�*top headlines �*tep headlines is our. israel says it has destroyed syria's naval fleet 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 capital, life is beginning to return to normal, with workers urged to return to work and some shops reopening. we'll have all the latest in the next hour. i'm geeta guru—murthy. our other top stories. 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. welcome to the syrian capital damascus. it's the second full day under syria's new rebel leadership. a night—time curfew is now in force, although you may also hear that some of the traffic is still flowing. that's new as well because the streets have been quiet on sunday and monday after the rebels suddenly seized control. five decades of rule by the syrian assad family. today, there are more signs of the city and returning to its

normal leadership. the new interim government also had a cabinet meeting today, attended by members of the former government, trying to send a signal that they will be a smooth transition. —— it will be. let's look at the other top stories. 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 israel and had acted with what he called �*great success'. dozens of military installations and airbases are reported to have been hit. let's look at some of the details. let's look at some of the details. 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. let's get a look at the latest of elements is our. lina sinjab has this report. —— at this hour. 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, made no comment on the strikes — he is busy setting up

for the new government. —— abu mohammed al—jolani. 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. the mixed signals coming from the new islamist government and signs of a city where some are still celebrating, some signs of a city and returning to normal. also a lot of caution and questions about what lies ahead now. we are keeping an eye on all of the latest developments as we watch here a city slowly returning normal rhythms. i would like to welcome our listeners on the bbc world service programme outside source. so much interest around the world in these momentous developments in syria. a source of events with sunday's setting toppling of the 50—year reign of the assad

family in the rise to power of a number of rebel groups. the most powerful in the islamist group with its military commander abu mohammed al—jolani, who is now returned to using his own name rather than his name during the war. today, they held the one of the first cabinet meetings. also members of the old administration to ensure an orderly transition. we are seeing signs of work returning and syrians come to term with these events. not the numbers that

had been flooding the streets filling all the main squares. outbursts ofjoy filling all the main squares. outbursts of joy to filling all the main squares. outbursts ofjoy to see the oppressive rule of the assad family is over. the big question is what is going to be put in place with this islamist dominated leadership. a spring in my colleague. joining me now is bbc arabic�*s sally nabil, also in damascus. —— let's bring in. bring us up to date on what you've seen today. to date on what you've seen toda . ~ �* to date on what you've seen toda .~�* ._ to date on what you've seen toda.�* .,_ today. we've actually seen si . ns of today. we've actually seen signs of lights _ today. we've actually seen signs of lights coming - today. we've actually seen| signs of lights coming back today. we've actually seen i signs of lights coming back to the syrian capital. we know over the past couple of days, all the shops were closed, streets were empty, people were pretty apprehensive and scared. they didn't know what to expect. but today, we've had a tour downtown and we've seen

this is and some go shopping yet. there are still concerns about what's next. sound cuts out i'm afraid we've lost the audio of my colleague sally nabil. we sometimes have these interruptions here where sometimes the electricity goes out and the internet goes off. it's perhaps to be expected as syria emerges from what is already a deep economic crisis and hoping very much that syria will now see the kind of investment and support it needs to get back on its feet, even though the main, the most dominant rebel group, hayat tahrir al—sham, is still prescribed terrorist

organisation — notjust by western governments, but also by the un. it's turn to the main news again. overnight, israel carried out more than 300 strikes on military installations in syria. the israeli say they are only trying to ensure that weapons don't fall into the hands of fighters that could threaten israel. israeli tanks reported to move out of what was a buffer zone, to move out of what was a bufferzone, but to move out of what was a buffer zone, but the defence forces have been quick to deny it. i spoke to... our correspondentjon donaldson is in jerusalem. he gave me an update on an idf briefing — that their tanks weren't heading towards damascus. we've had quite a bit of information from the israelis today. we had the defence minister speaking at a major navy base just minister speaking at a major navy basejust in minister speaking at a major navy base just in the north of

israel. he gave the information that israel has apparently destroyed syria's naval fleet and it is working to secure a defence zone. those reports of tanks advancing on damascus that we've been hearing rumours of all morning. our teams in damascus haven't seen anything approaching and no confirmation from the idf. look at more insight. yossi kuperwasser is director of research at the israel defense and security forum and former head of the research division at the israel defense forces' intelligence corps. it doesn't involve encroaching into syria _ it doesn't involve encroaching into syria. we've done some very— into syria. we've done some very minimal encroachment in id military— very minimal encroachment in id military i— very minimal encroachment in id military i zone between us and

the syrians —— demilitarised. many— the syrians —— demilitarised. many attacks against weapons that are — many attacks against weapons that are there, part of the army. _ that are there, part of the army, that fall in the hands of radical— army, that fall in the hands of radical groups that operate in syria — radical groups that operate in syria as _ radical groups that operate in s ria. �* , radical groups that operate in sria. r ~' ., syria. as you know, the united nations is _ syria. as you know, the united nations is very _ syria. as you know, the united nations is very quickly - nations is very quickly criticise these israel strikes. this moment of transition for syria, also been criticised by neighbouring countries including saudi arabia. how do you explain israel's sudden moves in this direction? they mi . ht moves in this direction? they might criticise _ moves in this direction? they might criticise us, _ moves in this direction? they might criticise us, but - moves in this direction? they might criticise us, but i'm - might criticise us, but i'm sure — might criticise us, but i'm sure behind closed doors, they

