist group, will your government to deal with the syrian regime's we do need a political solution for this, thatis political solution for this, that is what we are talking about, it's a good thing assad is gone it's a very good thing

for syrian people, we must also ensure as we go through civilians are protected. minorities are protected, this is through a political process, that's what we are talking to allies about in the region at the moment.— allies about in the region at the moment. �* , ., , . the moment. are you expecting any communication _ the moment. are you expecting any communication with - the moment. are you expecting any communication with the - any communication with the regime, or have you had any? our engagement is with our allies, making sure that we are making that case for a political settlement here. we have to see this as an opportunity for the future of syria, future that's been denied for so, so long, a future without the terrorism and violence we've seen far too much of in this brutal regime. so it's a real opportunity, were talking to regional allies about how we take that opportunity for a political settlement here, but it's very early days. settlement here, but it's very early dim-— early days. last question, there are _ early days. last question, there are many _ early days. last question, | there are many celebrating tonight, you yourself say you welcome the departure of president assad, are you concerned this could be destabilising for the region, is that something you are expecting to discuss an erai'm

very pleased. we expecting to discuss an erai'm very pleased-— very pleased. we should all welcome — very pleased. we should all welcome that, _ very pleased. we should all welcome that, it _ very pleased. we should all welcome that, it was - very pleased. we should all welcome that, it was a - very pleased. we should all i welcome that, it was a brutal regime imposed on syrians for far too long, so it is good he's gone, that should be welcome, but it is important now that we stabilise that we reject violence and terrorism and we all work towards a political solution, a political settlement for the future of syria and of course for the region. at syria and of course for the reuion. �* . ., ., syria and of course for the reuion. �* ., , region. a line coming into us in the last— region. a line coming into us in the last few _ region. a line coming into us in the last few minutes - region. a line coming into us in the last few minutes from | in the last few minutes from the iranian foreign minister, and he has apparently said to reporters that he, iran, bashar al—assad never asked for it to run�*s help against rebels. that is the latest line from the minister of foreign affairs of iran, remember iran and the regime of bashar al—assad very close. the less pictures we have of bashar al—assad from last week were him meeting the reading foreign minister. he said he was never asked by

bashar al—assad any help from iran against the rebels. we'll bring you more as we get it. during the last year it is understood to have carried out several air strikes inside syria on groups that support hamas and hezbollah. the strict syrian military compounds early on sunday morning, this morning, including weapons depots, benjamin netanyahu posted these comments on the fall of the assad regime in syria to his social media accounts. this is a historic day for the middle east. the collapse of the assad regime, the tyranny in damascus offers great opportunity, but also is fraught with significant dangers. this collapse is a direct result of our forceful action against hezbollah and iran, assad's main supporters. it set off a chain reaction

of all those who want to free themselves from this tyranny and its oppression, but it also means we have to take action against possible threats. one of them is the collapse of the separation of forces agreement from 1974 between israel and syria. this agreement held for 50 years. last night, it collapsed. the syrian army abandoned its positions. we gave the israeli army the order to take over these positions to ensure that no hostile force embeds itself right next to the border of israel. this is a temporary defensive position until a suitable arrangement is found. equally, we send a hand of peace to all those beyond our border in syria, to the druze, to the kurds, to the christians, and to the muslims who want to live in peace with israel. we're going to follow events very carefully. if we can establish neighbourly relations and peaceful relations with the new forces emerging in syria, that's our desire. but if we do not, we'll do whatever it takes to defend the state of israel

and the border of israel. jon donnison has this analysis of netanyahu's statement from jerusalem. well, look, you know, after the last 14 months, israel has a lot on its plate, but it is definitely concerned about what's happening in syria. and i think this... basically, they are saying that they are going to seize this buffer zone that has existed between the golan heights and occupied golan heights in syria. they're going to seize those positions. and i think ordinarily, that would have been seen as hugely provocative. but certainly from israel's perspective at the moment, it is understandable. i mean, they are very concerned about who these rebels are. they're concerned about syria's chemical weapons falling into the wrong hands, and they don't want the rebels operating right on their border. so, you know, look, israel

is fighting wars in gaza. the one in lebanon has onlyjust finished. but it does seem like it's willing to engage with syria as well. we've just had a note from the idf warning people in five villages in southern syria to stay indoors for their own safety, because israel could be preparing to make strikes there. israel has had a very ambiguous relationship with the syrian regime up until now, and it's one that really indicates the complex web of networks and political allegiances in the region, so for a long time after the arab uprising in syria back in 2011, 2012, israel basically wanted the status quo. they're no great friend of bashar al assad, but they calculated that a man who was allied with hezbollah, a man who was allied with iran, israel's two arguably greatest enemies, along with hamas,

they calculated that bashar al—assad was better than what might come next. well, now we've got what's come next, and israel is going to have to make the calculation of what kind of syria it wants. and if they don't get the syria they want, how will they respond? and the last few hours the kremlin has confirmed that bashar al—assad and his family has flown to russia that has been granted asylum. russia had been granted asylum. russia had been a key supporter of his regime back in 2011, a movement which led then to the civil war. with her of how we got to we are today, here is our medic correspondent, caroline holly.

