the syrian army during this year. they were engaged in north b is riley regimes. prime minister netanyahu said that we carried out the ceasefire . oh, because we needed to deal with the army and threat that was one of the key issues that the rates and then right after the cease fire, there's really regime and all of the crossing points between 7 on and syria. so that testable, the troops could not go back into syria after the cease fire rapidly. and then immediately we saw that these extreme is began the major offensive with new weapons. and there was a bit squeak operation that was well planned before. if syria falls into the hands of ices and i'll kind of then handle that would be effectively surrounded is now $211.00 on row. the israel has the latrice has been pushed to the brink by idea of strikes in the country south that killed 11 people on monday, reports from 11 on a choose idea of strikes of directly targeting civilian buildings, while israel claims otherwise, as well, has acted to toward possible hezbollah a

however, the syrian army is still present in the region and the intensity of fighting in this area has declined last night. and early this morning, owing to intense attacks by syrian troops on the supply lines of terrorist groups, which prevented them from entering the city with regard to the humanitarian situation in homage, all government institutions and services continue to function and markets and shops remain open. however, there is still some fear among the population, especially when the terrorist groups threatened to enter the city or have already done so by making a breakthrough somewhere. citizens are alarmed by the news that is being widely disseminated by the media these terrorist groups. however, all the roads connecting hama to other regions are still locally on the road from palmer to homes through our son until visa was also operational. yesterday, some just tried to claim that they had blocked the road and attacked the l months around. but all this information was refuted to access to the road towards homes and mister yob remains unrestricted. all roads under the cont

many syrian army units are folding. syrian army units basically have crossed into iraq and asked for asylum or protection. the reality is, i mean, most of our news is coming from the opposition. the question for me is really, where is assad? missing in action? where is the leadership? you hardly hear anything from the top leadership of syria. i speak to many syrians and they are basically lost. they say, look, we don't know what's happening. they're terrified. they're anxious. the reality is, on the opposition side, you have abu mohammad al—julani. he's the chief of the hayat tahrir al—sham, the salafi sunni movement, who is basically having a victory tour in aleppo and hama and going on television, including, you know, cnn. yet assad has been really 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 and defendin

the rebels taking territory from, from the government and at an unprecedented speed, we saw the syrian army, whatever was left of the regime forces crumbles. they put up a little resistance and even in damascus we are getting no reports of, of resistance by a government troops. in fact, the reports we are getting is, as the rebels move in government troops are, are withdrawing our fleeing are abandoning a strategic positions in, in the capital. and that's what we've been seeing over the past 10 days, whether it's was and how long or, or it's when it began in a level you had they, they gave up control of a level international airport. and then we had a hammer. and after that, holmes, yesterday rebels pushed into the 3rd largest city homes. there was a few hours of, of clashes but, but it wasn't difficult for, for the rebels to, to, to take control of serious 3rd largest city and just a matter of hours. and now we are talking about the seat of power, the political capital of the sure. and i said we have a, we still do not know where the syrian president is. is he still in damascus? did he liv

but where is the syrian army in all of this? ostly 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 that country has been 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 questio

no free syrian army faction in the north can operate without news for his approval. no, sir, i cannot cover every area so they still need them. but once they take control, they will confiscate all weapons or oblige those factions to pledge allegiance. 3 years earlier, moderate elements of the free syrian army even wrote an alarming letter to the state department, warning us officials, but loose from us growing at an alarming rate. they also said that many newer and larger brigades were forming under the leadership of extremist. but according to hyatt to rear all shines leader, the us has nothing to worry about. because back in 2021, he told pbs that there are no plans to explore jihad to the western world. here recognized your designated as a terrorist by the united states. by the united nations, by mindy, govern. what do you say to them? the 1st thing that is an unfair characterization. it's a political label that carries no truth of credibility. we haven't posed any threat to western or european society wisdom, no security threat to it will be no economics risk ide

