as it continues its attacks on syrian military installations for a third day. turkey's president erdogan welcomes the capture of two syrian towns in the north which had been under kurdish control. in damascus, the rebels who toppled the assad regime are offering rewards for information about senior security officers involved in alleged war crimes. here in the syrian capital, like a slowly turning to normal. the proxy of the traffic in the streets. servants were ordered to return to work today and some shops have reopened. i'll have the latest. lyse doucet in damascus, i'm get the girl removed the in london. israel's prime minister benjamin netanyahu testifies

for the first time in his long—running corruption trial. president macron calls cross—party talks in an attempt to form a new government in france following a historic no—confidence vote last week. and google says its new quantum chip takes five minutes to solve a problem that would currently take the world's fastest super computers ten septillion years to complete. —— geeta guru—murthy. welcome to the syrian capital damascus. you join us as the city slowly resumes its normal resumes after the sudden reserves on sunday that toppled president assad's regime. we

understand about 40% of people did show up at the desk. you may hear the sounds of the traffic in damascus, even though there is a curfew. the streets had been quiet for the last few days, but people now feel confident enough to come out of their homes, even though we can still hear the sounds of celebratory gunfire and some of the main squares of the city. in the last few hours, the caretaker prime minister has been announced. his name is mohammed al—bashir. he was ahead of what was called the salvation government. now the challenge is to run an entire country. israel says it has destroyed syria's naval fleet as it continues its attacks on syrian military installations for a third day. israel's defence minister said its forces were operating

to destroy strategic capabilities that threatened threatened israel and had acted with what he called �*great success�*. dozens of military installations and airbases are reported to have been hit. israel says it's trying to stop weapons falling into the hands of extremists and has ordered its military to create a weapons—free zone in southern syria. syria's neighbours and the un have called for the israeli attacks to stop. israel has denied reports that its troops are advancing on damascus. turkey's president erdogan has welcomed the capture of two syrian towns which had been under kurdish control. the syrian national army, which is backed by ankara, has been attempting to take over territory ever since the rule of bashar al—assad began collapsing last week.

normal life is gradually returning to the syrian capital. the islamist rebel leadership has chosen the man who's been running most of idlib province as interim prime minister. some civil servants have been urged return to work. there have been further celebrations on the streets of the capital. president erdogan also announced a new border crossing opening. life is slowly returning to normal here in the capital. let's take a look at all the latest developments. lina sinjab has this report. hundreds of blasts like this one were seen and heard across the country. syrians left sleepless by the explosions. the syrian observatory says there have been more

than 300 israeli strikes since assad was toppled. israel is also increasing its presence in the golan heights. it says it wants to protect its borders. translation: i instructed the idf to seize the bufferl zone between us and syria, and the positions controlled and adjacent here. this also includes the summit of hermon, what is called the syrian hermon. military bases and weapons storage facilities have been targeted. they don't want them to fall into the hands of islamist rebels who toppled the assad regime. but the leader of hayat tahrir al—sham, abu mohammed al—jolani, made no comment on the strikes. he is busy setting up for the new government. last night, he appointed an interim cabinet and met with the former prime minister to discuss handover of duties. he wants services to resume and for people to go back to their daily life.

the newly appointed interim government is sending mixed signals, as it is all islamist. but there are things that needs to be done so safety prevails. translation: i hope that safety and security are restored - in syria because we as syrians deserve to live better, we deserve to live in peace, safety and prosperity, and for the coming days i hope all different sects can live together hand in hand. there is no need for revenge, we need to open a new chapter. some people here are still celebrating. others are cautious. public institutions have not resumed yet and businesses are starting to open up. but for many, they want the safety and stability to prevail before going back to normal. lina sinjab, bbc news, damascus. sign of how syrians have given up sign of how syrians have given up cost is welcome to the new

authorities. —— given a cautious welcome. to provide some kind of security and stability while being concerned about these israeli air strikes. joining me now is our correspondent injerusalem, jon donnison. i know there was a briefing by the israeli defense forces. they clarified that there tinks where heading towards damascus? and that's what they said, yes. we've had quite a bit of information from the israelis today. we had the defence minister israel cat. he was speaking at a navy base in the north of israel and he gave the information that israel has apparently destroyed syria's naval fleet. apparently destroyed syria's navalfleet. it is apparently destroyed syria's naval fleet. it is working to secure what he called a sterile defence zone free of weapons and terrorist threats in southern syria. those tanks in

damascus which we've heard rumours of all morning — i mean, ourteams rumours of all morning — i mean, our teams there haven't seen anything approaching and no confirmation from the idf. we have to leave it there, but thank you forjoining us in clarifying a few of those points. joining me now is yossi kuperwasser, he's director of research at the israel defense and security forum and former head of the research division at the israel defense forces' intelligence corps. let's start with the recent announcement that they want to have a weapons free sterols on —— sterile zone. does that involve encroaching into syria? good afternoon. no, it doesn't involve encroaching into syria. we did some minimal... the area

