outside the cities calculates the road to damascus . i put into the main rebel offensive from the north. while i position factions in south have already arrived on the capital stores to reinstate many report, the president is still in damascus. although he hasn't been seen in dikes and other cities. recently captioned by the rebels residents. already celebrating in the facades, a decades long group. it's a that's a celebrate to be moved here and how much is only 2 days ago that is the misled rebels, kept to the city from the syrian government forces residents a keen to reclaim the city from the gloss of president by shotwell, a saw the lightning pace of which levels of matching across the country has taken many by surprise in less than 2 weeks. opposition forces have taken control of fast spy is of the country, including major cities that collect. and how about that has been reports of mass defections in the city and army across the country, including in damascus. the shifting front lines of this civil war also bringing wide a g r polit

damascus and they have no interest in probably fighting against h t s. at this point, especially since she has no controls. the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th largest cities in the country. that hasn't been much of a thought up so far. are we expecting anything different that happened in damascus as well? when we did talked a week ago, i thought maybe once we got to hop on homes, there'd be a little bit more of a fight. and, you know, there's been skirmishes here and there, but it hasn't been anything large scale or nearly what we saw, maybe a tech in and go into fighting. so at this point, it seems that there probably will be fighting to take the capital, but likely won't be as, as big as maybe many would've imagined just a week ago when i have a few guys to observe the rebel group around, boom, how much al giovanni from a distance, what do they want? they want to be the new rulers of syria. of course, it will be in a different manner than what the side or team has been doing. obviously the spiders and follows as baptists era, nationalistic ideology, where as a h t. s, the acronym are conservative is list um, so they'll try and rule based off of their in

. near, near to nearly a 100 kilometers away only from the city of damascus. so the sides with dream really put a lot of effort to defend the city. however, the opposition forces launching nights on military operations. really putting the sole source, the soldiers in a very bad situation, forcing them to 45 and the surrounding areas in the countryside or amazon, most of them actually retreated all the way to damascus. and as these advances take place that and then how all the civilian population in areas taken over by the opposition reacting tool this as well. um, i'm going to be honest here. i went to the city of olive poll. i'm a and how so what i saw in the city of other people. i saw a little bit of of, of fear because they are coming to, to a new sort of a management and government as, as the the, the city has not been a seas in its entirety by the opposition forces and also from the propaganda. lars, to by the office by the syrian radiant the basically if you will control by the opposition forces, they are going to starve you. they're going to kill it. th

of the house and the eastern country side of the coast, pushing away and pushing forward to in damascus city and also the freezer in the army. and also that there is a whole griffin operation. they're basically also in the operation are pushing forward from the country side of damascus. and now actually the, the damascus city is now that is in, in a c. so it's actually going to be very difficult for this year and redeem dual fires all of the most uh, front lines. and i believe is going to be only a matter of time before you know the city fault. and i'm just watching history and states a tv that's been playing throughout the day. actually video showing the syrian ministry. this doesn't seem to be recent video. it's the sorts of, of the kind of p, all video that treat sometimes would use um, showing its mines if you like. and they're also denying a loss of what the uh, physician fights is claiming they all the syrian ministry and the syrian state tv here. that has been monitoring throughout the day has called lots of it and the government has cooled. a lot of it propaganda. well actually it's

damascus about the struggle to obtain basic necessities. as we are here in one of the local and traditional and marcus and the city of damascus. and as you can see now, the shops of the vegetable shops of the grocery stops, jobs are now open in the markets of the city of damascus. however, we've talked to the shop owners as they told us, that even though the prices of gone down a bit, but the ability for the people to buy their basic necessities to buy the groceries and vegetables are somehow absence. after the fall of the. busy a sod redeem and old uh, the country uh, as they say is going through a sort of a paralysis of phase. now that they. busy don't have. busy jobs and the jobs upper upper to these are now a absolutely absence of a people are a basically don't have any source of income. amount of them and people could no longer afford to move. we must have access to bread, diesel rice, sugar and t. prices have become very expensive. you don't have enough money. you know, we had some new government will provide enough support and work hard to reduce this crazy rise and prices. the mother basically the if you see what are th

