what - trouble is al-assad in? a great deal of trouble. what we - trouble is al-assad in?will i deal of trouble. what we will see in the coming days, certainly is that these rebel advances are being put to the test and again, bev that much opposition, not much defence from the regime in forces but that may change once they reached the coast and the stronghold areas and as i mentioned, come closer to threatening russia's naval base and that as a base that russia is not going to want to give up on and not mine to give up on positions and the rest of syria but it is hard to imagine at this point what we have seen so far is that the iranian troops that al—assad really depended on and other phases of this conflict are nowhere to be seen and it's nowhere to be seen exceptin and it's nowhere to be seen except in a few cases where we have seen some tactical strikes and some retaliatory strikes but without these two elements, it is to imagine how al—assad reasserts himself and the parts of the country that have been taken and so, the question is, how far does this rebel advance ext

and how week a position was bashar al-assad in as a result?>> well, as we were saying, the morale of the syrian army was a key factor her. and my sense is that the questions very early on, when this broad offensive started with the capture of aleppo nine days ago, the questions, i think they quickly understood that the syrian armies, the readiness and ability to put up a stiff fight was highly questionable. and therefore questions did not invest much, they did not send in a lot of reinforcements, they did not send in more aircraft to increase the number of bombing strikes against armed opposition elements, the questions did not do any of that. they did not repeat the experience in 2015. ukraine was absolutely a distraction, obviously, but i think even without ukraine, i am not sure the questions would have tried to save what they clearly considered to be a sinking ship. >> reporter: in the last few moments within the last half hour or so, we have had a statement from the white house saying that president biden and his team are monitoring what

in february 2015, i had an exclusive interview with bashar al—assad. defiant, denied it, and even tried a joke. what about barrel bombs? you don't deny that your forces use them? i haven't heard of the army using barrel bombs. or maybe cooking pots! large barrels full of explosives and projectiles which dropped from helicopters and explode with devastating effect. there is a lot of testimony about these things. they are called bombs. we have bombs, missiles and bullets. a year later, the russian air force had flattened the side of aleppo held by rebels, a display of destructive power that sharpened president putin's appetite to absorb ukraine. many of the rebels who lived here and in other enclaves were permitted to leave for idlib province. in idlib, they created the fighting force that has finally destroyed the assad regime. in saudi arabia, in may last year, bashar al—assad was embraced by crown prince mohammed bin salman, the most powerful arab leader, and readmitted to the arab league. assad repeated the regime's old boast, that syria was the beat

a statue of former president hafez al-assad, bashar al assad's father, toppled on the country's arwadas i say, the father of the what is now it seems, former president. meanwhile, the rebels know where the prime minister is. they are escorting him in this video, apparently to a hotel to hand over authority. he said earlier that he is ready to work with, quote any leadership. the people choose. thank you for joining us for this hour. don't go away though. we have a lot more news. this story continues to provide breaking lines for us. more on our breaking news after this cnn heroes, an all star tribute tomorrow at 8:00 on cnn. >> it's the most wonderful time with verizon trade in any phone, any condition. >> for a limited time, get iphone 16 pro on us and ipad and apple watch series ten. all three on us. only on verizon. >> lowe's knows the perfect gifts. don't have to stretch your budget. that's why we offer a free select tool when you buy select tools and batteries from our top brands. so perfecting the holidays. >> oh you're good. >> it's easier than ever. lowe's knows how to help yo

bashar al assad's family fled _ anymore. bashar al assad's family fled to _ anymore.ed to moscow. - anymore. bashar al assad's i family fled to moscow. russia called a security council meeting today that will take place later. what can we expect? place later. what can we “peel?— place later. what can we exect? ~ , . ., ~ ., expect? we expect talking that all forces in _ expect? we expect talking that all forces in syria _ expect? we expect talking that all forces in syria and _ expect? we expect talking that all forces in syria and other - all forces in syria and other militant groups will advance to be stronghold. between turkiye and assyria a main players in this area and to find a political solution. and talk about the resolution in which drew a map, a about the resolution in which drewa map, a roadmapforthe peace where there is negotiation, transitions, elections, supervised, as it is fair the election will be and written by the syrian people and open for all sectors and all groups from inside syria and outside assyria. the hope is a resolution is reality so it wa

