yes, what we can _ damascus feel about hts? yes, what we can see _ damascus feel about hts?s feel about hts? yes, what we can see from pictures, | what we can see from pictures, it is a mixed feeling moment, as you said. it is an uncertain moment. at the time when there are many people in syria suffered during the war from what they considered as an operation from the syrian government, as they managed to crack down hard on the areas that the opposition were controlling or fighting— we heard lots of reports about shelling, about lots of areas, residential areas, that were bombed and lots of people were killed, lots of people were put in prison. we heard a lot of this news. there are lots of atrocities between the assad government and the assad army and the opposition, and the people who supported the opposition, and what they called the revolution. and they still call it the revolution. so we saw pictures that are coming that were confirmed and verified by bbc arabic that many people are happy, many people are celebrating, many people are celebrating, many people are celebra

damascus.es, 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 a5, but looks older because he has no teeth. he says bashar al—assad's soldiers broke them because he belonged to a rebel militia. they also cut off part of his tongue and gave him mice to eat in prison. "we are the people of damascus," he says, "though they accused us of being terrorists. thank god, i can't believe what's happened." hayat tahrir al—sham's fighters, heroes for those here for liberating them. but can a group that has a jihadist past deliver the democratic rule that hani told us he wants? i think, based on the last 13 years, hayat tahrir al—sham has changed a lot. they started maybe as part of al-qaeda, but now they are syrians, purely they are syrians. i think in the

.— bit more now that he's in damascus. . , ., damascus. is the other major challenge, that - damascus. that is the other major challenge, that it's i damascus. that is the other l major challenge, that it's now a patchwork of different rebel forces, some of them controlling territory. how hard is not going to be to meld them together in a cohesive force? is not going to be to meld them together in a col it's ie force? is not going to be to meld them together in a col it's what :e? is not going to be to meld them together in a col it's what he behind. perhaps it's what he wanted to do, although i suspect he would have to formalise this political role a bit more now that he's in damascus.— bit more now that he's in damascus. . , ., damascus. that is the other ma'or damascus. that is the other major challenge, _ damascus. that is the other major challenge, that - damascus. that is the other major challenge, that it's i damascus. that is the other l major challenge, that it's now a patchwork of different rebel forces, some of them controlling

blair went to damascus in 2001.nd his wife, asma, who grew up in london, paid a call on the queen. assad never delivered change, and even when thousands and then millions of syrians demanded the fall of the regime after 2011, the year of the arab uprisings, he might still have saved the country from war by embracing reform. but, instead of that, bashar al—assad went to his rubber—stamp parliament in march 2011, declared foreigners were conspiring to destroy syria, and effectively declared war on any syrian who opposed him. in the first few years of the war, we were able to cross into the large rebel—held areas of the damascus suburbs from the regime side. the rebels were in range of central damascus but could never break through. the regime survived those years because some syrians supported it in damascus. these were alawites, from the same sect as the assads. despite their loyalty, assad also needed iran and the fighters of lebanese hezbollah. syrian christian militias fought for the regime against al-qaeda rebels

.— was in damascus. our— was in damascus. that is why security is not our concern . security is not our concern inside damascus, and back to the point of the prisons, of course many of those visitors were political prisoners, but also the prisoners are fully open now, with that many also criminals being on the streets, and they have access to many weapons that were left by the syrian army when assad fell, so thatis syrian army when assad fell, so that is why this moment is very sensitive for damascus and also for the political transition, for the political transition, for the political transition itself, we have seen talks between hts and assad government, those left behind, working for such a transition to start and so they can probably regroup some of the police forces and of the army to try to organise security inside the city.— to try to organise security inside the city. we've also heard today _ inside the city. we've also heard today about - inside the city. we've also heard today about the - insid

let's go by phone now to the syrian capital damascus. whether we're a resident of mom or run me, i can tell us what he's witnessing on the ground that most of these extraordinary pictures were sitting on tv screens of people celebrating in the streets of the capital of opposition. non groups celebrating firing, guns. tell us what you've been seeing that where are you on? what are you seeing? the lower one i'm hearing damascus. i'm in the case of being st. and 1st of all, we started to hear a bomb being and a lot of phone being, shooting lot of or making sure thing the are fighting with what, what's left of a federal gain. many are trying to enter the northcutt's and they have indeed entered domestic once. they entered a for one in the country, everyone in the city in damascus. every one of one of the was that god is the day this god is great. they are announcing the big city over. ready the shuttle that they are announcing, the big city issue started can ugly period of time that we've, we've always we've all so after 15 or 14 years of ki