for nearly a quarter of a century, syrians endured his authoritarian rule for millions, a figure both feared and loathed. this was the last public sighting of him. exactly a week ago today, meeting the iranian foreign minister. it was the support of tehran, hezbollah and moscow which propped up his regime for so long. bashar al—assad took power in the year 2000. a london trained eye doctor, he inherited syria's police state from his father, hafez, and initially promised reform. he and his british born wife, asma tried to present a new image of syria to the world. there was even an audience with the queen. but the change that so many syrians hoped for failed to materialise. and in 2011, when syrians rose up against his regime, this was the response. as accounts of atrocities multiplied, bashar al—assad denied any responsibility. we don't kill our people. no government in the world kill its people unless it's led by crazy person. for me as president, i became

president because of the public support. it's impossible for anyone in this state to give order to kill. over the next few years, hundreds of thousands of syrians were killed in a brutal civil war in which the regime used both barrel bombs and chemical weapons at a staggering human cost. the regime took back aleppo in 2016 with the help of russian airstrikes, but last week the rebels were back in the city after an offensive that stunned the world. towns and villages falling like dominoes. we still don't know how bashar al—assad fled syria, but he leaves a country scarred by what the un has called a dark chapter of unspeakable loss. that chapter, now closed. caroline hawley, bbc news.

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. the words of some syrians around the world. let's speak to dr amer masri, who was tortured and detained for two months in syria in 2011 after he was accused of being a spy while visiting family. he is now relocated to edinburgh. it's so good of you to come unto bbc news and talk to us today, and i wonder if i can ask you how you feel. i’m ask you how you feel. i'm extremely _ ask you how you feel. i'm extremely happy, - ask you how you feel. i“n extremely happy, extremely glad that this nightmare has come to an end. ijust can't describe, no words can describe how happy this brutal regime has been

ruling for the last five decades from father to son, has ended. . , ended. tell me a little bit about what _ ended. tell me a little bit about what happened - ended. tell me a little bit about what happened to l ended. tell me a little bit. about what happened to you. indeed, the regime always feared the educated brains and for me, i was among, i was studying at university for genetics, and when i went to syria to see my family i had my own opinion, political opinion against the brutality, and they showed no mercy. i have been imprisoned with two months for all tools of torture braided cables, electric, electricity chair, just because i said assad's family must stop killing the innocent people. how did you get out? at killing the innocent people. how did you get out? at that time in 2011, _ how did you get out? at that

time in 2011, everyone - how did you get out? at that time in 2011, everyone who l how did you get out? at that i time in 2011, everyone who had spent two months in the security intelligence branches would go to the court of injustice, court ofjustice but i name it injustice, through bribing powerful officers at the regime i managed to get my freedom and come back to scotland. freedom and come back to scotland-— freedom and come back to scotland. ~ . ., ,., scotland. what about those you left behind, _ scotland. what about those you left behind, your— scotland. what about those you left behind, your family, - scotland. what about those you left behind, your family, your. left behind, yourfamily, your friends? have you heard from them today?— friends? have you heard from them today? none of my family dared to stay — them today? none of my family dared to stay in _ them today? none of my family dared to stay in syria _ them today? none of my family dared to stay in syria after- them today? none of my family dared to stay in syria after i - dared to stay in syria after i came to edinburgh, so my other brotherfled to came to edinburgh, so my other brother fled to france, came to edinburgh, so my other brotherfled to france, another brotherfled to france, another brother in dubai, and my brother in dubai, and my brother and my mum here in edinburgh. i have to tell you, my friends know in syria from different background, from different background, from different ethnicities, different ethnicities, different sectors said, a mere, syria is for good now. it is

coming for a brighter future. they know that this family has suppressed the people for so long time, and it has come to an end and they are waiting to actually come back and say to them. . �* , , ., them. that's interesting what the 're them. that's interesting what they're saying _ them. that's interesting what they're saying to _ them. that's interesting what they're saying to you, - them. that's interesting what they're saying to you, there l them. that's interesting what| they're saying to you, there is hope amongst different areas and peoples. is there any news about the rebel forces and what they could represent?— about the rebel forces and what they could represent? there are so many positive _ they could represent? there are so many positive signals - they could represent? there are so many positive signals and - so many positive signals and assurances to other minorities from different sectors that we are going to build one syria that includes everyone, not excluding anyone, and i mean... we are so optimistic and let's see, it's still early stage of saying what is going to happen, but things are positive, syria