and they are very against bashar al assad.that is also going to be a little bit of an awkward relationship to figure out. so that is what the u.s. is going to be focused on. also, let's not forget that you have austin tice, an american freelance journalist, former marine who has been imprisoned in syria. the biden government said up until very recently that they believe with high confidence that the syrian government continues to hold him. and so maybe there is an opportunity here, given that the syrian government is collapsing. maybe there is an opportunity to get him freed and get him home. so they are going to focus on that, as well. so it will be very interesting to see what happened with that. that is what the u.s. is going to be mainly focused on. >> hagar, thank you for jumping in on this breaking news coverage coming out of syria. we will continue to watch what is happening in syria. i'm richard louis in new york at 30 rockefeller center. coverage continues right now for you with our partners at sky news. >> desperate

i an exclusive interview with bashar al—assad. i asked an exclusive interview with bashar al—assad.ur forces tried a joke. you don't deny that yourforces using tried a joke. you don't deny that your forces using them? bullets, missiles and bombs. i haven't heard of an army using cooking pots. haven't heard of an army using cooking pots-— cooking pots. large barrels followed project _ cooking pots. large barrels followed project has - cooking pots. large barrels. followed project has dropped from helicopters and exploded with devastating effects. there's been a lot of testimony about these things. we there's been a lot of testimony about these things.— about these things. we have bombs, missiles _ about these things. we have bombs, missiles and - about these things. we have | bombs, missiles and bullets. about these things. we have i bombs, missiles and bullets. a year later, the russian air force had flattened the side of aleppo, held by rebels, a display of destructive power that sharpened president putting's appetite to absorb ukraine. a , putting's appetite to absorb ukraine. , .

the baathist party as as assad and his father, hafez al assad. this is an absolutely monumental moment in the history of syria and potentially for the region too. and it cannot be understated. he here was a dynastic dynasty of brutal dictators that were still alive. i mean, still on the fringes just across the border from turkey, on the fringes of europe. if you will. this was still going on. and existed, and now the lid has been taken off of that. the opportunities obviously are huge. the pitfalls are massive. the chances of misunderstood misunderstanding and miscalculation by potential friends, potential enemies in the region and around the world again is huge. but the trajectory that we've heard so far laid out by the rebel leadership and other politicians who i've spoken to um, is one that aspires to a smooth and calm transition. and i think the curfew is the first step towards that so much further to go, though wolf interesting. >> indeed. the dramatic developments unfolding in syria right now, historic as i keep saying as well. nic robertso

bashar al—assad was preceded by his father., in fact a former british ambassador said the best way to understand the assad regime was to watch a mafia movie like the godfather or the tv show the sopranos, in terms of how they operated, but writ large in a country. and they have gone. so, now, because syria is such a strategic place in the heart of the region, what happens in syria affects all of its neighbours and by extension the wider world. so the question is whether these rebels that are taking over can bejudicious, can they try and promote stability, can they, as they have said, they have said that there should be no revenge against minority groups, but let's see what happens. because what i have just described is, if you like, the good scenario. the bad scenario is something akin to what happened in libya after the fall of gaddafi in 2011, and saddam hussein in iraq, after 2003, which was years and years of torment and bloodshed and civil war. so they have already had that in syria, maybe of torment and bloodshed and civi

in february 2015, i had an exclusive interview with bashar al—assad.iant, denied it, and even tried a joke. what about barrel bombs? you don't deny that your forces use them? i haven't heard of the army using barrel bombs. or maybe cooking pots! large barrels full of explosives and projectiles which dropped from helicopters and explode with devastating effect. there is a lot of testimony about these things. they are called bombs. we have bombs, missiles and bullets. a year later, the russian air force had flattened the side of aleppo held by rebels, a display of destructive power that sharpened president putin's appetite to absorb ukraine. many of the rebels who lived here and in other enclaves were permitted to leave for idlib province. in idlib, they created the fighting force that has finally destroyed the assad regime. in saudi arabia, in may last year, basharal—assad was embraced by crown prince mohammed bin salman, the most powerful arab leader, and readmitted to the arab league. assad repeated the regime's old boast, that syria was the beating h

so it was clear that the russians certainly knew the whereabouts of bashar al-assad. they also said that they were not part of any negotiations or any sort of talks about that transfer in power. so one of the things that we seem to be seeing is that they are obviously still taking care of bashar al-assad, making sure that he and his family can go here. but it appears as though that they are somewhat out of the political process that is going to follow next. the russians are saying that they are in touch with all of the groups, as they put it the armed groups on the ground in syria. but a lot of that for them, wolf, is because of russia's military assets. that, of course, are substantial inside of syria. we're not just talking about their massive air base that they have in khmeimim near latakia, but of course, also the big port that they have as well in tartus where just earlier, last week, they launched a gigantic naval exercise testing some pretty potent longer distance missiles some of them nuclear capable. so these two assets, very important for the russians right

