political solution focus on the political solution that guarantees the right of all minorities and identities in syria, including kurds the sed and all other minorities whether in north—east or anywhere in syria. whether in north-east or anywhere in syria.- whether in north-east or anywhere in syria. that was a kurdish syrian _ anywhere in syria. that was a kurdish syrian journalist - kurdish syrian journalist talking to me earlier. let's recap on our main headline. that is what estate agencies have announced need to syrian president bashir al asad is in moscow. the riaa quoted an unnamed kremlin source, saying that moscow has granted mr assad political asylum out of humanitarian consideration for the prussian tv set company representatives were in touch with the syrian armed opposition for the borough corresponded is in damascus and told us what she has seen on the streets dead today.

it this is the capital of the country that has been billed by a dictatorship for five a dictatorship forfive decades. from temperament the father and assad the son. so people are out on the street celebrating and not believing that this is really happening. some of this people we have spoken to say it is like a dream. others told us we feel like we are flying over the sky. people are really out and about with an emotional about what is happening. the main square, as we have seen in this report, was mixed with verbals, shooting in the air and celebratory way but also lots of civilians. the women and children walking around watching this scene. syrians wanted one day to be the centre of their protest that broke in 2011, calling for change. calling for democracy. it took

them 13 years to reach this moment. so far there was a self and peaceful handover of power but, of course, there are the concerns of what comes next. the chaos, the instability, everyone wants a rule of law, one safety, wants prosperity. and this is going to be the test by the opposition to deliver. tell me a little bit about daily life in damascus. we seen pictures of celebratory gunfire and people on the streets, people returning to syria but day—to—day life, shops, schools, banks, petrol stations, they are all functioning? everything is going ahead as it would on any normal day?— normal day? this is the first da of normal day? this is the first day of the — normal day? this is the first day of the fall _ normal day? this is the first day of the fall of _ normal day? this is the first day of the fall of the - normal day? this is the first | day of the fall of the regime. the announcement came at 4am in the morning so people are really taken the morning so people are really ta ken by the morning so people are really taken by surprise. the shops are still closed. everywhere we went through today, you know, everywhere was closed. most people actually are staying home. to feel we

have seen on the streets are those who took to the streets to celebrate and of course it is not a big number. we have not seen a sense of violence or aggression in the streets but it was like a smooth, spontaneous, probably chaotic scenes of celebration as well but these are the first hours of regime change. the first hours of syria without assad, so it is a bit of time for people to process. they want to watch what things are happening. some people are worried. you are these rebels coming in. they have an islamic agenda? are they going to impose rules on the country? it is very much a secular scene. even the sydney damascus are not conservative but also many have these questions, how syria is going to appear —— even the sunni in damascus. even those

who were supporters, announced publicly they no longer supported assad. and spoken to some contacts and they said that heads of security, those operating in the security apparatus had up to the coastal cities so there are lots of questions, you know, to be answered. and they will be answered. and they will be answered by deeds, not by talks. and that is for the rebel lead opposition. we have seen, you know, the head of hts speaking, very symbolic location for him and for the sunni in syria. we sent a message of protection for all the nomination of syrian

society but the test is the implementation, not the talks. and you yourself of course are syrian. how did it feel for you living through today? it is really hard _ living through today? it is really hard to _ living through today? it 3 really hard to comprehend, to be honest. and, you know, i always try to keep in mind that, you know, i have my professional values that i need to report so somehow i am trying to distance myself from what is happening but, at the same time, you know, this is my country. this is my city. i have flashbacks of reporting in 2011 or 2012, flashbacks of being arrested and detained. and all of this coming through my mind. sometimes i feel like, is it true what is happening? am i reporting on syria or i'm out reporting on a different country? it is so overwhelming to believe it yet it is also extraordinary to lead it and witness such a historical moment in my own country. fiur

