Carlotta Gall

You've got Iran, of course, hurting and pushed out, but already saying it wants a role in Syria in the future. And then you've got Israel actually taking action. Just this morning, we learned that they've moved in troops and taken control of a buffer zone on its border with Syria. And then Russia is also saying it still wants a role, although...

You've got Iran, of course, hurting and pushed out, but already saying it wants a role in Syria in the future. And then you've got Israel actually taking action. Just this morning, we learned that they've moved in troops and taken control of a buffer zone on its border with Syria. And then Russia is also saying it still wants a role, although...

that remains to be seen if the jihadis would accept that. And then, of course, the United States, which has 900 troops still in Syria, and has made some strikes just to remind opponents not to come and attack them. So it's a huge, as we mentioned before, a huge cauldron of geopolitical rivalries, and that's going to be Something to try and work out and decipher in the coming days and weeks.

that remains to be seen if the jihadis would accept that. And then, of course, the United States, which has 900 troops still in Syria, and has made some strikes just to remind opponents not to come and attack them. So it's a huge, as we mentioned before, a huge cauldron of geopolitical rivalries, and that's going to be Something to try and work out and decipher in the coming days and weeks.

It's like all of the cards have just been thrown up into the air. I think you're right, yeah. And that's also, for the Arab world, this was so interesting and important because they were steadily moving towards acceptance of Assad staying in power. And now that's been completely turned upside down.

It's like all of the cards have just been thrown up into the air. I think you're right, yeah. And that's also, for the Arab world, this was so interesting and important because they were steadily moving towards acceptance of Assad staying in power. And now that's been completely turned upside down.

Yeah, absolutely. I mean, for me, and for a lot of the Syrians I've been talking to in the last week and a half, it's the sense of liberation, the relief, the excitement. And the most compelling has been the release of people from prisons all over the country. There have been extraordinary scenes of people staggering out, and some of them barely able to walk, but so happy.

Yeah, absolutely. I mean, for me, and for a lot of the Syrians I've been talking to in the last week and a half, it's the sense of liberation, the relief, the excitement. And the most compelling has been the release of people from prisons all over the country. There have been extraordinary scenes of people staggering out, and some of them barely able to walk, but so happy.

And some of them have been in prison for more than a decade. including children who've been imprisoned with their mothers. So that's a huge release for the entire country. And that's why they're all celebrating on the streets at the moment. But of course, the Syrians are saying this is a great relief lifted, but we're also very fearful.

And some of them have been in prison for more than a decade. including children who've been imprisoned with their mothers. So that's a huge release for the entire country. And that's why they're all celebrating on the streets at the moment. But of course, the Syrians are saying this is a great relief lifted, but we're also very fearful.

I think for Syrians, you know, we've had 400,000 people die in this 13-year civil war. 14 million people left the country as refugees abroad. And the fear, of course, is everyone that it's going to go back to that or more or different ethnic groups, God forbid, start fighting each other, you know, whether it's for power in a city or in a whole region or over oil fields or wealth.

I think for Syrians, you know, we've had 400,000 people die in this 13-year civil war. 14 million people left the country as refugees abroad. And the fear, of course, is everyone that it's going to go back to that or more or different ethnic groups, God forbid, start fighting each other, you know, whether it's for power in a city or in a whole region or over oil fields or wealth.

So that's what the Syrians fear. They're telling me we're celebrating today, but just for one day. Then we're very worried, you know. So we have to see what goes forward. We don't know what's going to come next. Carlotta, thank you. Thank you.

So that's what the Syrians fear. They're telling me we're celebrating today, but just for one day. Then we're very worried, you know. So we have to see what goes forward. We don't know what's going to come next. Carlotta, thank you. Thank you.