bashar al—assad.d out a facebook post from a small militia swearing vengeance. so is this such a threat that you want to take your family out to lebanon? you're worried about your lives? translation: yes, sure. the kids, my wife, i'm afraid for them. that's why i'm taking them out to lebanon. violence consumed iraq and libya after their dictators. their fear is the same for syria. it's notjust about the legacy of the war. it's about the legacy of more than half a century of dictatorship. these are people, and there are thousands more coming down the road, who don't feel safe in the new syria. and going in the opposite direction are all those who just want to get home. the duty free shop, once a favourite of those the regime had made rich, has been looted and destroyed. islamist anger at a decadent regime. we drove on to damascus. the rebels took syria as assad's army faded away but the country's still under fire. to stop islamist rebels taking over syria's abandoned military infrastructure, across the

bashar al—assad took power in the year 2000.nherited syria's police state from his father, hafez, and initially promised reform. he and his british born wife, asma tried to present a new image of syria to the world. there was even an audience with the queen. but the change that so many syrians hoped for failed to materialise. and in 2011, when syrians rose up against his regime, this was the response. as accounts of atrocities multiplied, bashar al—assad denied any responsibility. we don't kill our people. no government in the world kill its people unless it's led by crazy person. for me as president, i became president because of the public support. it's impossible for anyone in this state to give order to kill. over the next few years, hundreds of thousands of syrians were killed in a brutal civil war in which the regime used both barrel bombs and chemical weapons at a staggering human cost. the regime took back aleppo in 2016 with the help of russian airstrikes, but last week the rebels were back in the city after an offensiv

bashar al—assad this area used to be full of photographs of him, it was a centre of loyalists.eremy bowen reports from the capital damascus. police in northumbria say former england rugby player tom voyce is thought to have died after his car was swept away in storm darragh. # equal pay... birmingham's bankrupt city council agrees to pay out hundreds of thousands of pounds to women who were being paid less than men for similarjobs. and a colony of seals kept secret for years off the coast of suffolk. and coming up on sportsday later in the hour on bbc news tonight could be the night for liverpool, as they look to become the first side through to the knockout stage in the champions league. good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. the man accused of killing a healthcare executive in new york last week has appeared in a court in pennsylvania after, being arrested by police last night. 26—year—old luigi mangione has been charged with the murder of brian thompson by new york authorities. he was arrested at a mcdonalds in pennsylvania in possession of a gun. our correspondent

we can see there is still the bust of hafez al assad. of course, the father of bashar al-assad.in, the assad dynasty, the assad family ruling syria, as clarissa was saying before for 53 years, not a single light on in here. it's unclear whether or not any of the staff are actually still working or intend to come back. but as you can see, that transition that is going on inside syria is definitely something that the russians have also recognized. being the biggest backers of bashar al-assad and his government for such a very long period of time. the russians are now saying that they are talking to all of the armed groups on the ground as well, because of course, the russians are very concerned about their military assets that they have inside syria. those, of course, are substantial. russia's only mediterranean port is in the port town of tartus. just last week, there was a big naval exercise that the russians conducted. also firing nuclear capable missiles in that exercise as well. and then, of course there is the airbase at khmeimim, which is near latakia, where the russians ha

is want to ask you about president bashar al—assad.t the potential of his whereabouts, or is that still very much a question mark? , �* , . still very much a question mark? , v . , still very much a question mark? , �*, ., i, mark? yes, it's a very big historical— mark? yes, it's a very big historical moment - mark? yes, it's a very big historical moment for - mark? yes, it's a very big i historical moment for syria, after many years of these efforts of the opposition to topple the assad government and the assad rule. it is a massive moment after many leaders in the region faced the same situation previously, as we can see, as we saw what happened in tunisia, egypt, in sudan, in yemen, in iraq and other countries in the last years. as lyse doucet said in an earlier bulletin, she knew that the assad family are now in uae and assad family are now in uae and assad himself, we heard lots of reports earlier in in see, as we saw what happened in tunisia, egypt, in sudan, in yemen, in iraq and other countries in the last years. as lyse doucet

