Piers Hadil El-Shalchi

And in the evening, he issued a video distancing himself from his comments to NPR. He said, I did not touch on the topic of peace with Israel and it's not my right to do so. And yesterday evening in an interview with an Arabic TV news channel, HTS leader Shara didn't address Israel directly, but said he didn't want Syria to become a source of political or regional unrest.

And in the evening, he issued a video distancing himself from his comments to NPR. He said, I did not touch on the topic of peace with Israel and it's not my right to do so. And yesterday evening in an interview with an Arabic TV news channel, HTS leader Shara didn't address Israel directly, but said he didn't want Syria to become a source of political or regional unrest.

NPR's Hadil El-Shalchi in Damascus. Thank you. You're welcome.

NPR's Hadil El-Shalchi in Damascus. Thank you. You're welcome.

NPR's Hadil El-Shalchi in Damascus. Thank you. You're welcome.

They seem to be moving so fast. They really are. I mean, it's been a week of violent fighting between the rebel forces. and pro-government factions which are backed by Russia and Iran. Army troops withdrew yesterday from the fringes of the city of Hama and the opposition forces were seen celebrating in the city center.

They seem to be moving so fast. They really are. I mean, it's been a week of violent fighting between the rebel forces. and pro-government factions which are backed by Russia and Iran. Army troops withdrew yesterday from the fringes of the city of Hama and the opposition forces were seen celebrating in the city center.

They seem to be moving so fast. They really are. I mean, it's been a week of violent fighting between the rebel forces. and pro-government factions which are backed by Russia and Iran. Army troops withdrew yesterday from the fringes of the city of Hama and the opposition forces were seen celebrating in the city center.

We do know that Syrian groups have said that more than 100 civilians have been killed in the fighting.

We do know that Syrian groups have said that more than 100 civilians have been killed in the fighting.

We do know that Syrian groups have said that more than 100 civilians have been killed in the fighting.

Hama has been a notorious city since President Bashar al-Assad's father, Hafez al-Assad, ruled the country. In 1982, government security forces massacred thousands of people in an uprising led by the Muslim Brotherhood at the time. Last night, a video online showed people toppling over a statue of Hafez al-Assad. We couldn't verify the video independently. Hama has regional significance.

Hama has been a notorious city since President Bashar al-Assad's father, Hafez al-Assad, ruled the country. In 1982, government security forces massacred thousands of people in an uprising led by the Muslim Brotherhood at the time. Last night, a video online showed people toppling over a statue of Hafez al-Assad. We couldn't verify the video independently. Hama has regional significance.

Hama has been a notorious city since President Bashar al-Assad's father, Hafez al-Assad, ruled the country. In 1982, government security forces massacred thousands of people in an uprising led by the Muslim Brotherhood at the time. Last night, a video online showed people toppling over a statue of Hafez al-Assad. We couldn't verify the video independently. Hama has regional significance.

The city is a main supply route that Iran uses to move weapons to its Lebanese ally, Hezbollah, who's fighting a war with Israel right now. The Israeli military said that it conducted strikes on what they are calling weapons smuggling routes used by Hezbollah at the Syrian-Lebanese border last night. Hadev, remind us, who is leading this offensive? Right.

The city is a main supply route that Iran uses to move weapons to its Lebanese ally, Hezbollah, who's fighting a war with Israel right now. The Israeli military said that it conducted strikes on what they are calling weapons smuggling routes used by Hezbollah at the Syrian-Lebanese border last night. Hadev, remind us, who is leading this offensive? Right.

The city is a main supply route that Iran uses to move weapons to its Lebanese ally, Hezbollah, who's fighting a war with Israel right now. The Israeli military said that it conducted strikes on what they are calling weapons smuggling routes used by Hezbollah at the Syrian-Lebanese border last night. Hadev, remind us, who is leading this offensive? Right.

So the main group is called Hayat al-Tahrir al-Sham. It's also known as HTS. HTS used to be affiliated with al-Qaeda, but broke off years ago. But the U.S. and other Western countries still designated a terrorist group. So, Mishal, for years, they've sort of moved away from a jihadist ideology.

So the main group is called Hayat al-Tahrir al-Sham. It's also known as HTS. HTS used to be affiliated with al-Qaeda, but broke off years ago. But the U.S. and other Western countries still designated a terrorist group. So, Mishal, for years, they've sort of moved away from a jihadist ideology.

So the main group is called Hayat al-Tahrir al-Sham. It's also known as HTS. HTS used to be affiliated with al-Qaeda, but broke off years ago. But the U.S. and other Western countries still designated a terrorist group. So, Mishal, for years, they've sort of moved away from a jihadist ideology.