logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2024
47m 31s

Syrian rebels bear down on Homs

Bbc World Service
About this episode

Rebel forces in Syria are bearing down on the city of Homs, a vital link between the capital, Damascus, and the Assad regime's coastal stronghold. We hear from a Christian priest in the coastal city of Latakia.

Also in the programme: Romania's top court annuls the results of the first round of the presidential election, after the surprise victory of an unknown far-right nationalist; and Notre Dame cathedral in Paris is reborn after a devastating fire five years ago.

(IMAGE: Opposition fighters pose for a selfie in front of a Syrian government building after they entered the city of Hama, Syria, 06 December 2024 / CREDIT: Bilal al Hammoud/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Up next
Yesterday
Ukraine marks 34 years of independence with defiant message
Ceremonies have been taking place today in Ukraine to mark 34 years since the country gained its independence from the Soviet Union. President Zelensky said that, three-and-a-half years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion, Ukraine would not settle for anything less than ... Show More
46m 20s
Aug 23
Ghislaine Maxwell denies seeing 'inappropriate' conduct by Trump
The US justice department has released transcripts of its recent interviews with Ghislaine Maxwell, the jailed associate of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In them, Maxwell denied the existence of any "client list" kept by Epstein. She also said she'd never seen President ... Show More
47m 12s
Aug 23
UNICEF fears famine will spread in Gaza
A day after a famine is confirmed in Gaza City, a spokesperson for the UN children's agency UNICEF tells us she's afraid hunger will spread. We ask the Norwegian government what other countries can do to put pressure on Israel to let in aid.Also in the programme: Jeffrey Epstein' ... Show More
47m 28s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2024
Syrie : comment le régime de Bachar Al-Assad est-il tombé ?
En mars 2011 débutait, dans le sillage des printemps arabes, une vague de protestation sans précédent en Syrie. Inspirées par ce qui se passait dans d’autres pays comme la Tunisie ou l’Egypte, des milliers de personnes sont descendues dans les rues pour dénoncer le pouvoir autocr ... Show More
14m 37s
Dec 2024
Assad's Regime Falls. What's Next For Syria?
After decades of brutal dictatorship in Syria, the regime of Bashar al-Assad fell in a matter of days. WSJ’s Yaroslav Trofimov reports on the rebel leader Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani and how regional players are responding to political change in Syria. