Carlotta Gall

And then the second war is obviously Israel's fight, first in Gaza, but then in Lebanon against Israel. Hezbollah and the attacks that Israel has meted out on Iran in Syria. They've done a large number of airstrikes on Iranian elements, but also particularly Hezbollah, who had been the foot soldiers for Iran to help Assad's Syrian army.

And then the second war is obviously Israel's fight, first in Gaza, but then in Lebanon against Israel. Hezbollah and the attacks that Israel has meted out on Iran in Syria. They've done a large number of airstrikes on Iranian elements, but also particularly Hezbollah, who had been the foot soldiers for Iran to help Assad's Syrian army.

They were really hit hard in the recent months, and that was very debilitating for the Iranian effort to shore up Assad. And so the moment those things were happening, the Syrian rebels were obviously watching and noticing. They could see that the resistance was weak, that Russia and Iran were distracted and struggling, in fact, in both their wars. And that's when they pounced.

They were really hit hard in the recent months, and that was very debilitating for the Iranian effort to shore up Assad. And so the moment those things were happening, the Syrian rebels were obviously watching and noticing. They could see that the resistance was weak, that Russia and Iran were distracted and struggling, in fact, in both their wars. And that's when they pounced.

So who are these rebel forces who just toppled Assad? Tell me about them. So they're a hodgepodge of lots of different groups. But the main mover and the main group behind this offensive is Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, it's called, HTS for short in the West. Its name means the Organization for the Liberation of Syria or of the Levant. It's a very Islamic organization.

So who are these rebel forces who just toppled Assad? Tell me about them. So they're a hodgepodge of lots of different groups. But the main mover and the main group behind this offensive is Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, it's called, HTS for short in the West. Its name means the Organization for the Liberation of Syria or of the Levant. It's a very Islamic organization.

Very strict, actually, organization. Comes from the jihadi tradition. And it's designated by many countries in the West and the United States as a terror group. And who leads it? Who's in charge? It's led by a Saudi-born Syrian. He's in his 40s. He's called Abu Mohammed al-Jolani. That's his nom de guerre, his chosen name for the war. He lived in Saudi, then he grew up in his teens in Syria.

Very strict, actually, organization. Comes from the jihadi tradition. And it's designated by many countries in the West and the United States as a terror group. And who leads it? Who's in charge? It's led by a Saudi-born Syrian. He's in his 40s. He's called Abu Mohammed al-Jolani. That's his nom de guerre, his chosen name for the war. He lived in Saudi, then he grew up in his teens in Syria.

He was a student when he then left to join the fight against America in Iraq. Oh, wow. And he joined al-Qaeda. And then he got arrested by the US forces in Iraq. And he spent several years in Buka Jail, which is a famous prison camp where a lot of

He was a student when he then left to join the fight against America in Iraq. Oh, wow. And he joined al-Qaeda. And then he got arrested by the US forces in Iraq. And he spent several years in Buka Jail, which is a famous prison camp where a lot of

The al-Qaeda and Islamist militias were detained and kept, and of course it became a great meeting place for them all because they were all in there together for many years. So that is his history.

The al-Qaeda and Islamist militias were detained and kept, and of course it became a great meeting place for them all because they were all in there together for many years. So that is his history.

What we know is that he eventually returned to Syria and he set up an al-Qaeda affiliated group at the beginning of the civil war. And then he was among the groups that were gradually pushed back as the Russians and the Iranians helped the Assad government take control. The rebels were pushed back into the northwestern corner of Syria in Idlib province. And that's where he ended up in 2016.

What we know is that he eventually returned to Syria and he set up an al-Qaeda affiliated group at the beginning of the civil war. And then he was among the groups that were gradually pushed back as the Russians and the Iranians helped the Assad government take control. The rebels were pushed back into the northwestern corner of Syria in Idlib province. And that's where he ended up in 2016.

And then there's something really interesting happened. They're down and out. They're under bombardment. They've really got their backs to the wall. And he, as a leader of his group, he starts reforming. He changes the name of his group. And then gradually he breaks from al-Qaeda. And he turns himself into a Syrian nationalist leader.

And then there's something really interesting happened. They're down and out. They're under bombardment. They've really got their backs to the wall. And he, as a leader of his group, he starts reforming. He changes the name of his group. And then gradually he breaks from al-Qaeda. And he turns himself into a Syrian nationalist leader.

And it's been a steady thing since then, over the last eight years. And we're all watching to see, is it a big PR push or is it really serious?

And it's been a steady thing since then, over the last eight years. And we're all watching to see, is it a big PR push or is it really serious?

Well, I think it is interesting. In Syria, I think, you know, I've followed jihadi groups all over the world, and a lot of them, they talk tough talk for several reasons, to look strong and to look aggressive, but also because they think it ticks some boxes where they can get support and financing and so on. And I think the Syrian groups were just the same.

Well, I think it is interesting. In Syria, I think, you know, I've followed jihadi groups all over the world, and a lot of them, they talk tough talk for several reasons, to look strong and to look aggressive, but also because they think it ticks some boxes where they can get support and financing and so on. And I think the Syrian groups were just the same.