is for better. do but things are positive, syria is for better.— is for better. do you plan to no is for better. do you plan to go back. — is for better. do you plan to go back, then? _ is for better. do you plan to go back, then? you - is for better. do you plan to i go back, then? you mentioned you will be going back, or your friends have said to you you should come back, will you go? i will go. i will observe at the beginning, observe how is the beginning, observe how is the situation there, my hope that syria will not fall into the same scenario like in libya and iraq and other countries that are still unstable. however it is now our time to rebuild it and this is our responsibility that we have to fulfil. , ., , , responsibility that we have to fulfil. , . , , ., , fulfil. dr, it has been really aood to fulfil. dr, it has been really good to talk _ fulfil. dr, it has been really good to talk to _ fulfil. dr, it has been really good to talk to you, - fulfil. dr, it has been really good to talk to you, thankl fulfil. dr, it has been really i good to talk to you, thank you very much for talking to us and telling us your story, thank you. bbc persian middle east correspondent nafiseh kohnavard is at the syria—lebanon border. this is the update she gave us. have a listen.

we are on our way to see lebanese—syrian border. it's not far from where i'm standing isjust like a five minute drive. but behind me there are people who are celebrating all the way from beirut, especially when we were driving towards the border. we saw groups of... anti—assad people are celebrating. there was a lot ofjoy. they were waving flags and interestingly, they had different flags. they had the flags of syrian opposition groups, they had flags of palestine and they had flags of lebanese. i asked them that why they are carrying all these flags, and they said they believe that after that they want to first of all, they want to show that supporting gaza is notjust belong to pro—assad groups, is not belong to hezbollah, it's not belong to iran, but they are also supporting

gaza as a sunni, because majority there are sunnis, so they are supporting there as well. and they believe that they can liberate. that was what people were telling me, and they were carrying lebanese flags. they were saying that they want to show their thanks because lebanon was hosting these refugees for years here. but there was conflicting feeling. i ask everyone, how do they feel? some people said they are just absolutely happy. theyjust want to go back home once the road is open. but some were saying that they are... the situation is not clear, for they are happy that bashar assad is gone finally, after years, and assad's family time after decades. but they are not sure that what is going to happen next. they weren't confident that the group like hayat tahrir al—sham, which is coming from a very radical islamist root, how they are going

to manage the country. they were, some people were telling us that they are hoping that there will be a government for everyone, for all the minorities, because they were minorities also celebrating here. they were christians, they were druze, syrian, druze. there were many people here that they were celebrating, but many of them also told us that they didn't believe that 13 years of war will finish with 12 days, will be over with 12 days only. and bear in mind that most of the people, most of this young generation behind me, they haven't seen syria at all. they grow up here. they have zero idea about syria. i ask them that, "have you ever seen syria?" they said no, but they just want to go back. they grow up here in lebanon. they don't have syrian passports.

nationality, syrian nationality, but they consider themselves syrians. and they were telling us that all they hope is that they go back home. they go back to country that they call it still home. some people even comparing the situation when isis took over a part of syria and iraq. despite that, this group has repeatedly said that they are different than isis. but some people here believe that maybe after they gain full power over the country, they will become as radical as isis. and some people don't want to leave under that situation, especially women. they were part of the opposition. they were against bashar al assad also. i talked to them. they were concerned that what kind of the situation

they are going to face. and this is not only women that are not, uh, having headscarf. no, women with headscarf also were telling us that they want to make sure that the country will be managed in different ways. they don't want to face another situation that part of the country faced when isis took over iraq. a part of iraq and syria that time. also at the beginning, isis was giving a lot of promises, saying that they are going to protect minorities. they don't have problem with kurds, they are not going to force their rules. but the issue is that this group says that they are going to govern the country, according to the sharia, which is islamic, sunni, islamic law. so that is a part of concern. and also many people still don't know that they have home to go back.

most of the country is in ruin. so people from horns and hama were telling us that they want to go back, but they don't know that if there is a home to go back. breaking news now in the last few minutes, this is confirmation from us central command that it is a targeted dozens of isis camps in central syria. president biden in his address earlier on was talking about this and we've had confirmation now that they of conducted dozens of precision strikes targeting known isis camps and operatives in syria, it says the strikes were conducted as part of an ongoing mission to disrupt, degrade and defeat isis, to prevent the terrorist group from conducting external operations and to ensure that isis does not seek to take advantage of the current situation to reconstitute in central syria. so this is confirmation of what