now phones is the country's 3rd largest city, and it's also on the highway that links damascus to the coast. president scans is around the central round to bounce in the city and can see that there are some sites of 2 mass because at the beginning of the syrian civil rule, earlier, the opposition says it has read 3500 inmates in the cities central prison now all of this comes of siri and state media reported that government forces had withdrawn from homes in damascus. hundreds of syrian soldiers was seen withdrawing from mazda neighborhoods on foot spots. the syrian army says that troops all strengthening that deployment, the a few kilometers away outside the capital. that was celebrations where a crowd was seen toppling assigned to and the government has dismissed claims that aside has left the city the military units continue to reinforce the line across damascus and the suburban areas. to avoid any incidents that could happen, given the chaos that has going on out forces continue to urge you to not listen to room is you should trust you. i mean, you're on a bit as committed to prot

the policy is located in western damascus and overlooks the city and which has now been taken over by sizes who say they have toppled the assad government. well let me just before opposition fight, just took control of damascus at fort flight track is recorded a single plane in serious space a russian made at croft with flight number syrian at 9218 was the last flight to take off from damascus fast it flew east, then it 10 north, few minutes later its tracking signal was switched. as it circled over holmes as well sir, as prime minister said his government is ready to hand over a pallet. any leadership chosen by the people on a few minutes. you know, i'm here at home, i am not leaving this and i don't intend to leave. i expect in a peaceful manner to guarantee the continuity of the public authorities and the institutions and state apparatus and to guarantee the safety and security for all citizens. and we are extending our hands even to the opposition to extend their hands and gave assurances. they will not cause any harm to any citizens who belong to the syria of our students. to spe

damascus, overnight. (upsot oov 2 ")�*the city of damascus has been rebel forces in damascus have declared the capital citytime ruler bashar al—assad. reports say that president assad has left damascus by plane for an unknown destination. more than five decades of authoritarian rule by the assad family have come to an end in syria, (upsot oov 2 ")�*the city of damascus has been liberated...assad has been toppled' say the islamist rebels, taking over state tv. (00v)the group, who have their roots in al-qaeda, have been trying to rebrand themselves as a nationalist force. they say they've freed what they called unjustly detained prisoners and hundreds of detainees held in prisons syria's president bashar al—assad is reported to have fled by plane for an unknown destination. russia, iran and hezbollah, who'd kept the assad regime in power through years of civil war, appear unable to sustain him. many of the hundreds of thousands of refugees who fled syria for lebanon during the long— running civil war are now attempting to return. crowds have been gathering at border crossings. analysts say the country is now

alliance released the statement, rebels declared the central city of homes fully liberated to the joy of pressure by law sides opponents. the damascus was next, and the rebel alliance faced hardly any resistance bands and syrian army check points, foreboding the big announcement by the grace of god, the city of damascus was liberated the tyrant, special aside was over the throne and all i pressed, detainees were released from the regime's prison, the damascus conquests operations room calls on the militia, dean, brothers, and the citizens. to preserve all the property of the free syrian state. long live a free and proud syria for all syrians of all religions. as rebels into support as celebrated the triumphs and damascus, serious prime minister said he was still in the capital and willing to work with anyone to ensure a smooth transition of power. i am here in my house. i have not left it and i do not intend to leave it except in a peaceful manner so that i can ensure the continuity of the work of public institutions and state institutions and facilities, and ensure there will be security and reassurance as to our fellow citizens i

and that is the capital city, damascus. there are no other major cities in syria that the student government is in full control, often losing data. okay, thank you very much, russel sir dar of full, that latest update that from the turkish syrian border. well deserves all motive has, is enhanced, prevents the 30 minute tree cries out semester like that while he was giving us this updates on an earlier well the gym and its spots trying to hold this strong holes of a film. so i actually have lots of, uh, uh, pro said the only the military novels, the older email, the 3 were talking about that. but let me just see here that we, we can hear another strike. it is close in of the same day the, the routine strikers my car, and i just said that they the, it's can text it over there. it's conducted on, on the, again, it's the on the bridge on rested in play to the yes. yeah. and has a sound another another as try conducted? yeah, that's true. that's what let me describe it. yeah. another another, this is going to be the age on the ro