he spoke to a doctor from damascus. he said, the 1st thing he's going to do is go visit the grave of his father's father who died before the syrian civil war. he hasn't been to his grave ever since the flight in 2011 and became a refugee here in 11 different stairs or, and they are just so happy at the idea that pretty soon they'll be able to go home . of course, the flip side of this is a in for 11 on days that they've played the gracious host, full mold and what the decade now. and the burden of being a host to so many refugees. but it's already hosting a large number of palestinians and has been for over 70, as will perhaps ease the political pressure with 11 all as well. absolutely. the syrian refugee population is numbered as registered with. thank you and hcr, the high commission refugees has 700000 registered with the overall number of sealants living and living in rented a partner not registered with the us simply here in a more informal capacity is about 1500000. but if you speak to lebanese people here, they s

and other groups against damascus. �* , ., damascus.ascus. so let's look at some of the other— damascus. so let's look at some of the other countries, _ damascus. so let's look at some of the other countries, so - of the other countries, so iran, what about their role? iran, what about their role? iran and the assad regime go back many years, and the islamic republic of iran has had only one state partner in its 45 year existence and that has been the assad family, in damascus and syria, and asad's father stood with iran against most indie rock wall. —— against most in the iraq war. this is worth remembering exterior appoints a key role in iran's axis of resistance, this is what the regime has against israel, arab states and us positions, and iranian officials have often referred to syria in this way, and they have allowed it to be an eastern mediterranean power and are its cheap proxy, but that has now been cut with this fall in damascus —— arm its chief proxy. in damascus -- arm its chief rox . ., �* , , proxy. now let's bring it righ

the battle for damascus begun yesterday, as rebels from southern provinces made their way to the damascus country side. and as they approach the capital, we saw uprising inside the towns and villages surrounding damascus. as this did not come as a surprise. because even though the shard aside declared victory years ago, even though he russell box territory from the opposition in 2018, forcing them into what became known as surrender deals, giving them the option to die under bombs or starve because of the siege. they surrendered, and some of the opposition fighters were put on those of green buses, bus to the opposition, held north, but people, their families stayed behind. he never reconciled with his people. so it was only a matter of time when these people realized that the armed rebels were at the gates of the mass, cuz they took to the streets, taking down posters of, of the charlotte, i saw the statues celebrating in the streets. and now the armed rebels are inside, inside the capital itself, and people are, people are celebrated. and so, no doubt, these are historic moments. it's b

we heard from a guest earlier who is based in damascus.he said that the morale in the army is very low and has been for a long time. did that play into it? >> i think that is perhaps the most important single element. to be very honest, 72 hours ago, i was nervous there would be door-to-door fighting and parts of damascus. i don't think viewers can overestimate how brutal the syrian government under president bashar al-assad was. and it is a little hard to understand why the most loyal fighters just decided to give up without fighting. they must understand that if they are caught and they are held accountable for their violations of rights, human right, their future is . >> reporter: what do you make of the rebels who are moving in? what are their intentions, given their own background? and what do you think that means for the people of syria going forward? >> well, this is a huge question. i have not seen detailed political programs from either the rebels moving up from the south, from the area around the jordanian border north, and hours

because it's all, it's actually on the highway to damascus. linking damascus to the uh, to the top can lift bowl and how much so. and also a house has a very historically started importers and also strategic on board, which is as it is in the center of, of the syria and very close to the city of damascus. 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

are we expecting anything different that happened in damascus as well? when we did talk a week ago, i thought maybe once we got to hop on homes, that would 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 decade ago in the fighting. so at this point, it seems that there probably will be fighting to take the capital, but it's 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 they aside or seem has been doing obviously the spiders and follows this baptist era of nationalistic ideology where as h t us, the acronym are conservative is list um, so they'll try and rule based off of their interpretations of islam, especially as it relates to minorities within the society. but generally speaking, we have an 8 and a hal