thatis we did some minimal... the area that is a buffer zone between us and the syrians to make sure nobody takes control of this area and poses a threat to israel. that's what we did so far. on top of that, what we actually did was many attacks against, air strikes against weapons that are there and may fall in the hands of radical groups inside syria. we don't see that happening. figs groups inside syria. we don't see that happening.- see that happening. as you know, see that happening. as you know. the _ see that happening. as you know, the united _ see that happening. as you know, the united nations l know, the united nations special envoy for syria has criticised these strikes. it's also been criticised by countries including saudi arabia. how you explain this sudden move in this direction?

they might criticise us, but i'm sure behind closed doors, they bless us because we saw what happened in libya when weapons were left and they were spread all over the middle east. we don't want to see that happening and we don't want weapons to fall into the hands of radical groups. i think we are contributing to the stability of the region by doing that. everybody should be thankful for what we do. there's concern of more than 300 strikes and it's the third day now. you're striking the very infrastructure that a new government coming into power will need to ensure the security within its own borders. security within its own bordere— security within its own borders. , ., ., borders. they have enough weapons — borders. they have enough weapons to _ borders. they have enough weapons to secure - borders. they have enough

weapons to secure their . borders. they have enough - weapons to secure their borders and stability inside syria. they don't need the weapons of the syrian army that was defeated by them. what we did was not against the state of syria. it'sjust was not against the state of syria. it's just against chemical weapons and other events weaponry that was the targets of these attacks, not civilian infrastructure.- civilian infrastructure. what do ou civilian infrastructure. what do you anticipate? - civilian infrastructure. what do you anticipate? you - civilian infrastructure. what| do you anticipate? you think this will continue, that israel will feel it has the right to carry out air strikes to even cross the border when it feels its interests are threatened? to a large extent, we carried out attacks against most of the targets we need to take care of. it seems they will focus on

improving living conditions and look for good neighbouring relations with israel. the prime minister was here last yesterday and gave a speech and extended a hand for peace. definitely if they choose this option, on the other hand, if they choose confrontation, we are better prepared now than ever to face such a threat. i hope we should not need to do that. i think the syrian regime is made of many factions. many of them are dominant, jihadi organisations we worry about. there also some moderate groups and we hope we will have the —— they will have the upper hand at the into the day. —— end of the day. we have passed the beginning of the war. we gave humanitarian aid to the syrians

and treated them in our hospitals, so i hope this is going to be the path chosen by the syrian new regime.- the syrian new regime. thank ou ve the syrian new regime. thank you very much _ the syrian new regime. thank you very much for _ the syrian new regime. thank you very much forjoining - the syrian new regime. thank you very much forjoining us. | you very much forjoining us. let's take a look at the new leadership. joining me now is thomas pierret, who's senior researcher at the french national centre for scientific research who specialises in syrian politics. welcome to bbc news. good afternoon- — welcome to bbc news. good afternoon. what _ welcome to bbc news. good afternoon. what is _ welcome to bbc news. good afternoon. what is your - afternoon. what is your assessment _ afternoon. what is your assessment of - afternoon. what is your assessment of the - afternoon. what is your | assessment of the steps afternoon. what is your - assessment of the steps so far? it was noticeable about how the new leadership — principally at the main islam group — insured to the prime minster stayed in place when they came into damascus so they could speak with him and try to have an orderly handover of power. how much of a positive signal do you see in this?—

you see in this? there were two ma'or you see in this? there were two major objectives _ you see in this? there were two major objectives by _ you see in this? there were two major objectives by doing - you see in this? there were two major objectives by doing that. l major objectives by doing that. one was to ensure that civilians stayed and institutions —— state institutions —— state institutions continue to operate, which is a positive for everyone in syria. another objective was to make sure that the new regime emerging would inherit the international legitimacy of the former one. inherit embassies, inherit at the un. it shows great pragmatism on the part of the new leadership and let's hope that it leads to more pragmatic steps on their part. but that it leads to more pragmatic steps on their part.— steps on their part. but it's complicated. _ steps on their part. but it's complicated, seriously - complicated, seriously completed by the fact that the main group in power is a prescribed terrorist organisation not just prescribed terrorist organisation notjust by organisation not just by western