and who will secure bashar al-assad's chemical weapons? >> incredibly good point on chemical weapons, something to give a lot of consideration to. there's an international organization based in the netherlands, whose job it is to prohibit the use of chemical weapons. there needs to be lots of discussion how to do this, with those people currently in charge to make sure those chemical weapons can't go rogue, make sure they are safe from that. it may not be our fight but it certainly is a matter of great concern for france and all our allies. this is a signature moment to the middle east to. we . we all have an interest in working closely together with the countries to finally take some really decisive steps towards stability and i'm sure that is what we want to do. arthel: as tenuous as the situation is, you remain hopeful. it won't be easy but there could be stability ahead. in the near future. >> i don't want to pretend it is eminent. that would be too optimistic but we've got to look at the opportunities alongside the risks. >> thank you

a statue of hafez al assad, syria's last leader, was pulled down. the rebels sense that victory was in their sights, but this has happened more quickly than anyone predicted. >> translator: dear brothers, we are living in the final moments of the liberation of the city of homs. this is the historic event we distinguished true from falsehood. we advise our brothers in the resistance to show compassion toward the people. those who lay down their weapons should be granted safety and as you flee should not be caught. >> reporter: syrian government forces seem to be fleeing. the military base in hama was abandoned. and regime soldiers on the right of the video are abandoning their posts in the west of damascus, seen changing out mir military fatigues into civilian clothing, and fading into the population. every building and town square the rebels take, symbols and images of the regime are being torn down as syria faces a new and unknown reality. the coming hours and days will be crucial. not just for the future of syria, but for wider middle east stabili

they are saying life is going to be so much better now that bashar al—assad is gone.yria's former president, bashar al—assad, is reportedly in moscow — claiming asylum from key ally russia. western leaders welcome the end of assad's rule, but warn of uncertainty to come. we begin the programme with our continuing coverage of developments in syria. russian state media announced sunday that the country's former president bashar al—assad and his family are in moscow. they are also said to have been granted political asylum. a kremlin source said it is based on �*humanitarian considerations. it is based on �*humanitarian it comes hours after rebel groups took control of syria's capital — forcing assad to flee. the man who led the islamist rebels, toppling assad — addressed cheering supporters in a damascus mosque shortly after. mohammad al—joulani — whose real name is ahmed al—sharaa — told supporters that all syrians could now breathe freely. he said assad's leadership had spread sectarianism and corruption. our middle east correspondent barbara plett usher was the first

bashar al—assad was last seen on sunday, meeting his backers from iran.en weakened by conflict with israel and can no longer give him the support he needs. the assad regime has murdered, gassed and tortured thousands of its own people, but a big question mark now hangs over what comes next. as his rule crumbles around him, many fear what could follow for syria. frank gardner, bbc news. let speak now to mohamed taha, from bbc arabic. mohamed, what's the latest you can tell us? thank you. the statement that was issued by the syrian prime minister now that he is ready to co—operate with any force that would be elected or chosen by the syrian people, that particular statement means that all the reports we are talking about are fairly correct. at the syrian president, bashar al—assad, probably has left the country and the opposition now is under control. this is a historic moment for the syrian people and the region. we saw the syrian president, bashar al—assad, defiant against the opposition for nearly 14 years while in this time there were many arab leaders

the strongman of damascus, bashar al—assad, is gone. rebels have declared victory.st 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're giving me peace signs. they're 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. many of her family died under president assad's rule. some imprisoned. my cousin, my son. my family. all. all of them. how are you feeling? translated: it's an indescribable feeling. we're so happy. after all the years of dictatorship we've lived through... we were in prison in 2014, and now we're out, thank god. we won beca

basharalassad to the downfall of bashar al assad.t the country and been granted asylum by russia. it the regime he left behind is falling in line behind the rebels. our correspondent now reports from the streets of damascus as people celebrate the end of the regime and wonder what comes next. a jubilant people poured into the capital's central square for a second day. a street party—like atmosphere. this might seem like a dangerous way to celebrate. but not in a country that has endured years of bombs and bullets, finally rid of a brutal dictator. anyone who wants to celebrate is coming here, to the central square in damascus. every couple of minutes, we are hearing celebratory gunfire. the ground here literally is strewn with bullets that have been fired. and it's notjust members of the rebel group hts, it's lots of civilians. i've seen women and children bringing their families along. stories of horror, too easily found amidst this joy. mohammed is 45, but looks older because he has no teeth. he says bashar al—assad's soldiers brok