the syrian army is weak. they can't fight this on their own.ralised, defecting, surrendering. as you head there, they have simply fallen away in the city is that the rebels have taken. in aleppo up in the north, in daraa in the south, the birth of the uprising way back in march 2011, i think. uprising way back in march 2011, ithink. so uprising way back in march 2011, i think. so this does now feel like the dying days of this regime. the only ways i think it could be saved for him is if there was some kind of military intervention by an outside force. i don't think the syrian army is strong enough to do it on its own. 0r enough to do it on its own. or if some deal was stitched together by foreign ministers. but i think we have got beyond that point. we have been meeting in doha, as you know, the capital of qatar, so you have iran, russia, turkey under the foreign ministers meeting there. they have been trying to hammer out some kind of political deal, but it is a bit late for that. that was offered to president assad's regime and he would not l

we saw the syrian army, whatever was left of the regime forces crumbled. they put up a little resistance. and even in damascus we are getting no reports of, of resistance by a government troops and.

the syrian army says it's boosting the deployment of forces around damascus, as rebel fighters advance on the capital. state media deny reports that president assad has fled the city, where protesters appear to have toppled a statue of the president's late father. the notre—dame cathedral in paris reopens in the presence of leaders from around the world, five years after it was badly damaged by fire. translation: this is gratitude to everyone _ translation: this is gratitude to everyone who _ translation: this is gratitude to everyone who helped - translation: this is gratitude to everyone who helped rebuildi to everyone who helped rebuild notre—dame. one of the leaders in attendance was us president—elect donald trump who met prince william following the ceremony. two men have been killed by trees falling on their vehicles during storm darragh in the uk. hello, i'm tanya beckett. our top story — fast moving developments in syria, where the focus of fighting is now on the capital damascus, with one group of rebels claiming to have suburbs in what they describe as the "final stage" of t

the syrian army said that the withdrawal of its forces is associated with the regrouping of units to protect focus civilians and soldiers, as well as to strengthen its defensive and authentic positions along the territory occupied by on groups that stretches more than 100 kilometers. and which is constantly increasing as these armed groups seem to control the city of morocco, new mon, moving towards other settlements and cities located in the east of atlanta. as we have already said, control over territories is changing rapidly. events are also developing rapidly against the background of the expectation of a counter offensive to stop this large scale and rapid advance of armed groups that were previously located only and it live and its surrounding area in. well, sir, has been conducting as far as it getting some other things, and so it could be a 100 of them, an effort to stamp out their offensive. meanwhile, we heard from the ties to an army general mohammed of bus one, how much he's worried about how limiting terrace in syria is crucial for other regional powers, including iran a

we have to remember many, many of the army soldiers were forced to join the ranks of the syrian army. i can tell you that many serious men, young man who are 11 on, are here simply because they do not want to be in syria, to be forcibly conscripted in an army that they say is being used to fight their own brothers. so he failed to, uh, rebuild a loyal army, and to a large extent, we have to mention that back in 2011, his army was not very loyal as well. there were certain divisions that did not the sect, but he saw a lot of the sections and the start of the conflict after the popular uprising turned into an armed conflict. when the government carried out the harsh campaign against the peaceful protesters in the streets. so no doubt, this is a good many are saying that this is really the beginning of the end of the us dynastee, the syrian opposition claiming a victory. this is a new big you get a new beginning for, for a country that has been a n for a people really who have been struggling for a new beginning. yeah, i'm saying are you what you were telling us earlier when you about re

the syrian army says that troops all strengthening that deployment, the a few kilometers away outside the capital. that was celebrations where a crowd was seen toppling assigned to and the government has dismissed claims that aside has left the city the military units continue to reinforce the line across damascus and the suburban areas. to avoid any incidents that could happen, given the chaos that has going on out forces continue to urge you to not listen to room is you should trust you. i mean, you're on a bit as committed to protect you and protect your future. okay, well for more and all of these latest developments, we're going to go to journalist, nor cor, most. she joins us live now from it live in syria, a know we were talking earlier, and those developments are happening quite foss bring us up to speeds. yes, as the of all the, her, the statements from the, from the officials and the officers on the sides with gene. and they were actually contradicted to its contradictions with the, the latest statements from the military operations management. and i'm, according according t

