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. 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. the city is now under curfew. and the end of the second day of the rebel control of syria after they toppled president assad. this is a city, a capital slowly returning to normal and you can see from here, the traffic still going to the streets in the traffic was very heavy during the day here and a sign that people feel confident enough into the

new order, we have asked civil servants to return to work in some shops are opening up today. the bigger vision of where syria is heading now the new caretaker has been appointed today and known to syrians as the man who headed the rebels administration in northwest syria the last for the rebels swept across the country and the call did a salvation government. we will talk more about that later in the programme. looking at the main news about external relations for syria during this transition. israel says it is israel says it has destroyed syria's naval fleet as it continues 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.

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 united nations have called for the 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. 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 but the leader of hayat tahrir al—sham, hayat tahrir al—sham, made no comment made no comment on the strikes — on the strikes — he is busy setting up he is busy setting up for the new government. for the new government. last night, he appointed last night, he appointed an interim cabinet and met an interim cabinet and met with the former prime minister we need to open a new chapter. with the former prime minister to discuss handover of duties. to discuss handover of duties. he wants services to resume he wants services to resume and for people to go back and for people to go back to their daily life. to their daily life. the newly appointed interim the newly appointed interim government is sending mixed government is sending mixed signals, as it is all islamist. signals, as it is all islamist. but there are things that needs but there are things that needs to be done so safety prevails. to be done so safety prevails. translation: i hope that safety translation: i hope that safety and security are restored - and security are restored - in syria because we as syrians in syria because we as syrians deserve to live better, deserve to live better, we deserve to live in peace, we deserve to live in peace, safety and prosperity, safety and prosperity, and for the coming days, and for the coming days, i hope all different sects can i hope all different sects can live together hand in hand. live together hand in hand. there is no need for revenge, there is no need for revenge,

we need to open a new chapter. some people here are still celebrating. others are cautious. 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. we now welcome oui’ we now welcome our listeners from outside source on the bbc world service as we reported his momentous times in syria which have had repercussions already right across the region and we are coming to the end of the second day of syria without the second day of syria without the rule of president assad whose regime is being remembered now by syrians as being a rule of fear, a rule over hundreds of thousands had

been tortured, thrown into prisons, died at his hands, millions of syrians had become refugees. we see now that syria and the capital damascus life slowly returning to normal and traffic was flowing again through the capital and some shops it opened up and the new order dominated by the most powerful islamist groups, as can the civil servants to return to work and a member of the new administration told us that around 40% of people had shown up. there is also a new cabinet and plays in meeting with members of the former regime to ensure with a hope and with syrians and everyone supporting these new moves in syria hopes will be a smooth transition. there's is now new prime minister and a very close left tended to played a key role in northwest syria and under control of the rebels and

a new administration right across syria. and notjust the challenges of what's inside syria and also their neighbours, including the continuing air strikes by israel some 300 strikes reported and the last three days and today, israel says that it destroyed the syrian naval forces and there was an

demilitarised zone between us and the syrians. making sure no one takes control_ making sure no one takes control of this area and no one poses— control of this area and no one poses a — control of this area and no one poses a threat to israel, that is what — poses a threat to israel, that is what we did so far. and on top _ is what we did so far. and on top of— is what we did so far. and on top of that, what we actually did was, _ top of that, what we actually did was, many air strikes and attacks— did was, many air strikes and attacks against weapons did was, many air strikes and attacks against that are there, part of the army, that fall in the hands of radical groups that operate in syria. we don't want to see that happening. as you know, the united 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 might criticise us, but i'm sure behind closed doors, they bless us and appreciate what we did. we saw what was happening in libya after weapons were left and spread all over the middle east. we don't want to see that happening. we don't want weapons to fall into the hands of radical groups. i think we are contributing to the security of the region by doing that. everyone should be 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 their borders and suitability inside syria. they don't need the weapons of the syrian army was defeated by them. but we did was not against the infrastructure of the state of syria. it'sjust against... other advanced weaponry, not civilian infrastructure. it is not just it is notjust israel engaging in strikes across its borders into syria, there's also been movement along the border between northern syria and turkey as he had been reported income of the turkish president as it been reported income of the turkish president is welcome the capture of two towns that have come under the

control of syrian kurdish forces in turkey very much wants to keep away from the border in working through an umbrella group in the syria national army in the turkish backed militia to the area, trying to set in place a new administration to deal with the challenges and also to contend and sing the involvement growing by the day by its neighbours. let usjust growing by the day by its neighbours. let us just look at the situation now and at the end of the second day, the council of understanding, you joining me now is chris doyle, who director of the council for arab—british understanding a caretaker prime minister and the new cabinet working with the new cabinet working with the old government with the oral president —— board president assad.

