Sebastian Usher

And Ahmad al-Sharif, a de facto leader, the man who's headed HTS, the one-time jihadist group that he is certainly in public made much more moderate, was once again in the last two or three days giving signals, and I say these are signals rather than actions at the moment, that his rhetoric

And Ahmad al-Sharif, a de facto leader, the man who's headed HTS, the one-time jihadist group that he is certainly in public made much more moderate, was once again in the last two or three days giving signals, and I say these are signals rather than actions at the moment, that his rhetoric

that he wants to see a Syria that's once again united, one in which all communities feel they have a stake, that was backed up by these meetings. So he met high-level Christian clergy and gave them assurances.

that he wants to see a Syria that's once again united, one in which all communities feel they have a stake, that was backed up by these meetings. So he met high-level Christian clergy and gave them assurances.

that although he has an Islamist background, although the majority of the rebel factions, as they were then, that came in to Damascus and took over, had that ideology, that it's not going to necessarily be overpowering. They're going to allow people to continue to live in the way that they are accustomed to and that their own culture leads them to.

that although he has an Islamist background, although the majority of the rebel factions, as they were then, that came in to Damascus and took over, had that ideology, that it's not going to necessarily be overpowering. They're going to allow people to continue to live in the way that they are accustomed to and that their own culture leads them to.

And then the Kurds, which I think is the most imminent pressing problem, perhaps... who control much of the Northeast, who are backed by the U.S., who were absolutely vital in the defeat of ISIS territorially years ago. We've heard a slightly more confrontational aspect of things to do with them. The SDF, the

And then the Kurds, which I think is the most imminent pressing problem, perhaps... who control much of the Northeast, who are backed by the U.S., who were absolutely vital in the defeat of ISIS territorially years ago. We've heard a slightly more confrontational aspect of things to do with them. The SDF, the

Kurdish-led forces, which are now, I think, virtually all Kurds who control that area, are seen by Turkey, which has given absolutely crucial backing to HDS, Apen Arshara's group, as a terrorist offshoot of the PKK, the Kurdish separative movement in Turkey.

Kurdish-led forces, which are now, I think, virtually all Kurds who control that area, are seen by Turkey, which has given absolutely crucial backing to HDS, Apen Arshara's group, as a terrorist offshoot of the PKK, the Kurdish separative movement in Turkey.

And Ankara has for a long time mounted incursions, mounted attacks on them and has made clear that it wants them to no longer be an active armed faction. So Ahmed al-Shara had his first meeting again a day ago with representatives of the SDF and it was reported as being positive. But who knows where that will go? I think if there's going to be... Quite a big confrontation.

And Ankara has for a long time mounted incursions, mounted attacks on them and has made clear that it wants them to no longer be an active armed faction. So Ahmed al-Shara had his first meeting again a day ago with representatives of the SDF and it was reported as being positive. But who knows where that will go? I think if there's going to be... Quite a big confrontation.

That's one that we might see sooner rather than later.

That's one that we might see sooner rather than later.

Well, there have been a couple of videos now which show lines of men walking among armed Syrian fighters, presumably from HTS. This is, we believe, at the Al Arida border crossing between the two countries. It's a really desolate area. windswept, rainy.

Well, there have been a couple of videos now which show lines of men walking among armed Syrian fighters, presumably from HTS. This is, we believe, at the Al Arida border crossing between the two countries. It's a really desolate area. windswept, rainy.

And what we have heard from a variety of sources is that they are members of President Assad's forces, officers and soldiers, and maybe also some members of their family. And the reports that we have had, again, this hasn't all been officially confirmed, but from various security officials, that they were found during an inspection of a truck in in Jebel, which is a town in the north of Lebanon.

And what we have heard from a variety of sources is that they are members of President Assad's forces, officers and soldiers, and maybe also some members of their family. And the reports that we have had, again, this hasn't all been officially confirmed, but from various security officials, that they were found during an inspection of a truck in in Jebel, which is a town in the north of Lebanon.

And they are among a pretty sizable number of Syrians connected to the Assad regime who've crossed the border into Lebanon. They've also been people who've crossed into Iraq. And it's the first cooperation between the Lebanese security

And they are among a pretty sizable number of Syrians connected to the Assad regime who've crossed the border into Lebanon. They've also been people who've crossed into Iraq. And it's the first cooperation between the Lebanese security