bless _ sure behind closed doors, they bless us — sure behind closed doors, they bless us and appreciate what we did. bless us and appreciate what we did~ we — bless us and appreciate what we did. we saw what was happening in libya — did. we saw what was happening in libya after weapons were left and _ in libya after weapons were left and spread all over the middle _ left and spread all over the middle east. we don't want to see that — middle east. we don't want to see that happening. we don't want — see that happening. we don't want weapons to fall into the hands — want weapons to fall into the hands of— want weapons to fall into the hands of radical groups. i think— hands of radical groups. i think we _ hands of radical groups. i think we are contributing to the security of the region by doing — the security of the region by doing that. everyone should be thankful— doing that. everyone should be thankful for what we do. it�*s thankful for what we do. it's been a third _ thankful for what we do. it�*s been a third day now and you're striking defence installations, research interest to jens and the very infrastructure of a government that will need to ensure security in its borders. they have enough weapons to secure — they have enough weapons to secure their borders and suitability inside syria. they don't — suitability inside syria. they don't need the weapons of the

syrian — don't need the weapons of the syrian army was defeated by them — syrian army was defeated by them. but we did was not against _ them. but we did was not against the infrastructure of the state of syria. it'sjust againstm _ the state of syria. it'sjust against... otheradvanced weaponry, not civilian infrastructure. let's ta ke let's take a look at our second main story the sower. president erdogan of turkey welcoming the capture of two cities. the joining me now is henrij barkey, who's adjunct senior the fellow for middle east studies at the council on foreign relations. welcome to bbc news. are we seeing now turkey very much pursuing its own interests in

ensuring that the syrian kurdish groups regarded as terrorists are not consolidated control so close to its border? well, the turkish government has wanted for a longtime well, the turkish government has wanted for a long time to dislodge the kurds from northern syria, and they call them terrorists, but the truth is these kurdish groups, the sdf, is allied with the united states and primarily engaged with fighting isis. for turkey, this has been an important issue because the turks are really afraid that in, especially assad syria, the kurds will get some kind of economy in syria. just like the iraqi kurds did after the gulf war. so, imagine fora moment if you have a kurdish autonomy

in syria, turkey has a very large kurdish population so you can imagine for turkey advocating for similar arrangements, that is a significant threat for erdogan and the kurdish government. that's really the reason. isis would notjoin a group that it thinks would be harming turkey and has kept very strict controls on the syrian kurds. but erdogan, because he thinks this is a strategic threat, he's very intent on pushing forward. but it's also dangerous for erdogan because he's using essentially something called a syria national army which was part of the coalition of hds. but the

syria national army is... the fact that they're acting against another group in syria may create conflict with the hds down the road. erdogan is benefiting from the situation in washington, it's not clear what the trump administration will be doing next. just stay with us for a moment, but thank you for outlining some of the competing forces in northern syria along the turkish border. we're going to say goodbye to our listeners outside source, but stay with us here on bbc news.

just how volatile this area of northern syria be with these two competing forces, one backed up by turkey, which for years has made it clear it will intervene militarily on the ground and in the air. well, it's very _ ground and in the air. well, it's very volatile. _ ground and in the air. well, | it's very volatile. remember that the threat of isis remains. isis has been defeated, yes, but lots of pockets of isis controlled all over syria because the government wasn't very effective. if so, for example, we saw the united states engaging in 75 direct attacks on isis targets and isis has a presence. most importantly, the syrian kurds in collaboration with the united states have 40,000 isis prisoners. imagine

for one moment if you're dislodged or you defeat the syrian kurds, what will happen to those 40,000 prisoners? they're going to go out and create havoc in the region. we have to remember that ice is at one point controlled a great deal of northern syria and iraq. the iraqi government, the syrian government, nobody could really defeat them. it was only the united states with the syrian kurds that managed to defeat isis. this is a very dangerous situation in the sense that the syrian kurds, if they are pushed to the brink by they are pushed to the brink by the turks, who knows what they will do? so, if for instance the prisoners are released, then we're going to have havoc.