the last track fly from damascus. a russian meet aircraft disappear from radar authors circling over holmes. adding a final question mark through this dramatic can to a decades long 3 x, those i move, which will just there are correspondent zayna folded as being in the syrian capital . those people take in the news about assets. she says there's a mix of jubilation and concern for the future is a report from damascus. we are in damascus. what was the tower of the president? and i said his will is now over the opposition has taken control. 8 of the capital for the past 10 days, the rebels pushed from there a strong hold in the northwest of the country, making their way south to damascus. while grubbers comes govern, serial also made their way towards the capital. i wanna show you, these are the uniforms of the, the, this is celebratory. fire people are, are, you know, welcoming the new reality in this country. so the syrian army leaving without suffice, there was very little resistance. in fact, this is what happened a

.— obviously the route to damascus. ., , ., ., ., damascus.nesses — damascus. how big a threat do thicknesses to _ damascus. how big a threat do thicknesses to the _ damascus. how big a threat do thicknesses to the survival - damascus. how big a threat do thicknesses to the survival of l thicknesses to the survival of the assad regime and what can assad and his supporters do about this? —— how big a threat do you think. it about this? -- how big a threat do you think-— do you think. it is a big threat to _ do you think. it is a big threat to his _ do you think. it is a big threat to his survival. l do you think. it is a big l threat to his survival. his political stronghold is based on the mediterranean coast and if the rebels cut off homs, that will be cutting off the access to that coast. certainly if they move towards damascus, thatis if they move towards damascus, that is the core of his power. it has been reported quite a long time that he was already quite weak, that there was a lot of corruption in the regime, there was a lot of unhappi

the capital damascus has been seized by a coalition of opposition groups. san has reportedly flynn damascus and is now in an unknown location. and that's the latest on the that will use this hour from me and the entire news team. thanks for the company. the manuals engine you belong to, the 77 percent comes who i just got and 65 last last those top 5 years, 31115. we are here to help you make up your mind. we are here on please find your mind to.

i know we are in the middle of damascus. i swear to god our execution was supposed to be today just half an hour ago. 54 of us were going to be excused today for kansas families who have waited years for use that they're missing loved ones. they are released, springs both hope and anguish with the present gates. finally, open sea road will have to come to terms with some of the darkest secrets of their machines, brutality. and we tunes that mean, never hill axles. i much out is 0. the . these were the seems that and it's for, it's like night prison inmates were allowed to vote 3 for the 1st time. during bush auto sides route. many people who oppose the government would take them to underground cells known as the red wing. but since sides for many of those who was sensitive, oh, so i get to be the k to whom i was struggling, was arrested for protesting. when he was 15 years old. he says he experienced boot tennessee trying to survive in prison for 3 years. well under torture, i was forced to get a false confessions that was t

other reports saying, no, no, we're pretty sure he's in damascus.ential office saying that the rumours that he has left are wrong and that he is there, he's at his desk, he's continuing his work. we've had the syrian army saying that they are creating kind of a ring of steel around damascus to protect it, as you have the rebels looking like they're going to come from the north if they get through homs. you've had different rebel factions coming up from the south and also from the east. and we've seen some of the suburbs of damascus. people have toppled statues of hafez al—assad, bashar al—assad's father, the man who began the dynasty. so, you know, a sense of end days, really for the assad regime. but we don't know how soon that's going to be. we don't know 100% that that will happen. i mean, there's still, ithink, an unknowable about the real praetorian guard that surround president assad, whether they i mean, there's still, ithink, an unknowable about the real praetorian guard that surround president assad, whether they want to hold the line or th

it will no doubt if indeed damascus has fallen. if indeed this is the end of a president, bashar assad through this is a major blow for his ally. iran in, in the region. and the past 2 years, the region has transformed. we've seen the growing power and influence of iran spread across the region, whether it was in iraq in syria and lebanon as well. they had a local allies in these countries and the balance of power was in events favor what we've seen, not just in the past few days in syria and this rapidly changing balance of power is, is also another not in, for example, if it has been an ally of iran has, has been severely weakened, its military capability is degraded in and is really bombing campaign that last is for weeks. and they targeted their, their military infrastructure, their fighters, they destroyed areas where their supporters live making. it's very difficult for the group to pick up the, you know, the pieces and a ceasefire deals came into effect and nothing on a button that says fire deal has been lost in one way or