they are saying that life is going to be so much better now that bashar al—assad is gone.s 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, all — all of them. how are you feeling? translation: it is an indescribable feeling. | we are so happy. after all the years of dictatorship we have lived through, we were imprisoned in 2014 and now we're out, thank god. we won because of our men, and our fighters and now, we're at the moment that we're going to build the greatest syria. the old syria has gone, with breathtaking speed, the army melting away in the face of the rebel advance. last week, it was aleppo. yesterday, the city of homs. last night, the outskirts of damascus. when they arrived, the rebels went

bashar al-assad and his father, as well. syrians now see an opportunity at least to dictate their fate and more importantly, to be able to do so away from international powers. the u.s. looks like it is in disarray with regard to syria, trump coming out and saying he does not want to intervene. the israelis are not sure what to do. they preferred a syria that remained in crisis and are concerned that the democratic syria might not be as is really- leaning. there is concern, lisa syrians believe there is enough agency in order to be able to dictate their fate moving forward and they will hope that now that assad is gone and there is a decisive victory for the rebels, perhaps they will be able to dictate the future on their own terms and that the terms of the international powers who were in the revolution in 2013 all coming in with competing visions of what syria look like. they syrians hope that this time it is not obama who will impose a vision or any other regional power, just maybe this time it might be the syrians who de

the strongman of damascus, bashar al—assad, is gone. rebels have declared victory.he 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, all... all of them. how are you feeling? translation: it is an indescribable feeling, | we are so happy. after all the years of dictatorship we have lived through, we were imprisoned in

the west repeatedly said that bashar al—assad must go.lly take on his regime. he repeatedly said he was merely fighting terrorists. when you shoot, you aim, and when you shoot, when you aim, you aim at terrorists in order to protect civilians. again, if you talk about casualty, that's war. you cannot have war without casualty. there were more chemical attacks and many, many more casualties. but back in 2015, russia had stepped in to turn the tide of the war in bashar al—assad's favour. it was russian airstrikes and support from iran and hezbollah that helped defeat the rebels in aleppo and elsewhere, and led to this moment in 2023, after years of isolation, president assad at an arab league summit, his regional rehabilitation a symbol of his victory at the time. as he was in saudi arabia, the rebels were confined to the northwest of syria. but then came this major offensive by the rebels, who headed first for aleppo, syria's second city, a huge prize that they took over with ease. they went on to capture more and more territory from the a

he was the father of bashar al-assad.o search for the prime minister this morning. they are escorting him in this video. apparently to a hotel to hand over authority he said earlier that he is ready to work with, quote, any leadership the people choose. well, remarkable pictures now coming in to us from across the country by the minute scenes no one could have imagined possible just days ago here we can see syrians both men with guns and even little children flocking to the presidential palace in damascus following assad's ouster. some people can be seen carrying chairs and pieces of furniture out as they walk away and more coming in as we speak. and we'll get you more video as it comes into cnn center of the presidential palace. really remarkable scenes here. let's get you to london and some more perspective from cnn's nick paton walsh. and as we continue to look at some of these pictures, you know what is unfolding. we've been reporting on this now for well, the past hours. what is unfolding here is historic, and some w

of course bashar al—assad fleeing the country.new government is in power and the public institutions would need to be protected. government employees should remain until a new government is formed. that was backed by the leader of the opposition, jawlani, who said it was important to work with the current government until

of course bashar al—assad fleeing the country.til a new government is in power and the public institutions would need to be protected. government employees should remain until a new government is formed. that was backed by the leader of the opposition, ahmed al—sharaa al—jawlani, who said it was important to work with the current government until a new government is formed and to protect those public institutions. he also came out yesterday after a surprise appearance out at the umayyad mosque to address people and say it would turn into a new syria, a syria that would be inclusive of all denominations of syrian society. but words are different to deeds, so everyone is watching to see how the rebels will deliver on their promises, especially that the rebels are different groups in different areas, the ones in the south are different to ones in the north. it seems there is a big deal of coordination between all forces, including the former government. but there is a big challenge coming ahead, how to maintain security and stability

and then trying to stand up to the syrian regime of hafez al assad and then bashar al-assad and many people were assassinated for doing that, including our former prime minister rafiq hariri, in 2005, who tried also not just to oppose syria, but to push back against the hezbollah stranglehold on lebanese politics, which has only grown or had only grown stronger since that day. and now, as you say we've watched hezbollah being decimated in lebanon and the the fall of the syrian regime, which was which had become key in that axis that iran had built across the region, and that leaves iran with not very much left in what i describe as its forward defense strategy. it had all these proxies around the region to keep the fight with its enemies. in iran's view america and israel far away from its own borders. and that has now very clearly collapsed that carries some dangers for countries like like israel, possibly for lebanon. we'll have to see how things unfold inside syria. there is at first the incredible joy that we need to recognize that syrians are elated to see this oppressive regime