the shuttle a sub left syria smoke from the attack is still rising at that maybe in square in damascus city and to us celebrating the fall of the savages to have endured the pain and loss of a stephen ward. that last was for 13 years, one minus the word like, we're happy, we've been waiting for this moment for a long time. now. my husband was killed by the regime 7 years ago. it's impossible to describe my feelings now. for many, the scholars of the past, if somebody wasn't empowered for more is not over and the position is in charge working. celia the position actually sitting as well for running the space affairs. damascus is having to meet a tries by different protection for a position at that it could balanced a full size or be careful to maintain the dominant on group is headed to, to any, to shop or shed. yes. that, but i'm at the shadow, also known as probably how much will i need. yeah, because the spiders are controlling the main government buildings in the capital to preserve the state these situations. sometime in the top, priority for us now is to maintain security. we are worki

this is the fact so, or what will happen when the off position mocks on the door of the damascus city center. many believe ceiling government is enhancing right now. it's forces and getting reinforcements. they've pulled back their forces to inside damascus for a better resilience. but will this happen? this is the question, because so far on till now, what do we have seen within 10 days? is this a battle? begin is just the opposite. okay, thank you very much for that. let's just update those them on the board, the, the with syria. right, well let's go to one of our john this. no cor, most you joins us live from it live in us within a serious thank you very much. no nor what's the latest updates, especially of course when it comes to homes. now, what are you hearing where you are? oh, thank you so much. well, the currently news from the phone comes this really getting into the favors of the opposition forces by things they are now. i'm just getting news from on the ground that the entire city is currently the seized by the opposition forces. however, there's still no official statemen

damascus about the struggle to obtain basic necessities. we are here and one of the local and traditional markets in the city of damascus. and as you can see now shops, the vegetable shots of the grocery stops, jobs are now open in the markets of the city of damascus. however, we talked to the shop owners, as they told us, that even though the price is of gone down a bit, but the ability for the people to buy their basic necessities to buy the groceries and vegetables are somehow absence. after the fall of the. busy a sod redeem and old uh, the country uh, as they say is going through a sort of a paralysis of phase. now that they. busy don't have jobs and be dropped off your opportunities are now. busy absolutely, absence and people are basically don't have any source of income amount at them and how that people can no longer afford to move. we must have access to bread, diesel rice, sugar and tea. prices have become very expensive. you don't have enough money if we had some new government will provide enough support and work hard to reduce this crazy rise in prices. the other basically is if you see what people don't hav

in the heart of damascus' city, syrian rebels celebrated the fall of the regime they've been battling for years. scenes like this would have been unthinkable just one week ago. but president bashar al assad is gone. his palace once impenetrable now open to a photo taking public. hasan's defeat was at the hands of a group who watched a lightning fast offensive and faced little resistance from the syrian army. rebel forces say they have, quote, fully liberated a number of cities and have emptied prisons that had become a symbol of torture. in a civil war that up until now seemed frozen. but as the statues and muonumens to the assad dynasty, authoritarian rule passed from father to son is now over. ten years ago, at the height of the civil war, assad was barely clinging on to power and was rescued by russia and iran, along with lebanon's powerful iranian-backed hezbollah militia, who ticked the war firmly in his favor through a pushing campaign of well-documented war crimes, including indiscriminate air strikes and chemical weapons attacks, a brutality against his own people that's hard

barbara plett usher was the first western journalist to enter damascus since the city fell and she sentis report. this is an extraordinary moment, a seismic change in syria's balance of power. the strongman of damascus, bashar al—assad, is gone. rebels have declared victory. we were the first western journalists to reach the capital, just hours after it fell. this is where people are celebrating in the central umayyad square, civilians and rebels. you can hear the sound of celebratory gunfire. people are driving around in their cars, they are giving me peace signs. they are saying that life is going to be so much better now that bashar al—assad is gone. but there is a mix ofjoy and fear in the city. there are those who supported bashar al—assad, who felt they were protected by him, and now they're wondering what is going to happen. here, i spoke to people who have long been waiting for his downfall. "thank you, thank you", she says. "the tyrant has fallen, the tyrant has fallen." many of her family died under president assad's rule, some in prison. my cousin, my son, my family. all... a

