President Assad

Israel is a belligerent apartheid nation that has murdered 40000+ of its occupied residents. Syria should be allowed a right of self defence as per UN charter for a state, however the new govt must try to ensure innocent civilians and residential places (hospitals , schools, mosques, synagogues and churches anywhere including Israelis, Iranians and Lebanese are not harmed. Hopefully Netanyahu will be tried and correctly proven to be guilty as charged. Once Netanyahu is removed and tried with the rest of the cabinet and generals can make there way to the Hague ICC

Israel are now attacking the Syrian navy. Why?

Cath9

Although I didn’t agree with the way Assad treated the Syrians I am concerned now that Syria may become like another Afghanistan

30,000 people may have died at Sednaya prison, near Damascus. Read the stories in this link of the vile tortures and execution of men women and children. www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=prison+in+syria.

Assad is the man who used chemical warfare against his own people. He used chlorine, sarin and mustard gas, indiscriminately.

Then say try saying merely ^ i didn't agree the way Assad treated the Syrians^ I think you may want to use stronger language.

MayBee70

Israel are now attacking the Syrian navy. Why?

IMO Israel has gone well beyond defensive measures now, its taken out the main military might of Assad and is attacking those who have suffered so much already.

All it will do is foster hatred - haven't the Syrian people suffered enough already. It didn't and doesnt have to go so far.

MayBee70

Israel are now attacking the Syrian navy. Why?

Netanyahu believes there’s a chance that all the weapons in the country could fall into the hands of Iran.
Personally I believe he just wants to batter anyone who is/ might be against him.
As Rod Stewart wrote:
Never wait or hesitate
Get in kid before it’s to late
You may never get another chance

Netanyahu is firing on Syria because it distracts attention from his appearance in court today on massive corruption charges.

I really don’t think so M0nica. It’s a bit of a stretch to assume that?

ronib

I really don’t think so M0nica. It’s a bit of a stretch to assume that?

You under estimate Netanyahu.

Everyone was ignoring Syria (except some of us) because of all the other horrors that have been happening but now we find out the true extent of Assad's wickedness against his own people.

Hope is pal Putin is next to flee! 🙏. Doubt transition will be peaceful. Middle East is a tinder keg and always will be, sadly! Too many factions all want power and control and ordinary people suffer...😢

Mojack26

Hope is pal Putin is next to flee! 🙏. Doubt transition will be peaceful. Middle East is a tinder keg and always will be, sadly! Too many factions all want power and control and ordinary people suffer...😢

I'm just concerned that Putin might want to re-install Assad.

However, his forces and ability to do so are very stretched at the moment.

The Syrians have suffered enough. Let them return and rebuild their country.

I think most of us did know what was happening in Syria, and understood why people were seeking asylum. I hope that there will be an internal solution.

Casdon

I think most of us did know what was happening in Syria, and understood why people were seeking asylum. I hope that there will be an internal solution.

I meant generally, news outlets etc except at first.

For Sama is being shown on Channel4 catchup. I haven’t watched it yet.

Allira

Everyone was ignoring Syria (except some of us) because of all the other horrors that have been happening but now we find out the true extent of Assad's wickedness against his own people.

Jingle used to highlight what was happening in Syria.

MayBee70

For Sama is being shown on Channel4 catchup. I haven’t watched it yet.

Please watch it, an academy award nominee and deservedly so.

Casdon

I think most of us did know what was happening in Syria, and understood why people were seeking asylum. I hope that there will be an internal solution.

i agree. the horrors of what has been found in the main prison near Damascus was well known. Although the horror of knowing what is happening and the shock of seeing the evidence, as we have over the lat few days cannot be compared.

Remember the first revolt against Assad was triggered by the arrest, torture, death and mutilation of a 13 year old boy.

This mornings reports centre around life in Damascus - shops re opening etc...the Prime Minister to stay in power in talks with HTS to try to re-establish governance - but very uncertain

"While many in the country are celebrating the downfall of a family dynasty that ruled Syria with an iron fist, the future is uncertain and the situation on the ground remains in flux, with a number of different rebel groups controlling different parts of the country."

Israel still hitting military targets - the future of the Russian bases on the west coast in question

- HTS has control of the oil rich area (lots of issues around this, as the US had interests there) to try and maintain income for economically on its knees Syria -

refugees returning from Turkey

more horror stories coming out about Assad -

all in BBC I player news feed. www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c8781yyqddrt

I recommend watching For Sama too , moving snd a worthy winner of its award.

Today people on the streets in several cities celebrating the end of the regime.

Israel has not advanced any further but given notice they will maintain current positions over winter.

"Elsewhere, diplomatic moves are gathering pace to stabilise the country. Members of the G7 nations, who will meet virtually today, say they're ready to support an inclusive and non-sectarian government"

Mohammad al-Bashir the interim prime minister was greeted in Damascus. HTS say they will prosecute Assad's key torturers.

Not a lot of news today as regards how the HTS and PM will work together with different factions, very much a case of hoping for the best.

More details and what people are saying on BBC I player feed

www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cn9g1rg0y7yt

MOnica:

"No, it cannot, I would never wish for the death of anyone."

Not even a wee fleeting thought?

PS MOnica, My question, above is serious, actually.

I am impressed by the depth of you knowledge and your moral principles. But I wonder how you or anyone can be so free from the reactive anger response.

"Syrian rebels seize vast haul of banned drug captagon, country’s largest export

Drug dwarfed all legal exports put together, with Assad’s brother widely believed to be power behind lucrative trade"

I had no idea this was going on. Deeply shocking!

www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/13/syrian-rebels-captagon-drug-haul-exports-fenethylline

"Captagon turned Syria into the world’s largest narco state. It became by far Syria’s biggest export, dwarfing all its legal exports put together, according to estimates drawn from official data by AFP during a 2022 investigation.

Experts – like the author of a July report from the Carnegie Middle East Center – also believe that Assad used the threat of drug-fuelled unrest to put pressure on Arab governments.

Captagon fuelled an epidemic of drug abuse in wealthy Gulf states, threatening social peace wrote Carnegie scholar Hesham Alghannam."

Caleo

MOnica:

"No, it cannot, I would never wish for the death of anyone."

Not even a wee fleeting thought?

No, I would never wish for the death if any one.

That does not mean that I cannot understand when people in anger turn on others. There was a compelling piece of reporting ysterday (i think) by a BBC reporter in Syria reporting a build up of a cheering crowd when a false report came through that one of the worst of the torturers in the main prison was going to be publicly executed. I could fully understand people feeling as they did, but it does not follow that I wish for his death.

Personally, I think that would be to easy a way out for him. I think someone like that should be imprisoned in conditions, which, if not what he inflicted on others, are unpleasant and uncomfortable for, say 20 years.

Willow3
How do you think he accumulated a property portfolio ( in Russia) worth over $2 billion.