Sebastian Usher

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.

Hakan Fidan is the first foreign minister to go to Damascus since the toppling of Bashar al-Assad and the taking of power, essentially, for now at least, by Ahmad al-Shara and his HTS group. Now, what he was saying is, in one sense, a continuation of his efforts...

Hakan Fidan is the first foreign minister to go to Damascus since the toppling of Bashar al-Assad and the taking of power, essentially, for now at least, by Ahmad al-Shara and his HTS group. Now, what he was saying is, in one sense, a continuation of his efforts...

to portray himself as a pragmatist, as a moderate, as a man who wants the future of Syria to be very different from its past, to see a unified Syria after the years of conflict and division. And, of course, that is something to be expected and something that would be welcomed by the rest of the world. And it is a very difficult situation. I mean, there are a number of military groups involved.

to portray himself as a pragmatist, as a moderate, as a man who wants the future of Syria to be very different from its past, to see a unified Syria after the years of conflict and division. And, of course, that is something to be expected and something that would be welcomed by the rest of the world. And it is a very difficult situation. I mean, there are a number of military groups involved.

that are operative in Syria. They include HTS and other similar factions, factions down in the south, which also rose with HTS in the toppling of Bashar al-Assad. ISIS is still operative to an extent. And most importantly, I think perhaps, Is the SDF for Kurdish-led forces over in the northeast?

that are operative in Syria. They include HTS and other similar factions, factions down in the south, which also rose with HTS in the toppling of Bashar al-Assad. ISIS is still operative to an extent. And most importantly, I think perhaps, Is the SDF for Kurdish-led forces over in the northeast?

Now, that's where it gets complicated, because essentially, as we're saying, Turkey was perhaps the key backer of HTS and Ahmad al-Shara, and it sees the SDF as simply an offshoot of the Kurdish separatists in Turkey and regards them as a terror group and has actually mounted several invasions into the north of Syria over the past years. to push them back.

Now, that's where it gets complicated, because essentially, as we're saying, Turkey was perhaps the key backer of HTS and Ahmad al-Shara, and it sees the SDF as simply an offshoot of the Kurdish separatists in Turkey and regards them as a terror group and has actually mounted several invasions into the north of Syria over the past years. to push them back.

So it's interesting that Ahmad al-Shara in this meeting with the Turkish foreign minister should make such a priority of the SDF and that they should give up their weapons. Obviously, if Syria is to be united, that is going to have to happen.

So it's interesting that Ahmad al-Shara in this meeting with the Turkish foreign minister should make such a priority of the SDF and that they should give up their weapons. Obviously, if Syria is to be united, that is going to have to happen.