— including the success of bashar al-assad's regime? it has taken us b a al-assad's regime?has taken us by a significant amount i al-assad's regime? it has taken us by a significant amount of. us by a significant amount of surprise the conflict had been more or less frozen for three orfour years, more or less frozen for three orfouryears, and more or less frozen for three orfour years, and the or four years, and the swiftness orfour years, and the swiftness with which the rebel alliance has managed to capture aleppo is something that would certainly have bashar al—assad pause as well as his military and given he has had to rely on and given he has had to rely on a rainy and support, and russian airpower, in the past, and both those countries now have their own problems they have their own problems they have to deal with. it might be quite difficult for assad to be able to roll back and dislodge this new incursion outside of idlib province.— idlib province. how co-ordinated i idlib province. how co-ordinated are i idlib province. howl co-ordinated are the idlib province. how

the fall of bashar al—assad's regime marks the end of a four—decade partnership that cost tehran tensollars and formed the cornerstone of its regional strategy. public criticism of that investment is now emerging across iranian society, even from those who long supported it. for more, i spoke to alex vatanka, director of the iran program at the middle east institute here in washington. the whole world has been watching the recent events in syria and they have been talking about what this says about the allies of bashar al—assad, russia and iran and what are people and around making a what appears to be a failure for the regime? you know, there _ failure for the regime? you know, there are _ failure for the regime? 7m. know, there are basically two camps here. if you listen to officials including the highest leader the supreme leader, he is focused on what he thinks is a conspiracy. he is much more focused in how to the fall of the bashar al—assad regime come about pointing the finger at the united states and israel, he has not taken much time to talk about the horrible track record of

of syria's president, bashar al—assad, there is little sign. feel like the dying days of the al—assad regime, a family dynasty that has held syria within its brutal grasp for more than half a century. but where is the syrian army in all of this? because they mostly seem to be surrendering or defecting. but tonight syrian state television did put out a video with the impression that the al—assad regime is still very much in charge. the reality is syria's army is weak. without enough support from russia, iran and hezbollah, it has been unable to hold back the rebels. we do have some pictures of the syrian army. here they are today crossing the border into iraq to get away from the fighting. assad had really been absent, and this tells you a great deal about psychological warfare. it seems to me that the opposition has already won, because they have really won the psychological warfare against the regime itself, and the syrian army does not really seem to be standing up. bashar al—assad was last seen on sunday, meeting his backers from iran. but t

"may god take revenge on bashar al—assad.", rebels freed thousands of prisoners here on their march to damascus, amazed at this sudden recovery of their lives. the empty cells a striking image of how much has changed, but many believe this isn't the end — people still trapped, they think, in an underground prison. the syrian civil defence group the white helmets has joined the search. translation: we believe there's a network of cells. with prisoners beneath the jail, but we haven't yet been able to find the entrance. we do not have any details on how many people are underground. family members have reached the prison building, pushing at the gates to get in. we squeezed through on a surge of excitement. for a moment, they thought they'd made a discovery. they're searching the bowels of the prison, looking for tunnels that lead to hidden cells. we went down to see for ourselves the frantic efforts to break through to anyone who might still be alive. this is where they think they may have found an entrance to an underground pri

a man is arrested at al—assad.an is arrested at a pennsylvania mcdonald's in connection with the killing of a healthcare ceo in new york. concern in seoul over who is in control of the country as the president is barred from travel. hello and welcome to newsday. i'm steve lai. we start in the middle east where seismic events in syria have been causing shockwaves in the country and abroad. work is under way in damascus to build a transitional government, currently no—one is officially in charge of the country but power appears to be consolidating into the powers —— into the hands of one amanda, the islamist rebel leader widely seen as the mastermind of assad's downfall. he met with the prime minister, who has now been replaced but he says he will still help with a smooth transition of power. while the victors turn their attention to politics, the syrian people are trying to reclaim their lives. huge crowds gathered today at the notorious saydnaya prison near damascus, with people desperately hoping to find evidence

