President Assad

I was thinking no water, perhaps no electricity, hope they'll be all right.
A friend used to distribute handknitted blankets to refugees in Turkey; she found some huddled in doorways with babies and small children.

What a perfect word to describe it.

Families with children are crossing from the Turkish refugee camps. I suppose it depends on what you are going back to specifically - and what as a refugee you've had to endure.

Hiraeth.

At the moment Syria is not a place I would want to return to if I had small children. It would not be fair.

M61: you are completely wrong:

Refugees are coming back, often families, from Turkey, already. And so many more want to come back, but there are things to be sorted first

Here is a video of them from today, and they talk of living under Assad, and their hopes in coming home

www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=refugees+in+turkey+retrun+to+syria&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:ad5dde1c,vid:pDEoKRVVn5A,st:0

However, this helpful BBC article says the difficulties they face and why some won't be coming back until matters are more resolved

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg6eeg87lqo

""There is still no water in many regions in Syria, electricity comes at certain times of the day. It is not even clear who will govern the country and how, but we need to return to get Syria back on its feet," says Ibrahim, a chemical engineer"

OTOH

"that there are big questions over infrastructure – a lack of schools, jobs and hospitals.
The United Nations estimates that 90% of the population inside Syria is now living below the poverty line.
"It may take hundreds of billions of dollars to rebuild these devastated cities. Which country will provide the resources?" Mr Erdogan says. "The deep poverty and the collapse of infrastructure in Syria are likely to continue for a long time. These are not problems that will be easily fixed in the short term."
Metin Corabatir warns also of the risk of unexploded bombs and mines when refugees head home: "They also need to find out in advance what condition their homes are in the destroyed cities."

Can't you understand a genuine longing to "go home"?

Millions of Syrians are displaced and living in camps.

I can't speak for them, of course, but I am sure many will want to return to rebuild their country.
There are tensions in Turkey, for example, where millions of Syrian refugees live in camps.
The rebuilding programme will be enormous.

Mt61

Allira 100% guarantee they won’t return back to Syria, I absolutely don’t blame them as I wouldn’t want to go back to a worn torn country!

How odd that you feel qualified to speak on behalf of thousands and thousands of people you don't know.

Allira 100% guarantee they won’t return back to Syria, I absolutely don’t blame them as I wouldn’t want to go back to a worn torn country!

David49

MaizieD

I know very little about the war in Syria.

In which case, why are you bothering to post on this thread?

I don’t think any of us know much about Syria but we are hopeful for peace in the future.
If it descends into the anarchy that Iran wants thousands more will die as martyrs.

I don’t think any of us know much about Syria but we are hopeful for peace in the future.

Syria was on the news daily until other world events took over so I think most of us know something, if not of the later of the horrific happenings until the past couple of weeks.

The problem with many news outlets is that one topic tends to dominate at the expense of others which are, in fact, ongoing.

The world expresses shock and horror then tends to forget, sadly.

MaizieD

^I know very little about the war in Syria.^

In which case, why are you bothering to post on this thread?

I don’t think any of us know much about Syria but we are hopeful for peace in the future.
If it descends into the anarchy that Iran wants thousands more will die as martyrs.

Trump isnt isolationist when it comes to deals with Saudi Arabia (drill baby drill), it's disingenuous to say no interests in the region. Thothese seem to be more about golf and Trumps own financial interests

www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-saudi-arabia-hotels-b2661211.html

foxie48

In the UK it is not allowed for the govt to meet officially with a proscribed terrorist group so either the govt will have to delist HTS, meet them unofficially (which is what they did in NI) or talk to them by proxy. I'm sure we will want to be talking to them, if we aren't already, There will be few countries that will relish instability in Syria, the UK certainly won't and I'm relieved the US is talking to them, goodness knows what Trump's take on it will be!

We do need to talk to them alongside their Prime Minister. It may be alongside other governments? The value of a more moderate regime in the region so valuable.

