Sebastian Usher

But the real challenge that lies ahead for the Lebanese army is when it makes a full deployment, particularly down in the south.

But the real challenge that lies ahead for the Lebanese army is when it makes a full deployment, particularly down in the south.

I mean, this was only just over three weeks ago that the ceasefire happened. It was greeted, I think, far more jubilantly here in Lebanon than it was in Israel. There was great joy in the first days and people rushed down there. to the southern villages and towns that they'd had to leave.

I mean, this was only just over three weeks ago that the ceasefire happened. It was greeted, I think, far more jubilantly here in Lebanon than it was in Israel. There was great joy in the first days and people rushed down there. to the southern villages and towns that they'd had to leave.

But I think what I find with lots of people here is a sense almost of unreality, that they can't believe that this can hold, that things can move in a positive direction, a sense that something is simmering, something unnamed is under the surface that may suddenly explode in everyone's faces.

But I think what I find with lots of people here is a sense almost of unreality, that they can't believe that this can hold, that things can move in a positive direction, a sense that something is simmering, something unnamed is under the surface that may suddenly explode in everyone's faces.

People here are wondering what Hezbollah might do next within the context of a country where politically things might move. People, I think they're enjoying the sense at the moment that, you know, the fighting has stopped, the risk to life, etc., has stopped. People have been coming back. I mean, all the flights, it was almost impossible. to find a flight, to come to Lebanon.

People here are wondering what Hezbollah might do next within the context of a country where politically things might move. People, I think they're enjoying the sense at the moment that, you know, the fighting has stopped, the risk to life, etc., has stopped. People have been coming back. I mean, all the flights, it was almost impossible. to find a flight, to come to Lebanon.

And it's given them a great sense of humour about the way things go and also a sense of not ever taking anything for what it looks like on the surface.

And it's given them a great sense of humour about the way things go and also a sense of not ever taking anything for what it looks like on the surface.

I accept today's result with a heavy heart.

I accept today's result with a heavy heart.

The one other kind of interesting thing that he said there was that the U.S. has been in touch with HTS now, the main rebel group, direct contact, he said. Now, that's interesting because the U.S., as several other countries, still designates it as a terrorist organization. But he also said...

The one other kind of interesting thing that he said there was that the U.S. has been in touch with HTS now, the main rebel group, direct contact, he said. Now, that's interesting because the U.S., as several other countries, still designates it as a terrorist organization. But he also said...

that the US had set out its principles, the ones we're talking about, the ones they talked about again today in Jordan to HTS, to say, you know, this is what we believe is the way forward. Powers both inside Syria and outside are trying as hard as they can to ensure that there is a smoother transition of power as possible. I mean, this is going to be difficult.

that the US had set out its principles, the ones we're talking about, the ones they talked about again today in Jordan to HTS, to say, you know, this is what we believe is the way forward. Powers both inside Syria and outside are trying as hard as they can to ensure that there is a smoother transition of power as possible. I mean, this is going to be difficult.

And so the word that they were saying, I mean, I think the key word is chaos. And they talked about that, that they don't want Syria to slip into chaos, understandably. And that we were hearing from some of the foreign ministers that they believe that that means that remnants of the Assad regime officials need to take part in the government.

And so the word that they were saying, I mean, I think the key word is chaos. And they talked about that, that they don't want Syria to slip into chaos, understandably. And that we were hearing from some of the foreign ministers that they believe that that means that remnants of the Assad regime officials need to take part in the government.

It can't just be stripped away as we saw in Iraq, as I guess we saw in Libya. I mean, the Iraqi foreign minister mentioned Libya, said we do not want to see another Libya in the region. So I think that's a huge concern. There were eight Arab countries there, including Saudi Arabia, including the UAE.

It can't just be stripped away as we saw in Iraq, as I guess we saw in Libya. I mean, the Iraqi foreign minister mentioned Libya, said we do not want to see another Libya in the region. So I think that's a huge concern. There were eight Arab countries there, including Saudi Arabia, including the UAE.