ts bashar al-assad reportedly says he never believed to freed to russia. a special report on syria's streets with members of the rebel group now in charge. and a devastating cyclone rips through the french island territory leaving what residents call apocalyptic seas. ♪ sumi: welcome to world news america. syria's former president bashar al-assad said he never planned to step down as president and insist he left syria at russia's request, according to a statement on the telegram channel belonging to the syrian presidency offering his view of the rebel offensive that toppled him. it is unclear who currently controls that channel or whether mr. assad wrote the post but he claims he was besieged on a russian base where he was overseeing combat operations only to find that syrian troops abandoned their positions. he went on to defend his record serving as president and said his bond with the syrian people remains unshaken. it comes as russia's military activity increases. russian forces were seen heading to the city of tartus. the european union's foreign poli

these crippling sanctions that used to exist on the al assad regime. to exist on the al assad regime-exist on the al assad reaime. ., ,, , . ., regime. thank you very much for “oininr us regime. thank you very much for joining us with — regime. thank you very much for joining us with your— joining us with your reflections about this momentous moment here in syria. watched so closely by so many around the world. i am sure that our viewers have heard that our viewers have heard that whilst we have been on air they have been sounds of fireworks exploding in the skies over damascus. what a moment it is for syrians wear for so many years, and ahead of this myself when i came back and forth to syria during the war, the only sounds of the skies with the sounds of syrian warplanes bombing in the suburbs, the sound of artillery, of rebels spouting on the outskirts of damascus, the sounds that led to the suffering of so many syrians and the destruction of so much in damascus and far beyond. the explosions you here tonight are the explosions ofjoy and what is called victory day in syria. it is b

, and — the fall of bashar al assad, and how— the fall of bashar al assad, and how they are hopeful forions of this new_ seeing the first indications of this new authority, and they are trying to say that they are very— are trying to say that they are very much_ are trying to say that they are very much in power here. we have — very much in power here. we have seen_ very much in power here. we have seen banners and posters across — have seen banners and posters across aleppo. there is a banner— across aleppo. there is a banner with a across aleppo. there is a bannerwith a qr across aleppo. there is a banner with a qr code, and people _ banner with a qr code, and people can scan these banner to guess— people can scan these banner to guess -- — people can scan these banner to guess —— get access to information about public services, basic services across the city — services, basic services across the city. there's also a billboard here in the city telling _ billboard here in the city telling people that freeing detainees is him moral obligation, sol detainees is him moral obligation, so i

it was a stronghold of assad supporters, until they bolted the same night as bashar al—assad did.e woke up with the sound of gun fire - and smoke, we saw the weapons and their uniforms thrown away in the streets. she said the rebel fighters took the weapons and showed me the uniforms thrown on to the rubbish dump and into the dustbin of history like the dictatorship. bashar al—assad, this area used to be full of posters of him and his father, because it was the centre of loyalists from his own alawite community. a lot of guys who lived here sup ported by theirfamilies by carrying guns for the regime. in the intelligence or in the military. now, like him, they have gone. our arabic correspondent sally nabil has been on the streets of damscus speaking to people about about life after assad. we are here in central damascus and life is just started to go back to normal. over the past couple of days, and right after the downfall of assad, the shops were closed and people were scared. now, the shops are open and people are going back shopping and a lot of coffee shops are working and ye

russia says bashar al assad has fled the country. caroline hawley looks back on his rule.000. inheriting syria's police state from his father. the new young presidentjust 3a of from his father. the new young president just 3a of the from his father. the new young presidentjust 3a of the time, and promised reform. after his inauguration, there was a brief period of greater political openness. but the old family wave rolling soon reasserted itself. powerwas wave rolling soon reasserted itself. power was to be handed down to his brother but when he was killed in a car crash, it was killed in a car crash, it was the quieter, somewhat awkward but shaka was next in line. he had been training as an eye doctor in london and he was called back to syria to prepare for taking over the presidency. with his british—born wife by his side, he first presented a new image of syria to the world. the west responded. there was even an audience with the queen. but the change that so many syrians hoped for at home failed to materialise. when an uprising against him again in 2011, he responded w