a buffer zone to target the terrorists in the syrian army. as, let's say, back in control. i'm not convinced that they lost control in the beginning. there may have seen security breaches that may have been elements with them when the from the bottom of the cave. ultimately they reacted to that with, through the forces from inside the center of the level to avoid classes that would ultimately impact on civilians that uh, and withdrew to uh let's say of a kind of a fall perimeter around overlap of creat seeing if you like a a kind of funnel or interim perimeter around the left where they can target the terrorist without again, impact thing on civilians on the terrace where then you join into a kind of cauldron into as you've mentioned, uh, northern homo, the national defense forces. and some of this area and on the brigades were already done to prevent them going any further. if you go back to the very beginning of the war against syria, you will remember maybe a president obama's or timber sycamore operation, where they were allegedly providi

that is why they've been able to overcome they've been able to overcome the syrian army that has lost poorly led, the russian advisers sort of left very quickly when they realised things were going badly and so did the iranian advisers but most importantly, it syrian people that have allowed the men and have waited for this day since 2011 when the arab spring started. so, i think it's been a popular uprising as well. of course, what happens next is key and lets hope the words coming from the leader of each yesterday are good when the dust settles tomorrow. hopefully, we get into transition which is absolutely the key thing that must be syrian led, must be arab led, and it must be what the people of syria want. before we look in a bit more detail at transition, you describe hts as well disciplined. so, it is a question of what they want to do with that discipline. we heard from activist area saying on one hand, nothing can be worse than the assad regime, but she also expressed caution about what regimes potentially can use to gain the trust of the people. can use to gain the trust of t

and it is really alarming how the syrian army units have been crushed. ate capacity, the syrian state capacity, the syrian state capacity, has been gutted. it has been degraded by years of poverty, corruption, sanctions, attacks by israel and of course syria's allies are nowhere to be seen. just before i came on air at one of your guests was saying that has been our word and iran will provide support. it is nonsense. —— that hezbollah and iran. israel has basically been bombing the crossing between lebanon and syria and also preventing any iranian aeroplane from reaching the syrian borders. and russia is deeply preoccupied in ukraine. in fact, is deeply preoccupied in ukraine. infact, russia is seeking north korean boots on the ground, so you can imagine russia hasjust the ground, so you can imagine russia has just a small air contingent. at the end of the day, there is a race against time between diplomacy. as you know, there was a major meeting today between russia, turkey, iran, trying to find a political solution. iran, trying to find a politicalsolut

as we heard, two senior syrian army officers have informed the reuters news agency that resident basharassad has left damascus to an unknown destination. it followed reports of gunfire in the streets of damascus, as syrian rebels say they have entered the city. we have also heard that damascus international airport has been abandoned, with people seen leaving earlier, and rebels also say they have entered the notorious military prison north of the capital and freed the prisoners there. we can now speak to robert ford in washington, d.c. he is the former u.s. ambassador to syria, and a senior fellow at the middle east institute think tank. thank you for joining us on sky news this morning. first of all, your reaction to these fast-moving developments this morning? >> well, good morning, and i have to say the events are moving very quickly and they are all remarkable him a particularly the way that the syrian opposition appears to have seized control of the capital city, or at least the government has relinquished, with hardly a whimper, control of the capital city of damascus . >> that's

the syrian national army, which is backed by ankara, has been attempting to take over territory ever shar al—assad began collapsing last week. normal life is gradually returning to the syrian capital. the islamist rebel leadership has chosen the man who's been running most of idlib province as interim prime minister. some civil servants have been urged return to work. there have been further celebrations on the streets of the capital. president erdogan also announced a new border crossing opening. life is slowly returning to normal here in the capital. let's take a look at all the latest developments. lina sinjab has this report. hundreds of blasts like this one were seen and heard across the country. syrians left sleepless by the explosions. the syrian observatory says there have been more than 300 israeli strikes since assad was toppled. israel is also increasing its presence in the golan heights. it says it wants to protect its borders. translation: i instructed the idf to seize the bufferl zone between us and syria, and the positions controlled and adjacent here. this also include