damascus is relatively calm.d through the central square we saw lots of young men shooting guns in the air, rebels and their supporters celebrating their victory of entering damascus. as we came into the city, we saw military equipment beside the road abandoned, tanks, military vehicles, even uniforms as soldiers took off their uniforms and joined the population. here in this city you can see there are vehicles on the streets, there is traffic. the shops are closed. not that many people, so some people are quite afraid, those who supported the regime had felt protected by it. they are basically staying at home right now. others of course joyful that the regime has fallen, seeing this as a new chapter in syria's history. what that chapter is is the next question. the prime minister has put out a statement saying that he wants to work for the continuity of government, for the handover of power in a peaceful way for elections. the leader of the rebels has said that his forces should not target public institutions, t

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 f

this will said there was a 0, damascus. the turkish bank syrian national army has seized the strategic city of memphis in northern syria. that's dealt a major blow to the influence of code h y p g fight is region who are supported by the us. send him cause a report from has a on the check here, syria, florida. no one's a strategic hub for the us. spect curtis y p g on group members has not fallen under the control of the turkish bacteria. national army or s n a members was do i? peaches, largest spring, cold west of the fray. cheese from operation. don't afraid of men. budget is freight by god's willing. it's back to its people. it's free, a gift to this victory to the courage and error. the y p g, least to see you in democratic forces or as the f and governs vast areas in northern and eastern syria, including vital oil fields and areas hosting $900.00 us troops. it sees members in 2016 with the us support the wildly us some later rush, i assure true kid, that the why pj you would with row after defeating i saw fighters onc

the bbc is in damascus.d abandoned. thanks, military vehicles, even soldiers took off their uniforms and justjoined the uniforms and just joined the population. uniforms and just joined the population. rebels appear on state tv saying they've toppled a tyrant and have released his prisoners. russia says assad has left the country as his palace is looted. syria's prime minister says he will �*cooperate' with the rebels over a transition of power. israel's prime minister says he ordered the israeli military to "seize" a un—patrolled buffer zone between the israeli— and syrian—controlled golan heights. these are live pictures of

that's the dotted line, and take damascus.er rebel group5, yellow areas are the smaller rebel groups, the purple i5 yellow areas are the smaller rebel groups, the purple is the kurds and up on the coast, the pink area shows the alawite heartland, assad's former power base. a5 heartland, assad's former power base. as if this wasn't, getting enough already, you also have the outside nations, russia and iran, who haveju5t lost an ally in bashar al—a55ad. they will be looking to salvage their interest in the new uncharted syria. let's get more on this now. a senior fellow with the atlantic council where he leads work on syria. thank you for your time on the programme. firstly, you are syrian. what does this mean for you? are syrian. what does this mean for ou? , ., , u, for you? everything really came as a surprise — for you? everything really came as a surprise to _ for you? everything really came as a surprise to us _ for you? everything really came as a surprise to us for _ for you? everything really came as a surprise to us fo

this you said that i'll just go to damascus. i saw a side on his family are now in most good you the shop of out of a has more from must go on rushes, involvement in a sides movements. it was the syrian president bush on the side of his family members have arrived at most of the rational somewhere he's gone to the police to asylum assembled allegedly about 2 inches biography plain from a russian base in mental tia this you are in a position as opposed to the guarantees the security over from issue basis in natasha and talked to as well as diploma technicians in the country. so while the opposition is series fully a transitional source, he rushes requested emergency consultations with the july security council. the situation see where we should take place. on monday, december, the 9th, the rational source is considered necessary to resume negotiations on a supplements in syria under the one supervision. now, as life has been removed from this, you are an embassy in moscow, and she has an old policy, is to manage, should peaceful

here's a report from damascus. we are in damascus. what was the power of the president? i said his room is now over. the opposition has taken control. 8 of the capital for the past 10 days, the rebels flushed from there a strong cold in the northwest of the country, making their way south to damascus. while double guns common carrier also made their way towards the capital. i want to show you, these are the uniforms of the, the celebratory fire people are, are, you know, welcoming the new reality in this country. so the syrian army leaving without suffice or was very little resistance. in fact, this is what happens and make their way up to the mazda of the syrian army a chromebook. now, many will say that this is because of the resume, because many of the, many of the former conscripts were former rebels and they reconcile. so people here who live in the city are still in the home. we're not please a lot of traffic industries, which is understandable because people are worried and they're concerned. this is a supply this country. and in the past, people were very much wo