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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 to fathom. but russia is now preoccupied with its war on ukraine. hezbollah's leadership has been decapitated afte

this was damascus as crowds continue celebrating the fall of bashar al assad. in the cold light of day, when the celebrations go quiet — how will the country emerge from the shadow of a 50—year mohammad al—jolani, the rebel leader who masterminded the lightening offensive has met the former prime minister to coordinate the transfer of power. but that victory comes with caveats. the un — which is holding an emergency meeting on the situation — has warned the next few weeks are critical. but first — the view from the ground inside syria. translation: we are very happy after the fall of bashar al assad. may god rid us of him forever. i'm not afraid to say it. we're very happy and we are working without fear and with a good conscience. we are living now the second independence and the date of the 8th of december will be immortal. this great and glorious day is a new independence day of syria. this is the first time in my entire life - that i can stand - here in this square. i'm 60 years old and this is. the first time i've stood here. people are getting - delirious

bashar al—assad.out a facebook post from a small militia swearing vengeance. so is this such a threat that you want to take your family out to lebanon? you're worried about your lives? translation: yes, sure. the kids, my wife, i'm afraid for them. that's why i'm taking them out to lebanon. violence consumed iraq and libya after their dictators. their fear is the same for syria. it's notjust about the legacy of the war. it's about the legacy of more than half a century of dictatorship. these are people, and there are thousands more coming down the road, who don't feel safe in the new syria. and going in the opposite direction are all those who just want to get home. the duty free shop, once a favourite of those the regime had made rich, has been looted and destroyed. islamist anger at a decadent regime. we drove on to damascus. the rebels took syria as assad's army faded away but the country's still under fire. to stop islamist rebels taking over syria's abandoned military infrastructure, across the c

this is not al—assad country. he is gone now. i don't know how we are going to rebuild it.as been corrupting this country for 50 years. but this is the people that was going to build the country. so wish us the luck. everyone in the world. and please, please leave us alone. leave us alone. 0k? we appreciate your support, but we don't want anyone to interfere with our decisions, what we are going to do. this is their decision. syria's future is full of challenges. hts is an islamist group. what will that mean for girls and for women? how do syrians getjustice for the regime's crimes? they meant it when they called for bashar�*s execution before the prayer. their new rulers told them to celebrate the blessed revolution, so they did. syrians understand that it won't be easy to overcome 50 years of dictatorship and 1a years of war, but this was a day to seize and enjoy. thousands converged on umayyad square in the centre of damascus. it's as if an enormous weight has been lifted off a nation. i have never seen so many smiling people in syria. we are free. we are feeling... we a

for the first time in 54 years, the al assad family is no longer ruling syria. rebels who had been fighting government forces for 13 years swept through syria in two weeks capturing damascus, taking the syrian people and the world by surprise. dictator bashar al assad appears to have fled the country and we are reminded this morning of the horrors from his rein of terror. his brutal suppression of anti-regime protests in 2011 sparked the world's largest refugee crisis. since then, the mass atrocities became too numerous to detail. the death toll impossible to tally, including due to the regime's use of chemical weapons against civilians. assad dared to test whether america and the world would stop him, something then president obama chose not to do militarily even after he crossed that so-called red line. here's our bob schieffer's report on assad's chemical weapon attack from 2013. >> the death toll in what appears to be a poison gas attack in the syrian civil war continues to rise by some estimates as many as 1800 people may have been killed. rebels blame the

you can't get much worse than bashar al-assad. what comes next?ell, it's i think, an unknown, but ultimately we do know some things about it, and we know that the leader of this movement militarily very successful as it was, still has a $10 million bounty on his head from the united states because of his earlier al qaeda affiliations. is that something you give up? is it something you mature from? well, he's suggesting that's the case, but also, jake, remember leading a military campaign, a very, very different job to governance, particularly the governance of a country that's been so heavily damaged and torn by sectarian violence as indeed, syria has. so a huge job, frankly, for anyone to undertake, let alone somebody who probably has minimal experience of ruling and many immediate challenges as well frankly, we have to see how syria's new neighbors respond to this sudden change in the dynamic, the disappearance of iranian power, the moscow overnight suddenly being exposed as a paper tiger. in this regard, so much more to play out, but really wit

bashar al—assad.nd us defence secretary lloyd austin reaffirms america's ironclad commitment to the asia pacific region, on a visit to tokyo. welcome to newsday. i'm steve lai. some breaking news to bring you now, out of seoul. south korean police have raided the presidential office of president yoon suk yeol. police officials say president yoon is the subject of a criminal investigation on insurrection charges, but he has not been arrested or questioned by authorities. the president and his allies are currently facing insurrection charges, after his botched attempt to impose martial law last week. there have been other develpments in the last few hours — a justice ministry official told south korea's parliament this morning that former defence minister kim yong—hyun attempted to take his own life while in detention. kim had publicly taken responsibility for carrying out martial law. let's get more from our correspondent, laura bicker. you have been in south korea covering the story. get us up to spee