so the syrian army leaving without suffice or was very little resistance. in fact, this is what happens to 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 our home. we're not please a lot of traffic industries, which is understandable because people are worried and they're concerned. this is why this country and in the past, people were very much worried about the opposition. they didn't know who these people are and how they intend to govern the country. if we were a serial, a television and radio from the they also called on serious serious across the world to return to the country. as we made our way from left on to the syrians returning some people haven't been here for years because they were warranted by the regime simply because the interior of history is what comes next weekend. but the opposition is trying to ensure that this is going to be a

the area, however, the syrian army is still present in the legion. the intensity of fighting in this area has declined last night and early this morning, owing to intense attacks by syrian troops on the supply lines of terrorist groups, which prevented them from entering the city. with regard to the humanitarian situation in homage, all government institutions and services continue to function and markets and shops remain open. however, there is still some fear among the population, especially when terrorist groups threatened to enter the city or have already done so by making a breakthrough somewhere. citizens are alarmed by the news that is being widely disseminated by the media of these terrorist groups. however, all the roads connecting hama to other regions are still open the road from palmer to homes through our son until visa was also operational. yesterday, some its tried to claim that they had blocked the road and attacked all months arrived. but all this information was refuted. access to the road towards homes and miss yob remains unrestric

that said h t s is carlie watson with the syrian national army, fully known as the free syrian all me, which washington does provide support to moscow has no waste concerns. the t f is also assisting the management group. you can also see them, we draw attention to the fact that among the foreign fighters and i, there is clearly a so called ukrainian trace. given the information we have received about the cooperation between the special services of the key regime and the militants of the terrorist organization. talk for your all shaw, including the transfer of drones experience and their use and so on. this is not the 1st and unfortunately, as far as we know, not the last region where the key of terrorist regime will apply its criminal experience before it was african countries. now it is syria, there is no doubt that they would not have dared such an audacious action without the incitement and full support of external forces that want to provoke a new round of arms confrontation in syria. and to us based and g o has seemingly confirmed russia's occupations to nation, syrian rebels an

he explained why the syrian army collapsed as fast as it did. 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. lights looked very grim under this for him going out into the future. there were, we have to remember that there were various heavy sanctions on number team. america has all of syria's most of serious oil and gas which it uses to pay the occurs in the northeast to police the northeast. and so the regime really had no money. and then of course is rails extraordinary attack, which pummeled his by last pen back. iran and has really degraded the syrian army over the last year with about 3 strikes every week on the syrian army, taking out military factories and iranian the iranian militias and iranian officers. so this is a very weekends regime with no allies and um, and the army melted away. and that's, that is the, that is the real, you know, story. the extraordinary story here of very little opposition to a rental group which has rebuilt itself and

you had that's the f in america in the north, the syria free army in america, in the south. the syrian national army backed by turkey and the northern other po countryside in northern syria, and then the rest of the rebel sections today. but there is one, damascus government, and all these factions that, that had been in the north west united under it. you have that you have in the northeast, essentially a place where that's the f as one of 2 choices fight against turkish proxy than turkey and see how that works out. in the end, of course, the looming withdrawal of us forces or make a deal with damascus because all the mentally, when us forces withdraw, we want to see everyone who fight against isis and has not been connected to a terrorist organization of any kind. p k, k, or it's, you know, that's the way forward that was was most tougher from the syrian emergency task force. many thanks indeed for your insights. thank you. will staying in syria, more atrocities are coming to light following the fall of the asset regime in the damascus suburb of dry eye. eye witnesses of a massacre c

and one of the main forces fighting the syrian army as high as to where else some of this group broke off from the news were front, which used to be a branch of al qaeda un, along with russia. and the us are, i'm going those to designate as a tower group. well that said to me, all sean is currently working with the syrian national army, formerly known as the free syrian army, which washington provides support to russia has raised concerns that cab is also assisting the militant group. you can also, sometimes we condemn in the strongest possible terms, this attack carried out by terrorist to the united nations security council. because recognized decided, specifically we draw attention to the fact that among the foreign fighters, there was clearly a so called ukrainian trace interest. given the information we have received about the cooperation between the special services of the key virginia, minneapolis and the militants of the terrorist organization. talk for your all shaw, including the transfer of drones experience and their use and so on. this is not the 1st and unfortunately, as