moment in my own country. our correspondent _ moment in my own country. our correspondent who is in damascus. israel, which borders syria, is watching events closely. it has deployed additional forces to the occupied golan heights area, and, during the last year, is understood to have carried out several air strikes inside syria on groups which support hamas and hezbollah. the israeli military is also reported to have struck syrian military compounds near damascus early on sunday morning, including weapons depots. the israeli prime minister, 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 out a

chain reaction of all who want to free themselves from the tyranny and oppression but it 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 collapse atop the syrian army abandoned its positions. we gave the israeli army the order to take over these positions, to take over these positions, to ensure that no hostile force embeds itself right next to the border of this wheel. 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 dues, to the kurds, to the muslims who want to live in peace with israel. we are going to follow events and we want to establish neighbourly relations, that is our desire. but if we do not, we will do whatever it takes to defend the

state of israel and the border of israel. figs state of israel and the border of israel. �* , state of israel and the border of israel-— of israel. as we mentioned earlier, of israel. as we mentioned earlier. we _ of israel. as we mentioned earlier, we believe - of israel. as we mentioned earlier, we believe that. of israel. as we mentioned - earlier, we believe that bashar al—assad is in moscow and russian state tv has just said in the past few minutes that, after the ousting of its ally, assad from syria, moscow has always favoured internal reconciliation in the country. let's get more analysis now. let's get more analysis now. let's speak to a fellow at the washington institute and author of the book put in's war in syria, it is so good to have you on the show. i appreciate you on the show. i appreciate you taking the time to speak to the bbc. let me ask you for your analysis of the fact that assad is in moscow. i assume you are not surprised at all. no, i'm not surprised at all. this was coming. russia was, of course, assad's main backer but the main issue, the main question now going forward is what is going to happen to russia's influence in syria and

syria itself. russia's influence in syria and syria itself-— syria itself. and this will what is going _ syria itself. and this will what is going to - syria itself. and this will| what is going to happen, syria itself. and this will. what is going to happen, do syria itself. and this will - what is going to happen, do you think? ~ ., what is going to happen, do you think? ~ . , , , think? what is interesting is that, on think? what is interesting is that. on the _ think? what is interesting is that, on the one _ think? what is interesting is that, on the one hand, - think? what is interesting is i that, on the one hand, assad's file is a huge blow to put in's prestige and that is undeniable. but at the same time, we are clearly seeing russia trying to position itself in this post assad syria. and that means that the story of russia in syria is not yet over. the question is, what is that going to look like and what is the international community going to do to ensure that there is a proper political process taking place in syria? that the transition is really towards democracy and towards peace. russia, for its part, was not genuinely interested in peace in syria or elsewhere. and frankly, there was a great opportunity to ensure that russia loses. it is questionable whether or not

that message has really sunk in. �* ,, ., that message has really sunk in. �* , , ., , that message has really sunk in. and russia still in syria. it still in. and russia still in syria. it still has _ in. and russia still in syria. it still has two _ in. and russia still in syria. it still has two military - in. and russia still in syria. | it still has two military bases there which it relies on in terms of its influence in the region. i wonder what we think is going to happen to those bases and by russia is willing to move forward with these rebel forces, with the opposition, and work with them in the same way or a similar way? it in the same way or a similar wa ? , , ., ., , in the same way or a similar wa? way? it russia has already signalled _ way? it russia has already signalled it _ way? it russia has already signalled it is _ way? it russia has already signalled it is willing - way? it russia has already signalled it is willing to - way? it russia has already l signalled it is willing to work with opposition forces and what is interesting is that russian state tv, it seems, stop referring to the anti assad position as terrorists. it was reported earlier that russian bases have received security guarantees so remember, russia's involvement in syria fundamentally was not about syria and it was certainly not about assad even though they fought to save him. it was really about russia's influence, in itself at a russia positioning itself in opposition to the west. and again, while this was a big blow to put in's prestige, russia still clearly fighting for influence and that is

something we need to watch going forward. find something we need to watch going forward.— something we need to watch going forward. and we all know that putin can't _ going forward. and we all know that putin can't stand _ going forward. and we a