-- board president assad. you saw the demise _ -- board president assad. you saw the demise of _ -- board president assad. you saw the demise of the - —— board president assad. you. saw the demise of the assad family regime and a very bold fashion and that gives us a hopeful start for syria and the new transition. but it is really important that we move as quickly as possible to move towards a transmission transitional administration, while syrians are happy to see the end of assad, i think there is some nervousness among syrians about the what ruled over it lived in the authoritarian fashion and it's pretty islamist and has its roots in al-qaeda and it really does have something to prove to syrians and of course, the outside world. will it be inclusive, will it share power? because i think there will be many and syria in the brightest

and best tool will not wish to serve and help this administration if they are going to dominate. because this will not be the agenda of many syrians. syria, as you know things very well, as a country of many different communities, backgrounds and identities. all of them are somewhat fearful about what their futures might be whether there components. and it is vital to avoid going back to those days of civil war, of strife, that they all feel that they have a part to play. that it is fully inclusive and this will be so important moving forward. of course, it is vital that the syrian government, the state that keeps services going in functions and allows syrians to renew their lives but of course, it is also got to be able to move forward it has to be able to reassure the

international community in order to get recognition, in order to get recognition, in order to get sanctions lifted and in order to get the economy which is flatlined for years and being able to move forward to get small and medium—size businesses up and running in the agricultural economy up and running in to give some real chance for syrians to get out of the horse that they've had to endure for so many years. and looking at the reasons why people are worried, this is very much islamist dominated interim government but it's also complicated that you mention the sanctions. the hes is an organisation notjust by western government but also by the united nations and this will create a huge problem, will create a huge problem, will it not, for trying to get aid into syria and trying to work with the new government and sanctions as we have seen are not easily lifted. this

and sanctions as we have seen are not easily lifted.— are not easily lifted. this is true and — are not easily lifted. this is true and i _ are not easily lifted. this is true and i think _ are not easily lifted. this is true and i think hgs - are not easily lifted. this is true and i think hgs has i are not easily lifted. this is true and i think hgs has to | true and i think hgs has to demonstrate that it is prepared to be a part of a transitional structure not necessarily dominating it, it has the power shared us to be able to demonstrate it is accountable for the sanctions to be lifted and it is not going to use authoritarian means to control the country. let me be clear that in idlib where it reported that in idlib where it reported that plenty of political prisoners and it was very authoritarian. this also the broader sanctions on syria that were imposed by the united states and the european union. it's going to be very difficult for this syrian economy to pick up for this syrian economy to pick up from a state in which 90% of the syrian population were living in poverty. whilst the sanctions are still imposed, we need to be able to see, for example, banking, many syrians around the globe and many of

them now will want to send money home and at the moment, they're having views in formal illicit groups and cannot use the proper normal banking routes because of largely american sanctions in order to get small business up and running, they will have to trade. so, will have to see before long, some easing of the sanctions carefully and responsibly and that is why i think we are going to have to have a more inclusive administration. ., ~ , ., , administration. thank you very much forjoining _ administration. thank you very much forjoining us _ administration. thank you very much forjoining us for- administration. thank you very much forjoining us for your . much forjoining us for your assessment and what is emerging now here in damascus, a new order emerging and very much dominated by islamist and working with members of the order government and its early days and is still a cautious welcome but many questions. that is it from damascus for

now.

this is bbc news. a fast—moving wildfire — fanned by strong winds — has been spreading in malibu california, an area that's home to some of the biggest names in hollywood. evacuations have been taking place, with the fire consuming more than 18—hundred acres in just a few hours. large parts of southern california are currently under a red flag warning, with winds and low humidity elevating the fire risk. director of communications says the wildfires spread into university campus and had to evacuate students and suspend lessons. it evacuate students and suspend lessons. , , ., ., lessons. it is been a long niuht lessons. it is been a long night and _ lessons. it is been a long night and started - lessons. it is been a long night and started at - it started at 11pm and it really lasted throughout the night.

we saw a fire heading towards the university's campus. we like to think we have the most beautiful campus in the world overlooking the pacific ocean into the santa monica mountains. it is also a place where we tend to get very dry winds. we saw the winds as the result of a fire, and it began to move towards the pacific ocean. by about one a:m., we issued a shelter in place protocol to get all of our residents and members of our community — are faculty, staff 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 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. live images coming to us from malibu and i assume that plane is there to drop more water potentially on the flames but we have 1544 00:21:42