funds and continues in several directions around the city flashes that taking place between the syrian army interest groups. these groups are trying to enter the city all time. but as we can see, mount zion now, aberdeen is still under the control of the syrian military and for psych tibbetts, he is also noted at the moment into striking mount cap for us. but terrorist organizations are trying to strengthen that positions, syrian and brushing aircraft to deliberately attacking the positions of these groups, and thereby preventing their attempts to gain a foothold in the sector pressures. also continuing in the village of camera, located to the east of the city of ham, up since yesterday evening fighting has continued between the syrian all me and terrorist groups and the eastern direction. while in the northern direction, it is relatively calm. the intensity of hostilities in the eastern direction is increasing as terrorist groups are trying to advance to the east and break through this sector. they're attempting to enter the vintage of custom eligible to break through in this direction. in

therefore, she's also an enemy for the syrian army. the presence of a russian friends in syria is what the cleanings are aiming for. the connection between international terrorist and syria and the great and military intelligence was also highlighted by russian foreign ministers, sergey leverett. the outbreak of war in syria gave rise to the terrors group higher to free or else from the western coalition continues to strikes syrian territory even now. in fact, inspiring the regime and key of to carry out similar terrorist activity in russian regions when attacks are carried out on civilians and civilian infrastructure. by the way, with the direct assistance of the west and on the territory of syria, zalinski is regime in coordination with the americans, trains terrorists from higher to hurry are all shawn with new technologies for the production of the waves. for the purpose of fighting against the russian armed forces in syria city are here, which is all fairly pro salt by local here in the seas, and certainly called berkeley. it is c

and they even try to, to send the 10s of thousands of people to help support the syrian army. and that was fault in the early hours by a, by a, by the us out though become a crossing we heard one saying that they will support the government and, uh, and the army with all day. huh. we heard you from the russian to 4 minutes or so your level that they're gonna provide air cover and technical weapon we have uh some military support, but that never happened. the military never fall back. uh, we didn't even see an advice on heavy weapons towards damascus. or towards any of the cities that were just people with, with a k 40 sevens on motorcycles and toyota pickup trucks. so there's definitely something behind the scenes that is happening. and time will tell them what actually went down. because this was not a very conventional cool or so at all me. now, the idea on the other hand has confirmed it's deployed forces and they occupied golan heights buffers zone. now, do you believe that's? that's simply sees on the key. i'll take situation to do that. or it's been pop of a grandparent a

back by the syrian mentioned alarm is that the formerly known as the free syrian army. currently the policy, the is the strategy of the syrian o position seems to be isolating damascus by taking over how much, how much at homes, and moving towards the mass coast and this call next to the school next to the city from the mediterranean. on the other hand, of course, it is not all of the all position and the syrian government that have been on the ground the fighting against each other so far. it, the proxies were very important, then russia and a wrong were the main supporters of the bashar assad government. then, so far, we have seen the limits at texaco a strikes as supports by the russian air forces as a support to the syrian military. and they seem to be limited, and on the other side of the iraq, iranian, as she, i'm melisha from inside the raul. and then from is that they were the main supporters main uh, backup for the syrian ministry, but they are not on the ground. the z round has been given, give each fight through who's it has the line southern level known again

but all the relevant information had been transferred to the syrian government of the syrian army. they also had information of friends that also obtain the information along with photos and details. they've been transferred to the syrian government and kind of for the what was shocking was the inability of the syrian army to confront this movement. and secondly, the speed of development. let me bring it in, steve sweeney and ride. now joining us even baby read espy, how have these developments being met? and 11 on the major its own crisis involving, and he's really offensive paper, very concerned in lebanon that the events and syria may spill over into the country as a precautionary measure. last week, as of the device, it was for on folding the lebanese on full size as well as they any root reinforced that positions along those boulder areas. you heard some response from the, the cad take it probably minister not jeep mccarthy. now he's maybe diplomatic terms, he said that his main concern. busy for the syrian people, i'm for the silver and to you see the integrity of course respo