organisation notjust by western governments, but also by the united nations. there's not a very good record, and you see with the taliban. it's hard to find a way to not friends these laws?— to find a way to not friends these laws? we'll see. even before the _ these laws? we'll see. even before the fall _ these laws? we'll see. even before the fall of _ these laws? we'll see. even| before the fall of damascus, the leader said his organisation might dissolve itself. we'll see. you might do itself. we'll see. you might do it because he holds the military power. he could just reorganise the whole thing, create a new body orjust say that now there is no longer anything called hts, they are just the syrian army and. in former rebels will be organising a new syrian army and there would be no need for

and there would be no need for a distinct organisation which would solve the problem. would western countries accept the transformation? i don't now, but it's a possible way forward. b, but it's a possible way forward-— but it's a possible way forward. �* ., ~ forward. a new caretaker prime minister has — forward. a new caretaker prime minister has been _ forward. a new caretaker prime minister has been chosen, - minister has been chosen, mohammed al—bashir, who headed what was called the salvation government, so perhaps what has happened in idlib gives some hints about what they might try to do in the nationwide basis. if so, what would you expect to see? ~ ., ., ., , see? well, that government was established _ see? well, that government was established in _ see? well, that government was established in 2017 _ see? well, that government was established in 2017 when - see? well, that government was established in 2017 when the - established in 2017 when the organisation wanted to show that idlib was not ag hydrazine —— ajihadi regime. people who

are not, most of them are not members of hts, but are politically aligned with the organisation. giuliani did not have a political position in idlib. he was leading from behind. perhaps it's what he is not going to be to meld them together in a col it's ie force? is not going to be to meld them together in a col it's what :e? is not going to be to meld them together in a col it's what he behind. perhaps it's what he wanted to do, although i wanted to do, although i suspect he would have to suspect he would have to formalise this political role a formalise this political role a bit more now that he's in bit more now that he's in damascus.— damascus.— bit more now that he's in damascus. . , ., damascus. that is the other ma'or damascus. that is the other major challenge, _ bit more now that he's in damascus. . , ., damascus. that is the other ma'or damascus. that is the other major challenge, _ damascus. that is the other major challenge, that - damascus. that is the other major challenge, that it's i damascus. that is the other l major challenge, that it's now a patchwork of different rebel damascus. that is the other major challenge, that - damascus. that is the other major challenge, that it's i damascus. that is the other l major challenge, that it's now a patchwork of different rebel forces, some of them forces, some of them controlling territory. how hard controlling territory. how hard is not going to be to meld them is not going to be to meld them together in a cohesive force? together in a cohesive force?

well, on the one hand, hts is by far the most powerful one, so there is no major challenge to them. perhaps the syrian national army which is under direct command of the turkish military operating it's the syrian operation forces. these

thomas, thank you damascus. thomas, thank you very much _ damascus. thomas, thank you very much for— damascus. thomas, thank you very much for providing - damascus. thomas, thank you very much for providing so - very much for providing so clearly what kind of challenges lie ahead for syria's new leadership. todayis today is only the second full day that the new leadership, as we heard, dominated by the main islamist group, headed by the military commander, abu muhammad al—jawlani. he is putting in place his new ministration as syrians come to terms with this massive upheaval in their lives and looking to their new leaders to everything from keeping the lights on, the shops open, people being able to go to work, but also keeping people's hope alive that this new chapter in syrian lives can move the country forward and give it the kind of peace, security and stability that

they have yearned for for so many years. we will keep an eye on all the development from your cross syria, but keep watching bbc news.

you're watching bbc news. israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu has begun testifying in his trial on charges of fraud, breach of trust and bribery. he's the first serving leader in israel to take to the witness stand as a criminal defendant. mr netanyahu has denied the allegations. mr netanyahu has denied the allegations. our middle east correspondent our middle east correspondent yolande knell is at court. yolande knell is at court. so really quite a remarkable so really quite a remarkable scenario that we've seen scenario that we've seen here in the tel aviv here in the tel aviv district court today. district court today. district court today — district court today — the israeli prime minister the israeli prime minister that is going on there. taking the witness stand taking the witness stand in his long—running trial. in his long—running trial. and at the same time, and at the same time, of course, the country is still of course, the country is still engaged in the war in gaza. engaged in the war in gaza. it has been carrying it has been carrying out attacks in syria out attacks in syria

with all of the turmoil with all of the turmoil that is going on there. and mr netanyahu said he had been waiting eight years to tell the truth. but he said, "i'm still also a prime minister and we're fighting a war at the moment on seven fronts." he denies all of the charges against him. he stood up in the witness box as he was giving his testimony instead of sitting down. and this courtroom is actually in an underground bunker in this court. it was moved here for security reasons. and in terms of the allegations against the prime minister, he's got three criminal cases outstanding. one of them involves receiving gifts from millionaire friends. another one, he's alleged to have passed more favourable regulations for media owners in israel in order to receive more positive press coverage. he has going to continue to appear here to testify, and it will take up quite a significant chunk of his time,

because judges ruled last week that he will have to appear three times a week for the next several weeks, at least, as the defence case continues. the french president, emmanuel macron, is convening round—table talks to try gain agreement on a coalition government, and to find a prime minister who could lead it. the previous administration fell last week, after parties of the far left and far right united in a vote of no confidence. tuesday's gathering includes socialists, greens and parties of the centre left and centre right, some words