we were hearing earlierfrom president biden about what the us has been doing in central syria and again, it's more than 75 islamic state targets today alone, that's according to the pentagon. the rebel forces have been about abu mohammad al—julani and their grip, hayat tahrir—al shams. the demise of bashar al—assad poses big questions for the outgoing biden administration and the incoming trump presidency as well as other major players in and around the middle east. i asked retired brigadier general mark kimmitt who is a former us assistant secretary of state, how significant this development was for the united states. it's tremendously significant in the minds of many. this is another blow to the ring of fire that the iranian

and its proxies, that iran and its proxies have been surrounding israel with and with what we're seeing in the pushback in lebanon against hezbollah, the fight against the houthis, the toppling of bashar al—assad. i think generally, most of the observers would say this has been not only a significant blow to bashar al assad, but one to the iranian theocracy as well. there should be a lot of concern. if you take a look at their actions up to this point, they've been running a brilliant strategic communications campaign, not the least shaving their beards before they appeared on television. but we should not kid ourselves. the hts has its roots back through the nusra al—nusra group to al-anda, al-qaeda in iraq. these are notjefferson, tony, and democrats. and i would sincerely expect that in the next couple of weeks, they will truly demonstrate which direction they're going to be taken. and i think all of us need to be concerned that i don't think that we'll be seeing a pluralistic society run by the people anytime soon.

russia says he has fled the country but and finally this hour, myriads of exiled syrians around the world have been celebrating the end of president assad's rule. russia says he's fled the country, but no—one has confirmed where he's gone. here are some of the pictures coming in to our newsroom. in majdal shams, a druze village in the israeli—occupied golan heights, a woman is holding her hands up in prayer in front of a statue holding the syrian opposition flag. a man celebrating near the masnaa border crossing in lebanon. pictures like this from all over the area have been coming into us, people celebrating, people holding up flags, smiling, clapping, cheering.

here are young syrians making the sign of peace from a bus as they head to their home country from the lebanese town of bekaa. a woman gets the syrian opposition flag painted on herface in istanbul, turkey. women celebrating in beirut after hearing the news that president assad had fled the country. a woman holding a wooden heart in the colours of the syrian opposition flag in bonn, germany, where people took to the streets to celebrate. we have lots of photos coming in, keep them coming into us here at bbc news. stay with us, more coming up in a few minutes' time.

hello there. after a weekend dominated by storms, the weather story is on the change. yes, we are heading for a quiet week ahead. as high pressure builds as we speak, a lot of dry and settled weather around. it does mean colder by day and by night, which could lead to some overnight frost and fog. so why the gear change? well, in recent days we've had a really powerful, fast moving jet stream centring itself across the uk, but we're now starting to see this significant kink in thejet stream, which is allowing high pressure to move in and establish itself across the north and west. still some brisk winds throughout the remainder of the day, and as we head through the night, it will still be quite breezy, with showery outbreaks of rain continuing across east anglia and southeast england. quite a lot of cloud here, but further north and west under clearer skies as temperatures are likely to fall away, perhaps below freezing in one or two spots, so some patchy frost and fog first thing here.

so as we move into monday, we're going to continue on a breezy note with some showers across east anglia and along the kent coast. quite a lot of cloud being pushed in by that strong northeast wind. further north and west, clearer skies, lighter winds. a little more sunshine, but a cooler story here — 4—6 degrees widespread, 7—9 elsewhere. the high pressure is going to stay with us as we move out of monday into tuesday, and the winds circulate in a clockwise direction. so all the time we're going to continue to drag in quite a lot of cloud. so it's going to be a cloudy week of weather for much of england and wales, with the best of any sunshine further north and west. but that is where those temperatures are likely to struggle the most. so we're looking at around 6—8 degrees across england and wales, but struggling to climb above freezing by day. and that means through the night, temperatures could fall as low as —7 to —9 degrees, with some stubborn frost and fog likely first thing on wednesday morning.

the high pressure, though, will stay with us for the end of the week. this front is toppling across the high, trying to introduce some showery outbreaks of rain. but all in all, it looks likely that that quiet week of weather will continue. could be a change again from sunday onwards.

live from london. this is bbc news.

syrian rebels declare damascus is free as the assad family's half—century in power ends. the bbc is in damascus. as we came into the city, we saw military equipment into the road, banded, even uniforms, military uniforms taken off and soldiersjoining the population. russia says assad is now in moscow as his palace is looted. as syrians celebrate around the world, international leaders welcome the fall of bashar al—assad's regime. a fall of the regime is a fundamental act of justice, a fall of the regime is a fundamental act ofjustice, a fundamental act of justice, a moment fundamental act ofjustice, a moment of historic opportunity for the long—suffering people of syria, to build a better future for their power the country. as the main rebel group leader

abu mohammed al—jolani, speaks to crowds at a historic mosque in damascus