the syrian army now is completely gone.d the buffer zone that was established 50 years ago between the two countries. now we can say easily that the biggest army force in syria at the moment is the israeli army, it is not russia nor the opposition. and when we look at the big vision, the big view we see that the israeli army has now captured part of syria and they are still capturing or occupying parts of south lebanon. they are occupying gaza and the west bank of course and the corridor between egypt and israel. israel and now practically occupying all its neighbouring countries which makes the situation in the middle east worrying. thank ou so the middle east worrying. thank you so much- — the middle east worrying. thank you so much. let's _ the middle east worrying. thank you so much. let's discuss - the middle east worrying. thank you so much. let's discuss this. you so much. let's discuss this further. let's speak to simon frankel pratt — senior lecturer in political science at the university of melbourne. i don't know

the syrian army says dozens of its soldiers have been killed in the rebel offensive that captured the city of aleppo. in georgia, 3 third night of clashes with riot police occurs as thousands descend to protest a decision on suspended eu membership talks. belgium becomes the first country in europe to give the same labour rights to sex workers as those in any otherjob. hello, i'm lauren taylor. the syrian army says dozens of its soldiers have been killed by rebel forces who have captured the country's second largest city, aleppo. it's the largest offensive against the syrian government in years and has led it to withdraw its troops from the city. the islamist rebels have since made further advances the islamist rebels have since ma a furtheradvances the islamist rebels have since ma a series r advances the islamist rebels have since ma a series of dvances the islamist rebels have since ma a series of russian following a series of russian air strikes. the escalation comes as syrian forces withdrew their troops from the city. that retreat in response to a surprise offensive launched by

bob syrian army positions. often we are at live in a level, so we'd have a we can in the syrian army during this year. they were engaged in north b is riley regimes. prime minister netanyahu said that we carried out the ceasefire because we needed to deal with the ernie and threat that was one of the key issues that the rates and then right after the cease fire, there's really regime found all of the crossing points between 7 on in syria so that testable, the troops could not go back into syria after the cease fire rapidly. and then immediately we saw the these extreme is began major offensive with new weapons. and there was a bit squeak operation that was well planned before. if syria falls into the hands of ices and now kind of then has of all of that would be effectively surround it with a form of virginia states. uh, service in black hood zillow, soon on for his internet voted 2017. he told us that washington is now supporting the same time as groups, but previously fought against the us as well. what are there in 2018 uh, the syrian era of army, with the assistance of a russia a

outside of the hottest field for also capture, the syrian army officer says the ships won't rest until the whole country is free of the militants. as easily thought, the defense points of being reinforced in the northern country side of hama, to support and assist the advancing forces with the equipment and fight to those men. of the syrian army would not stop its authoration and city until the last inch about territory is free to you know, my appointment, and make sure that you know of an entrance to the city of how much funds and continues in several directions around the staging questions that taking place between the syrian only interest groups, these groups are trying to enter the city of em. but as we can see mand zayn. now aberdeen is still under the control of the syrian military for certain tibbetts. he is also noticing, at the moment the striking mount cap front of a terrace organizations trying to strengthen their positions, serial and brushing aircraft to deliberately attacking the positions of these grades, and thereby preventing their attempts to gain a foothold in. the 2

a has to shall be a, aren't groups have been transferred from iraq, ed to syria, to assist the syrian army corps. the on the ground. and the serial position led by had to harass some controls, the whole of the government, which has been striked by the russians and the syrian mil. it's free for the last 2 or 3 days, including the civilian areas and hospitals as well. i left for his major to controlled by the serial position at tire faults is controlled by the syrian o position factions that are, that are aligned with the syrian national arm, a formula that we know as a free syrian army. and in hallmark, the serial position has moved towards the north and hallmark countryside from south of lebanon. they have been pushing for going inside. i'm a for the last 3 days, but they are stuck for now because the steering army is very strong and there and we heard the syrian se televisions, uh saying that the steering army is reinforcing is the fence lines in hama, countryside. the clashes between the off position and the steering army has been intensified in these areas. whether they will be the phys