i've left a capital damascus. when a few years ago, rebel forces that amount straight into the capital, damascus, they also said they've taken over to cities airport. and the state tv building facility and prime minister says the government was ready to handle the power to any leadership chosen by the people that spring. and stephen soon, se that professor of politics, the university of san francisco, in the founding chapter, universities midland, studies to joins us live from san francisco speaking. good job you back with us. i mean, so i'll position fights as of and to damascus reports that i found himself inside the country. the situation was still unclear. whatever the case this ribbon offensive has been extreme. you're right, but it's taking everybody by surprise. how was it happened to was how quickly dear, thank and i think largely because the people have the opportunity to, to advance. i mean they are, is name is always been very fragile and they were only able to defeat the rebels or the earlier phase of

, according to what they are claiming now taking over damascus? >> yeah, i mean, the first couple of days of this offensive by the rebels that broke out of the northwest part of the country, moved to areas like aleppo and ultimately kash patel earlier this evening, really caught a lot of military experts and watched closely for some time. there have been brewing tensions over the last five or six months in various pockets of syria. the various governments had been we can severely, not because of anything it had particularly done, but because of the allies that have crossed the syrian government, including iran, including hezbollah, including russia, had all been mired down into their own conflicts. whether it is hezbollah directly with israel, russia and ukraine and iran with the united states and israel, bashar al assad had increasingly been isolated by his allies for not being able to get him more weapons, finances soldiers, ammunition. and there is no doubt that anyone who looks at what is been happening in the middle east over the last couple

blair went to damascus in 2001.is wife, asma, who grew up in london, paid a call on the queen. assad never delivered change, and even when thousands and then millions of syrians demanded the fall of the regime after 2011, the year of the arab uprisings, he might still have saved the country from war by embracing reform. but, instead of that, bashar al—assad went to his rubber—stamp parliament in march 2011, declared foreigners were conspiring to destroy syria, and effectively declared war on any syrian who opposed him. in the first few years of the war, we were able to cross into the large rebel—held areas of the damascus suburbs from the regime side. the rebels were in range of central damascus but could never break through. the regime survived those years because some syrians supported it in damascus. these were alawites, from the same sect as the assads. despite their loyalty, assad also needed iran and the fighters of lebanese hezbollah. syrian christian militias fought for the regime against al-qaeda rebels in

and what damascus is there. and what damascus is there.ring to their lives. ,., changes will bring to their lives. n, , ., changes will bring to their lives. ,., , ., ., changes will bring to their lives. . , , changes will bring to their lives. , ., lives. do you get a sense that --eole lives. do you get a sense that peeple feel — lives. do you get a sense that people feel some _ lives. do you get a sense that people feel some confidence l people feel some confidence about this new government as it comes together each day. there�*s new elements for them to try to digest? fist there's new elements for them to try to digest?— to try to digest? at this very early stage. _ to try to digest? at this very early stage, there _ to try to digest? at this very early stage, there is - to try to digest? at this very early stage, there is a - early stage, there is a palpable excitement. it is very difficult not to get caught up in it. i am not difficult not to get caught up in it. iam notjust difficult not to get caught up in it. i am notjust speaking

of feet in the torres said, now a prison in damascus. many were taken on the ground into cells known as the red wing. people have been digging by flashlight over nights in order to free inmates held on the ground, specialize teams from the white helmets organization have now arrived instead, naya in search of detainees who might be held in hidden sellers. the, these are the scenes at the prison as inmates was allowed to free, as is emerged from over the crowd in sales. some shock of the use as imprisonment exercise of which has more they run is free man for the 1st time in years escaping the confines of serious prisoners. the across serious scenes of liberation as thousands emerged from detention centers, leaving facilities that have been described as human slaughter, houses address sides. becky, as long rule that many activists have called a kingdom of silence. they are among thousands of individuals. the rest, as for opposing president assad during and since the 2011 uprising obviously was just the number i have been missing my family,