at eastern and the men serious from different cities are visiting the most for the 1st time in years. as life returns to some semblance of norman in damascus, the city and flag has a green stripe again. and another star representing a new era for the country. this was the end of july, damascus, series, new administration says is going to hold war criminals to account for the atrocities committed on the bus. out on the sides. rules. jealous, know homeless reports from part of damascus for the icons regime killed more than 200 civilians. in 2013 during the civil war, as we are here in the neighborhood, the city of damascus and according to civilians. this was the place that the massacre off of the diamond was committed by the assad to a gym militias. here in this area, a civilian told us that the assad redeem a forces. i had it just points on that location over there. they used to detain civilians and bring them all the way into the alleys of those buildings. and this place was actually, according to civilians. this place was a built and they used to be buildings and displays and a, the, a soldiers you forces used to bring those detainees, a

damascus about the struggle to obtain basic necessities. we are here in one of the local and traditionally marcus and the city of damascus. and as you can see now, shops, the vegetable shots of the grocery stops, jobs are now open in the markets of the city of damascus. however, we've talked to the shop owners as they told us, that even though the prices of gone down a bit, but the ability for the people to buy their basic necessities to buy the groceries and vegetables are somehow absence after the fall of the assad, redeem and old uh the country uh, as they say is going through a sort of a paralysis of phase. now that they don't have. busy jobs and the jobs oper, oper, today's are now a absolutely uh, absence of, uh, people are a basically don't have any source of income amount of them and people could no longer afford to move. we must have access to bread, diesel rice, sugar and tea. prices have become very expensive. you don't have enough money that we hard to new government will provide enough support and work hard to reduce this crazy rise in price is the mother basically the if you see order that people don't have e

this isjobar, close to damascus city centre.n abu shwab, back with his family after 11 years injail, sentenced to death for terrorism — the regime's word for rebellion, which he denies. the neighbours were firing into the air to celebrate the return of sons from the war. what do you think should happen to the sort of guys who tortured prisoners like you? translation: they should be punished. we are human souls after all, not stones. and the killers must be publicly executed. otherwise we won't get through this. some of them tortured human beings to death. i saw a 49—year—old man in my cell die. they tortured him for three days, then wrote in the report that he had a stroke. you've been through a terrible experience. so has the whole country. how do you get over it and build a better place? translation: we need to forget to move on. this is a happy time for all syrians. we need to get back to work. we turn the page. all the sadness is behind us. forgetting the assads is not easy when they've left 90% of syrians in poverty. these

are so said reports from damascus city yet is home to one of the oldest christian communities in the world. with some of the most ashen churches and monasteries. it has also produced the pope's. but since the civil war began in 2011, the cruise you come in, it has peace, persecution, displacement and immigration. according to some reports, more than 2 thirds of serious christians had left the country on the 1st christmas of the phone of the regime, the model family pauses to remember what they had been through the all play x, i see the compulsory military service in the readings all me deteriorating economic conditions on an electrical pressure, forced questions to leave the country. my brother was imprisoned for months just because he helped the family, the regime didn't like they said this stuff, the release of to do a position purple, the anisette comedy. but they also consume, i mean that there's need the optimistic about the future, but we also work because we don't know yet. if the you government will be inclusive enough. they say the current government is a transitional one bu

damascus. these are members of the v 6 and city is home. they protesting after a video entitled for him to disagree to train of him and to be religious figure. serious innovation minister says the video is old and no such incidents have taken place since the sort of the subdivision occur if you was imposed in at least 4 cities and then you would ministration send reinforcements to death to us and home . in a statement the ministry of interior told of this era before and again spreading rumors that seek to destabilize peace. we will not hesitate to pursue anyone who seeks to temper with the security of our people and their property and bring them to justice to receive that just punishment that live on tuesday the lawn. so if you need any needs or decision you to quote or stand from the end resolutely against those who planned and executed this chaos, and that they had nothing left to lose. serious engine for administer responded on social media. he said around with respect to the end of the city and people be cautioned them against spreading