20 minutes or so some words that there will be a prime minister named within the next 48 hours. that doesn't give us much, but it does give us an idea that discussions are going. nobody slams the door and people actually want to talk. we've been hearing from some members from the left coalition and the more moderate, and said at least the fact that marine le pen party is not on top is a plus.- is not on top is a plus. who are the names _ is not on top is a plus. who are the names that - is not on top is a plus. who are the names that could . is not on top is a plus. who are the names that could unite support? i are the names that could unite su ort? ~ are the names that could unite su ort?

it comes to the method now and the strategies they tried to put in place, trying to see what can be done with this coalition they are trying to put together simply because names, they try to put names forward. that didn't work out because this is the situation. emmanuel macron's team is trying to get a different strategy out there. we are singing from his own party, formerjustice minister, at the very beginning of his term that could try and amend differences. but there's a lot to be discussed still. find to be discussed still. and francois. _ to be discussed still. and francois, is _ to be discussed still. and francois, is he _ to be discussed still. and francois, is he still - to be discussed still. and francois, is he still a - to be discussed still. and francois, is he still a key| francois, is he still a key figure? francois, is he still a key fiuure? , , ., figure? exactly. this former justice minister _ figure? exactly. this former justice minister is _ figure? exactly. this former justice minister is very - figure? exactly. this former justice minister is very key i figure? exactly. this former. justice minister is very key to this whole potential government. several years ago, he didn't necessarily block

marine le pen at a time when she needed a signature to potentially run for the potentially run for the potential campaign. you might be seen as this person who could amend differences with the far right. we know we had lunch with emmanuel macron before he made the address last thursday, so he is one of the front runners. there are many people out there in one of the main reasons is because everyone still doesn't know what can be brought with everything that can be brought to power. everything that can be brought to ower. . ~ everything that can be brought to ower. ., ,, i. , everything that can be brought to ower. ., ,, , . to power. thank you very much, pierre. to power. thank you very much, pierre- we _ to power. thank you very much, pierre. we will _ to power. thank you very much, pierre. we will be _ to power. thank you very much, pierre. we will be back- to power. thank you very much, pierre. we will be back with - pierre. we will be back with lyse in damascus in the next 30 minutes. stay with us on bbc news. much more on the website if you want to stay up—to—date. good afternoon. it is a far quieter weather picture for the next few days, but under the high pressure we've picked up some fog

and indeed some frost. really cold start this morning, particularly but that colder weather, the fog issues, may well slip a little bit further southwards through the coming night, but there are still numerous flood warnings as well out across england and wales following on from storm darragh. and it's taking a while for that rain to make its way down through the river systems. but the high pressure does ensure that through the rest of today, wednesday, thursday and friday, there's very little rainfall across the united kingdom. and then the high pressure does tend to relinquish its grip as we head towards the weekend. but a chilly breeze and quite a bit of cloud, even with the high pressure across the southern half of the country. a little bit of drizzle as well, and it feels colder than the 7 or 8 would suggest. further north, temperatures barely above freezing where that fog is lingering — the west of northern ireland, southwestern parts of scotland. it will thicken up again overnight tonight, possibly pushing into some parts of western england.

and if we see a few breaks even further south as well, but largely frost free again for much of england and wales, but an extensive frost further north, into northern england as well, and a hard frost over scotland, particularly in the glens. —6, —7 degrees celsius, still stuck under this area of high pressure, where the fog will have thickened up and that will be a travel hazard again for wednesday morning. northern ireland, parts of northern england. we may see a few more glimmers of sunshine across the midlands tomorrow compared with today. we may, instead of having the showers in the south and east and channel islands instead pick them up across southern devon and cornwall. those are subtle changes from day to day, but it will be another cold feeling day on wednesday despite the sunshine. by thursday, we might start to pick up more moisture and thicker cloud coming back in across central and eastern parts of england into the east of wales, and perhaps a bit more cloud by then for northern ireland and the far north of scotland, slightly less cold as a result, but still the issue of some fog around. then come friday, our weather front starts to push its way southwards. we change our air mass and that

will clear out the fog. we get a brisker wind going into the weekend, not strong winds, but a brisk wind and therefore a return to an atlantic wind direction. and it's a bit milder by then, but until then, some frost and fog by night.

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israel says it has destroyed syria's naval fleet