we lost in the old city of damascus. he said, the real victory is for all serious to die. syria is cleans that rid itself of this vile raising this victory was not at a low price. it is the result of the sacrifice of the full amount as this regime has imprisoned thousands of its own citizens unjustly. and without any crime, we are the rightful owners. of this land, and today we are rewarded with this victory on the streets of damascus celebration, seen and heard across the capital along with the release of prisoners after years of detention under a said they now walk free and people swarms the presidential palace in west or damascus, an image that was only thinkable just a few days ago. after taking over se television opposition forces have this message for the syrian people. out of the city of damascus has been liberated the tyrant, the shar alyssa has been toppled. all the prisoners have been released from the prison of damascus. we wish that all our fighters and citizens preserve and maintain the property of the state

sent a reports from damascus. it is ready air strikes on damascus and house what in syria are further challenge? and after that, just ration is ready. army, they do is reporting that the ministry has to be carrying out a series of large gifts strikes across the country. target to strategic made it to the infrastructure. this building near the state tv station was born by he's ready to just on december the 8th. the same date the shuttle as the left syria smoke from the attack is still rising at that maybe in square in damascus, syrians are celebrating the full of the savages to have endured the pain. and last as of, of a civil war death. last of, for 13 years, one minus or 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 scholars of the past, due for a sub, somebody wasn't empowered for more is not over and the position is in charge working. celia the position lacked with getting as well

damascus.enturies a foundation of faith, now thousands gathered here as they stepped into an uncertain future. savouring their freedom after decades of oppression by an authoritarian regime. from the islamist rebel leadership came a message of unity for all syrians. translation: i would like to congratulate the great syrian people for the victory of the blessed revolution. i would like to invite them to public squares to express theirjoy but without gunfire and terrorising people and then let's move on to building this country back, as we have said since the beginning, we shall be victorious. god willing. from around the city, people gathered in the central square of damascus. across the country, they are celebrating victory friday. stirring memories of other fridays earlier in the uprising, always the big day for protests against the bashar al—assad's rule. that is what galvanised people too afraid to speak to help them find their voice. years of civil war and oppression silenced that. now it

i know we are in the middle of damascus. i swear to god our execution was supposed to be today just half an hour ago. 54 of us were going to be excused today for kansas families who have waited years for use of their missing loved ones. they are released brings both hope and anguish with the present gates finally opened. see what will have to come to terms with some of the darkest secrets of their machines, brutality, and we tunes that may never hill axles. i much out a 0, a mile shall grow, was a wrist, is for protesting. when he was 15 years old, he says he experienced brute tell us a trying to survive in prison for 3 years. well, under torture, i was forced to get a false confessions that was that i killed officers and have weapons and i spied through the us enough time to end these ram. but that's, you know, false confessions you've given it to you because you want to paint the stuff. however, when i met the judge for around 3 to 4 seconds, with my eyes blindfolded and my hands tied behind my back and not seeing the judg

from the southern side of damascus city. and the, the military operation commencement at the i is the, her shelves and the other functions are pushing forward from house area. so of course, the minister operation started from a live pushing goal, go to a live bow and then uh from uh city, and then its almost unconsciously pushing from the northern part of damascus and the southern country side of the items. and the receiving army is pushing from the north side and they also some vaccine from the priest here. an army also pushes from the east, so they all are gathering in a square around an any, actually a semicircle around the city of damascus. and have we have anything its full today from uh the h c. us visa of them. how much is delaney? a tool is uh, actually a few moments ago. um he uh, the military operations command, the posted a video of, of a shut it off tuesday, which is gonna come with a giovanni, a sitting down to the, to the members of the advisors of the military operation. came madman to be kindly with the civil