damascus, overnight. speaking on state television they said �*the city of damascus has been liberated...as been toppled'. the group hayat tahrir al—sham, who have their roots in al-qaeda, have been trying to rebrand themselves as a nationalist force. they say they've freed what they called hundreds of unjustly detained prisoners held injails in syria. the russian foreign ministry said president assad stepped down and left syria as a result of negotiations with "other participants in the armed conflict" but that russia was not involved in those negotiations and does not know where he is now. there were scenes of celebration on the steps of the presidential palace in damascus — within its walls, people can be seen picking through rooms and corridors ransacked by rebels. many of the hundreds of thousands of refugees who fled syria for lebanon during the long— running civil war are now attempting to return. crowds have been gathering at border crossings. analysts say the country is now at a crossroads over whether rebel leader, abu mohammad al—jolani, will opt for a path to democracy. our co

in damascus. a city now under the control of opposition forces this up to 24 years of rule by bush auto asset. and so team years of civil war fights as toppled statues of the president and his fathers. they took over the capital and other major cities acids whereabouts. they're all known right now, but russia's phone is 3 says he's left syria. there have been celebrations across many parts of the country and among the syrian diaspora in other parts of the middle east and europe. the fight to say they've released hundreds of prisoners who unjustly detained by us as regime opposition forces have taken over government buildings including the presidential palace. they've also impose the co few as they work to set up a transitional government. however, subdivisions have been disrupted by fires burning and government buildings and the capital damascus. those fires have broken out with thick black smoke rising across the city. a leader of hey as to how to get a shot as promising as pricing ra, that his follows

damascus, overnight. speaking on state television, they said "the city of damascus has been liberated. has been toppled." in the last few minutes, reuters has ported sources in the kremlin saying that the deposed bashar al—assad and his family are in moscow. there are also reports that assad has arrived with his family members, that is according to the russian state news agencies, citing unnamed sources. they say that russia has granted assad political asylum out of humanitarian consideration. also, just to let you know there are apparently talks being requested on syria by a roster with the un security council consultations going on. a partner could take place on december the 9th. reports that russia is a question consultations on syria at the un security council. —— is requesting. concerns from russia about the future security of the military bases, they have two in syria. and about the safety of their personnel, the military, who are in syria still, of course. our correspondent barbara plett—usher has reached damascus. this is an extraordinary moment. a seismic change in syria's bal

this isjobar, close to damascus city centre.ee hassan abu schwab back with his family after 11 years injail, sentenced to death for terrorism. the regime's word for rebellion, which he denies. the neighbours were firing into the air to celebrate the return of sons from the war. what do you think should happen to the sort of guys who tortured prisoners like you? translation: they should be punished. we are human souls, after all, not stones. otherwise we won't get through this. some of them tortured human beings to death. i saw a 49—year—old man in my cell die. they tortured him for three days, then wrote in the report that he had a stroke. you've been through a terrible experience. so has the whole country. how do you get over it and build a better place? translation: we need to forget, to move on. | this is a happy time for all syrians. we need to get back to work. we turn the page. all the sadness is behind us. forgetting the assads is not easy when they've left 90% of syrians in poverty. these men came to sednaya from aleppo

damascus. residents in the city say they are hearing gunfire, and reports say president bashar al—assad has leftcus by plane for an unknown destination. opposition forces rapidly moved south towards damascus from aleppo and the key strategic crossroads of homs. the head of the rebel advance has said his forces have taken full control of homs in the last few hours. other opposition factions are converging on the capital from the south, having taken control of daraa province. there have been signs the government's control over damascus is slipping. this footage from the suburbs shows protesters toppling a statue of assad's late father, who founded the ruling dynasty. a few hours ago our security correspondent frank gardner filed this report. they think they've won already. these are syrian rebels in the south of the country, in daraa, part of a pincer movement that is closing in on the capital, damascus. more celebrations today in the north, in the city of hama. the rebels�* advance across the country has been lightning—fast. and outside the strategically vital city of homs, islamist—led rebels ar

damascus. so we are here in one of the neighborhoods in the city of damascus, and actually actually by chance we seen a group of volunteer re young men and do women who started an initiative, a voluntary initiative in the city of damascus. we've talked to those young men and women and they told us that this is their time and they are going to take the initiative and start we building syria from scratch and we build a new syria away from the previous regime. and actually they also expressed a massive home will to um, to change the the previous pastor and to be more active in the community, especially after the latest developments. yeah, i mean more about that, i had someone with a sought out this initiative aids at cleaning our streets because we want our towns and cities to look nice. we got rid of the old regime and its actions and we will work hard to develop the country and improve its image. this initiative will be followed by other initiatives and our country will be more beautiful and safe by the genre. the most of my biological science students at damascus university, i found out about th