so, it is... it then we're going to have havoc. so. it is. - -_ so, it is... it has been for a very long — so, it is... it has been for a very long time. _ so, it is... it has been for a very long time. thank- so, it is... it has been for a very long time. thank you i very long time. thank you very much forjoining us to underline some of the risks and real dangers that are inherent in this moment in a country thatis in this moment in a country that isjust coming in this moment in a country that is just coming to terms with these dramatic developments, trying to deal with this very new situation, but all of the old issues remain, including the presence of the islamic state group in northern syria along with the —— along the turkish board reit. some 900 american soldiers operated in turkey —— turkish border. these are the kinds of fractions of the challenges facing the new islamist leadership here in damascus. we're way to keep an eye on all the developments, but i will hand you back to keep

how is it felt coming back into diffe is "it syrian story. syrians diffe is it syrian story. syrians diffe is it feltan story. syrians diffe is it felt coming. syrians diffe is it felt coming back ans diffe is it felt coming back into syria today after covering the hoping diffe is it felt coming back into region for so long? it’s hopii today after covering the syria today after covering the region for so long? it’s region for so long? it's extraordinary - region for so long? it's extraordinary - region for so long? it's region for so long? it's extraordinary for - extraordinary for - region for so long? it's extraordinary for so . region for so long? it�*s extraordinary for so many, most region for so long? it's extraordinary for so . region for so long? it�*s extraordinary for so many, most of all for the syrians, but of all for the syrians, but most of the western media have most of the western media have been banned from reporting into been banned from reporting into syria. just coming down from syria. just coming down from the lebanese border, i've been the lebanese border, i've been coming here for the past 30 coming here for the past 30 hoping years in the peaceful uprising years in the peaceful uprising of 2011 which turned into the of 2011 which turned into the most brutal of wars across the most brutal of wars across the region. we would always come region. we would always come into damascus wondering if it into damascus wondering if it will be a massacre, will it be will be a massacre, will it be a punishing siege, will be more a punishing siege, will be more devastation in these years of devastation in these years of fighting. will it be another fighting. will it be another reversal for the rebels? reversal for the rebels? fighting. will it be another fighting. will it be another reversalfor the rebels? coming reversal for the rebels? coming in reversalfor the rebels? coming reversalfor the rebels? coming reversal for the rebels? coming in reversalfor the rebels? coming in this time, it's an entirely in this time, it's an entirely

different syrian story. syrians different syrian story. syrians hoping against hope that they can forge a new chapter of security and stability, the

can forg have ew chapter of can forg have been apter of can forg have been suspended because the wildfires. tell us what's happening where you are and how close are the fires to the university.— community - are faculty, staff and students --e - community - are faculty, staff the university. thank you. it has been — and students -_ the university. thank you. it has been — the university. thank you. it has been a _ the university. thank you. it has been a long _ the university. thank you. it has been a long night. - the university. thank you. it has been a _ the university. thank you. it has been a long _ the university. thank you. it has been a long night. - the university. thank you. it has been a long night. it - has been along night. it started at 11pm and it really the university. thank you. it has been a long night. it - has been along night. it started at 11pm and it really lasted throughout the night. we lasted throughout the night. we saw a fire heading towards the saw a fire heading towards the university's campus. we like to university's campus. we like to think we have the most think we have the most beautiful campus in the world beautiful campus in the world overlooking the pacific ocean overlooking the pacific ocean into the santa monica mountains. it is also a place into the santa monica mountains. it is also a place where we tend to get very dry where we tend to get very dry wins. we saw the winds as the wins. we saw the winds as the result of a fire, and it began result of a fire, and it began to move towards the pacific to move towards the pacific ocean. by about one a:m., we ocean. by about one a:m., we issued a shelter in place issued a shelter in place protocol to get all of our protocol to get all of our residents and members of our residents and members of our community — are faculty, staff community — are faculty, staff

and students — into the and students — into the centre of campus where they sheltered in our library as well as the tyler centre on campus. we really had to wait it out as storms got very close to the campus. thankfully, we have little to no damage and by the time the sun came up this morning, we were able to lift the shelter in place. so that's the shelter in place. so that's the night it has been. it has been quite a situation we had to endure, but we're grateful for first responders and the fire fighters who are able to keep the fire at bay. i fire fighters who are able to keep the fire at bay.- keep the fire at bay. i have driven pastor _ keep the fire at bay. i have driven pastor campus - - keep the fire at bay. i have driven pastor campus - it l keep the fire at bay. i have | driven pastor campus - it is driven pastor campus — it is indeedin driven pastor campus — it is indeed in a stunning location. this must have been terrifying for all the students and all those caught up in this. 10096. we're so proud _ those caught up in this. 10096. we're so proud of _ those caught up in this. 10096. we're so proud of how- those caught up in this. 10096.

we're so proud of how our- we're so proud of how our students responded. you can imagine somebody knocking on your door, waking you up in the middle of the night and telling you it's time to sell stor in place due to a fire nearby ——

across northern ireland and scotland, 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.

spiralling debts and a worsening pollution crisis at thames water. it supplies a quarter of the uk's population, so will the governments be forced to wait in? succession of setbacks, rupert murdoch loses a legal bid to hand control of his media empire to his son. but his lawyers vowed to continue the fight. an expensive espresso, a warning for coffee lovers as prices hit record highs. and data centres will use as much illiteracy as japan by 2026, so could many reactors be the answer to al's demand for power? —— electricity. we are going to start with the deepening crisis of the uk's biggest water firm thames water, it supplies a quarter of the country because my population but has racked up massive debts and is undergoing pressure of a sewage spills into rivers and seas. today

thames revealed the number of