50 we are to see damascus falling here? �* , we are to see damascus falling here?ee damascus falling here? fl. ., ., ~ here? so it's clear that assad and top officials _ here? so it's clear that assad and top officials have - here? so it's clear that assad and top officials have left - and top officials have left damascus a while ago. earlier indications, as they occupied homs, the third—largest city, has concluded, we have received a lot of footage of damascus of security personnel, of police and the army dropping their uniforms and completely withdrawing out of the city. reports coming from the city, from damascus, spoke about orders coming to officials to not come to their official duties, and to those who are serving with the military, that they have basically a free release out of the army. so there are clear indications of something big happening in damascus. but the way that basically everyone is leaving damascus, it's very clear that no top officials are left in the city. i think the biggest question for everyone right now is where did bashar al—assad 90, is

am in damascus. where opposition forces have announced the rule of president boss all last time has come to an end of the 13 years of civil war and came just hours off to fight to enter the capital damascus. and took the city's port on the state tv building. the opposition forces now say they are urgently working to assess off a transitional governing body. the the forces say i side has now flagged the capital batch, our last slide down. his family have been in power in serious since early 1975 show to power in 2000 off to the death of his father office. the, the, the city of damascus has been liberated the tyrant for sure all a sudden has been talking. all the prisoners to be released from the prison of damascus. we wish that all are fighters and citizens preserve and maintain the property of the state of syria. long live syria. and these are the latest pictures of the presidential palace and damascus, which has been now vacated by our last subs. opposition. vices have been to the con pounds. you ca

, that the, the foreign minister of kuwait is in damascus. and so 2 is the secretary general of the gulf corporation council. indeed. so this, this visits are extremely important for the new administration and see that because when they took control of the con, through, on december a to say that's one of the top priorities is to have the international recognition . and says that the to on the have seen that a geishas off the vacations visiting damascus and meeting the possible that the top of your shows off the ministration state. but particularly the fact the leader of syria. i'm at a chevron. so as one of the latest business today, so to create the for the minister and to stick with the general of to golf competition council, they have now here at the possession pilot scheme, damascus. and the meeting is at the moment on the way. so soon we are expecting them to conclude the meeting and to have it joined suppressor. altogether this made things both, but this too high level officials extremely important because of 2 reasons. first, the had t

at, on the comment sort of damascus. and just roughly around the h. and i'm, it says away from my b r. that is the measure minutes, a port and still there are several a across and the ellipticals. that's how the intact and israel ohms that every night is attacking particularly that. that is how they were here. is a rush to and then also i've taken some of the kind of cold warehouses as well as the ammunition and vision the depots as well as some of the other strategic locations. don't want to have heard the lake level, what not to a tank. fire knocked off to lead to not the gunfire. it was an air strike that he had been exploring as the same ones that he had been experiencing in the last 5 days since to pull up the seats for the, for the short and this up. so and now hearing that the position fighters, because there's 2 days, what is, are you ready to have any bonding? i'm being serious on the air. do a position fight as will not fight and back. but in the, in the last 22 days, they also sucked engage with the men fighti

a few hours ago, rebel forces had amounts they entered damascus. they also said they've taken over the cities airport in the state to be building the survey and 5 minutes to says the government was ready to hand of a pilot to any leadership chosen by the people for a few minutes. and then why do i am 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 ours. when moments before opposition and fights as to control to the airport open. so slight track as recorded a single plane in serious aspects. an illusion. 76 that crop with flight number syrian and 9 to 18 was the last like to take off from damascus 1st if you east. and then it turned, know for a few minutes later, it's signal disappeared

there's chaos, there is chaos at a, at damascus international airport. so what we really saw over the past 10 days is that the syrian army had crumbled, crumbled in the face of the opposition's advance, there was little or no will, to fight. we have to remember a lot of these men, these army soldiers were conscripts, they were forced to join the army, when a sad claimed victory a few years back when he rustled territory back from the opposition in the strategy which was known as surrender dice or die in stars because the government strategy was till they seized the areas to bomb people into submission. a lot of of the young man were forced to join the armies rags. and so this is a, he started a said fail to build, to rebuild a lawyer, army. and so there's no doubt these are, these are extra ordinary moments for syrians who have been watching in disbelief over the past 10 days of the month. while most of right, so let's just taking a live to the syrian capital, damascus. we're missing residents. that there were a seams of celebration as opposition on figh