barbara plett usher, who was the first western journalist to enter damascus as the city fell, sent this car horns beep. this is an extraordinary moment, a seismic change in syria's balance of power. the strongman of damascus, bashar al—assad, is gone. rebels have declared victory. we were the first western journalists to reach the capital, just hours after it fell. this is where people are celebrating in the central umayyad square, civilians and rebels. you can hear the sound of celebratory gunfire. people are driving around in their cars, they are giving me peace signs. they are saying that life is going to be so much better now that bashar al—assad is gone. but there is a mix ofjoy and fear in the city. there are those who supported bashar al—assad, who felt they were protected by him, and now they're wondering what is going to happen. here, i spoke to people who have long been waiting for his downfall. "thank you, thank you", she says. "the tyrant has fallen, the tyrant has fallen!" many of her family died under president assad's rule, some in prison. my cousin, my son, my family. al

damascus conquests operations room closed on the move. i had deemed brothers and citizens to preserve all the property of the free city and state. long live a proud sylvia for all citizens of all 6. these are the zip. as rebels in the pool to celebrate the triumphs and damascus. serious prime minister said he was still in the capital and willing to work with anyone to ensure a smooth transition of cow. i am here in my house. i have not left it and i do not intend to leave it except in a peaceful manner. so that i can ensure the continuity of the work of public institutions and state institutions and facilities and ensure there will be security and reassurance as to our fellow citizens. i hope that everyone will think rationally and think about their homeland and country to but he will be better. so now on the streets of damascus and other syrian towns and cities, rational thinking appears to be taking a backseat to rule and motion as assets. opponents celebrate the end of his 20 full year long author retiree, enrolled mohammed tre to is d. w. 's bureau chief and b route and he travelled from the lebanese capital to syria earlier

the the diplomacy in damascus city as near lita hose on level tops of 2 whites, foreign minister and the head of the gulf corporation account, the baron jordan. this is all just they are a life and also coming up no access to health care, hospitals and guns are crippled by israel. siege of a know thousands of people are forced to sleep. united nations codes for immediate release of the director of gauze has come out of the hospital from israeli detention on a south korean co issues. an arrest warrant to impeach president use for po, just week somebody. declan marshall. the step in more high level talks in syria as capital, as the administration looks to form new relationships with the regional and global players. on monday, officials from syria as new government and that delegations from the arab world and diplomats from ukraine. i'll just say it was rachel said, reports from damascus. quits for the minister is the 1st for the minister from a golf country to visit damascus, says the phone on the ceiling of a gene. the difference is contra simple square. cd is 30 total integrity and 7

by the grace of god, the city of damascus was liberated. the tyrant, special aside was over the throne and all oppressed detainees were released from the regimes. prisons, the damascus conquests operations room calls on the merchant, dean brothers, and the citizens, to preserve all the property of the free syrian state. long live a free and proud syria for all syrians of all religions. these are the as the rebels in the sub pool to celebrate at the triumphs and damascus. serious prime minister said he was still in the capital and willing to work with anyone to ensure a smooth transition of power. well, i know who i am here in my house. i have not left it and i do not intend to leave it except in a peaceful manner so that i can ensure the continuity of the work of public institutions and state institutions and facilities, and ensure there will be security and reassurance as to our fellow citizens i hope that everyone will think rational ali and think about their homeland and country one who will be better. so now on the streets of damascus a

city homes. and they're now called the capital damascus in the sites. the lightning offensive has seen them take cities including alaska, and they're all in a mattress days. well, these are the latest pictures of the with into homes because he finds his entering . people have been gathering in central homes, slashing posts as a present shot on a side. and climbing on the start you off as far as the area was the sides of to mass because of the stones with assumed civil area. the opposition says it freed 3500 inmates from homes central prison. the syrian government says it is drew its forces from the city. without side, damascus, the crowd is toppled. another statute, the spices makes the country starting around the capital. they advanced from the south of the captain through the government, dismissed claims that presence inside his next semester. and just over a week, 5 is of captured large parts to sit right in an unprecedented defensive. these areas in red are controlled by government forces back by a rod and russia. the green areas show tertiary contro