Sebastian Usher

And whether it was self-serving or not, that was what President Assad had said for years and years. He was acting as a bulwark against, and I'm sure that many Alawites believe that. And we have had reports of attacks on Alawites in Damascus and elsewhere. We had big protests in Homs. There was a curfew that was put in place there. Again, that is seen specifically here.

And whether it was self-serving or not, that was what President Assad had said for years and years. He was acting as a bulwark against, and I'm sure that many Alawites believe that. And we have had reports of attacks on Alawites in Damascus and elsewhere. We had big protests in Homs. There was a curfew that was put in place there. Again, that is seen specifically here.

to be in relation to the Alawites and their concerns and their fears and potentially their anger and the violence that might come out on the streets.

to be in relation to the Alawites and their concerns and their fears and potentially their anger and the violence that might come out on the streets.

We have, yeah, and we've had a variety of officials from Lebanon, for example, becoming the veteran. Drew's leader, Wali Jumblat, was in Damascus just a few days ago. And, you know, the signals are we want a different relationship. This is from a new leadership in Syria. We want a relationship where we are not at odds, where we're not in conflict.

We have, yeah, and we've had a variety of officials from Lebanon, for example, becoming the veteran. Drew's leader, Wali Jumblat, was in Damascus just a few days ago. And, you know, the signals are we want a different relationship. This is from a new leadership in Syria. We want a relationship where we are not at odds, where we're not in conflict.

As far as Lebanon is concerned, what I'm hearing from a lot of people here is,

As far as Lebanon is concerned, what I'm hearing from a lot of people here is,

The events, both of the fall of President Assad, but also what's happened with Hezbollah, all of these things kind of coming to a climax in the past few weeks of sort of a recognition amongst many people, much more openly expressed than it had been, that they feel that it's Syria that was at the root of so many of their problems. Yes, Israel launched these attacks.

The events, both of the fall of President Assad, but also what's happened with Hezbollah, all of these things kind of coming to a climax in the past few weeks of sort of a recognition amongst many people, much more openly expressed than it had been, that they feel that it's Syria that was at the root of so many of their problems. Yes, Israel launched these attacks.

Yes, Israel has done that in the past. But I've heard from many people from different countries, groups, different, I mean, not factions, but different communities saying that it was Syria that did far worse to Lebanon as a country over the years in its influence than anyone else.

Yes, Israel has done that in the past. But I've heard from many people from different countries, groups, different, I mean, not factions, but different communities saying that it was Syria that did far worse to Lebanon as a country over the years in its influence than anyone else.

So there's an appetite certainly here for a complete realignment and for Syria under its new leadership not to get involved, not to interfere in Lebanese internal politics, which it did for many, many years.

So there's an appetite certainly here for a complete realignment and for Syria under its new leadership not to get involved, not to interfere in Lebanese internal politics, which it did for many, many years.

I'm 52. It's a kind of a nostalgia, right?

I'm 52. It's a kind of a nostalgia, right?

Ahmed Alshara has promised to unite Syria after years of war and division, insisting that Syrians themselves must come together to work for a better future without foreign interference. That was how he framed his call for the state to take over all military operations. but he was speaking to the foreign minister of Turkey, which has given him vital support.

Ahmed Alshara has promised to unite Syria after years of war and division, insisting that Syrians themselves must come together to work for a better future without foreign interference. That was how he framed his call for the state to take over all military operations. but he was speaking to the foreign minister of Turkey, which has given him vital support.

Ankara sees the Syrian Kurds as a terrorist group and wants to prioritise the dismantling of their armed forces. If Mr. Al-Sharaf follows the Turkish lead, it may result in new conflict.

Ankara sees the Syrian Kurds as a terrorist group and wants to prioritise the dismantling of their armed forces. If Mr. Al-Sharaf follows the Turkish lead, it may result in new conflict.