[000:00:00;00] the the israel unleashes a wave of air strikes on syria, including damascus just a day after it was captured by opposition, forces the, i don't know about this in this is on the 0 live from don't have also coming up. opposition forces sees another strategic city in syria. dinning a blow to kurdish fighters. search for clues on missing family members. we go inside, syria is notorious of nail prison. suspects arrested in the new york shooting, which triggered at the fates about the insurance industry, the multiple explosions of hips, syria is capital a day after roll position fighters forced to collapse of the side vision that have been about a 100 is really airstrikes and damascus. and other parts of the country as people look to rebuild up to 13 years of civil war by so sad, a reports from damascus is ready air strikes on damascus and house, what in syria are further chat, engineering, registration is ready. army read is reporting that the mid 3 has be carrying out a series of large gifts strikes across the country. target the strategic made it to the infrastructure. th

they should all come together right now in damascus.uld be rescue teams helping us unlock the doors to these dungeons were men, women, children, and elderly have been tortured to death. >> there have been difficulties trying to locate the cells. you need the equipment that people use after an earthquake so you can find out what is under deck -- underground. a lot of these civilians are in the dungeons below ground. a lot of people are afraid to deal with damascus because of the misinformation that terrorists have taken over and that is absolutely not true. >> on who will be in control now -- referencing the previous incarnation which was designated as a terrorist organization. >> referencing the regional countries that were trying last-minute to save assad and referencing the media that continue to talk about this. it has a past that it has and it is obviously not the old version. it was key in getting al qaeda completely out of syria. it doesn't mean they are liberal democrats but they are part of a bigger coalition and they are promis

the policy is located in western damascus. it overlooks the city, and of course has been taken over now by all physician fighters who say they have toppled the asset. government and joshua alonda is the director of center for middle east studies out the university of oklahoma. he explained what is behind the collapse of the syrian ami. the syrian army really just melted. there was no money in damascus to pay troops. people were exhausted. there had not been a peace dividend. nobody could rebuild their lives. life looked very grim under this for him going out into the future. there were, we have to remember that there were very heavy sanctions on the machine. america has all of serious, most of the serious oil and gas which it uses to pay the courage in the northeast to police the northeast. and so the regime really had no money. and then, of course, is rails extraordinary attack, which puzzled his butler pen back iran, and it has really degraded the syrian army over the last year with about 3 strikes every week on the syrian a

we drove on to damascus.els 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 country israel's bombing it to pieces, and not far from this road, taking more syrian land for what it calls a buffer zone. so far, damascus is mostly calm, but here, someone tried to burn down a mobile phone shop, already looted, from a chain named after bashar al—assad's british—born wife. the family earned billions from its control of telecoms as millions of syrians starved. the firemen have been talking to syria's new rulers. he said, "they're going to cooperate. "we don't know our destiny, but god willing, it will be good." next stop was mezzeh 86, a poor district named after a notorious regime military unit. it was a stronghold of assad supporters until they bolted the same night bashar did, as a relieved and happy safar al—safadi told me. translation: when we woke up with the sound of gunfire and the smoke, we saw

on the sides rule, the taurus side, not a prison in damascus. people have been taking by flashlights in order to reach inmates held in underground selves between 10 and 20000 detainees were held that the and these were the scenes, the prisoners inmates were allowed to free for the 1st time. during the show, a sides rule. many people who oppose the government, it would take them to underground selves known as the red wing. but since our sides full and many of those who was sent to the votes of yet to be located ourselves on which reports they run is free man, for the 1st time in years escaping the confines of serious prisoners the across serious scenes of liberation as thousands emerge from detention centers, leaving facilities that have been described as human slaughter, houses address thoughts. becky, as long rule that many activists have called a kingdom of sidelines they are among thousands of individuals, arrested for opposing president assad during and since the 2011 uprising was just the number, i have been missing my family, things i'm de

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

it's the, it was the prison of sub maya in damascus on the outskirts of damascus. one of the most brutal at prisons in the history and the said regime, you in particular women in prison is the way this trusts beware, confuse the price and they did not really want to to leave that sounds, they could not believe that they weren't going to be free. so the, the, the prison, the sub my, a prison for me was really a symbol about charlotte as a router rule. and it tells me about the moment that how the moment, the freedom, the moment, the dignity for the millions of the city and people who really look forward to the future. i hope the position at all the all positions are up to this particular challenge because it's gonna take us 40. yeah. to really hill and, and in particular this cause that had been really left after many years of was and fighting and torture using i said use chemical weapons against his own people. so you can imagine the challenges facing to yeah. and the next few models that next few, yes, that was felt was garrick is professor of middle eastern on po