As regards Trump, he's made a "no feet on the ground" policy statements in general - this article in the NYT poses the question about what he could do (ie carry on supporting a moderate approach)

www.nytimes.com/2024/12/13/opinion/syria-iran-donald-trump.html

I know very little about the war in Syria.

In which case, why are you bothering to post on this thread?

If the US support a moderate Syria in the way they do Egypt and Jordan it would be a big step forward in peace for the region

Mt61

mum2three

Presumably all the Syrian refugees will now be heading home. They will need our help to get re-settled and there will be a massive re-building programme.
This may well cause conflict between other countries who wish to take advantage of the situation.

I bet they don’t go back

The alternative might be spending your life in a refugee camp.

In the UK it is not allowed for the govt to meet officially with a proscribed terrorist group so either the govt will have to delist HTS, meet them unofficially (which is what they did in NI) or talk to them by proxy. I'm sure we will want to be talking to them, if we aren't already, There will be few countries that will relish instability in Syria, the UK certainly won't and I'm relieved the US is talking to them, goodness knows what Trump's take on it will be!

(sorry foxie wrong name!)

I hope that works out Maisie

Yes its significant David is that they are talking directly to HTS, I'm not clear what they mean by practical support unless I'm missing something.

edition.cnn.com/2024/12/14/politics/antony-blinken-jordan-syria/index.html

There have been meetings in Jordan by Arab and Western countries all aimed at a peaceful transition process.

I was sad to see reports that Israel has launched more than 60 airstrikes in the last 12 hours I dont feel it helps. (CNN)

There is an interesting article in the Sunday Times unfortunately it's behind a paywall but in essence, a Canadian with the help of a team of Syrians have been collecting evidence and smuggling it out of Syria. This has been going on for 13 years and they have amassed lots of documented evidence which hopefully will lead to Assad being convicted of the war crimes that he's committed against his people. There's also evidence identifying his henchmen who led the atrocities and were key players in his regime. It's thought Putin will kick him out of Russia at some point so hopefully he will stand trial eventually.

I know very little about the war in Syria. It’s Christmas and I don’t think it’s the best use of my time to worry about events over which I have no control. I don’t see that anyone else is particularly well informed either petra. I shall be on the lookout for those in need nearby. I am thinking Oodies or similar make good Xmas presents for the vulnerable friends we might value.

ronib

I am interested in how news is spread and one news outlet will publish 617000 Syrians murdered since 2011. Videos on YouTube are also being uploaded with the Xmas message that Starmer and Reeves are going to cause the deaths of 4000 elderly people this winter.
Do we believe everything we read or view? Or nothing at all?

Allira
I didn’t spot that 🤦🏼‍♀️

ronib
All becomes clear now. YouTube is go to for information
From now on I will read your opinions with a different outlook as I do when listening to my know it all 18yr old grandson.
I take ignorance and lack of knowledge into consideration.

ronib

I am interested in how news is spread and one news outlet will publish 617000 Syrians murdered since 2011. Videos on YouTube are also being uploaded with the Xmas message that Starmer and Reeves are going to cause the deaths of 4000 elderly people this winter.
Do we believe everything we read or view? Or nothing at all?

The deaths in Syria have already happened and are verifiable.In some cases we have 'seen' them happening over the years.

The '4000 pensioner deaths' haven't happened and may never do so.

🤔

Today it’s reported that the US has made official contact with the new regime in Syria, presumably to offer aid to help rebuild the country before Russia or China get in.
I hope they are successful because that will reduce terrorism in the region but nothing is guaranteed and they might reject any outside help.

I am interested in how news is spread and one news outlet will publish 617000 Syrians murdered since 2011. Videos on YouTube are also being uploaded with the Xmas message that Starmer and Reeves are going to cause the deaths of 4000 elderly people this winter.
Do we believe everything we read or view? Or nothing at all?

Depends on how the new regime develops.

mum2three

Presumably all the Syrian refugees will now be heading home. They will need our help to get re-settled and there will be a massive re-building programme.
This may well cause conflict between other countries who wish to take advantage of the situation.

I bet they don’t go back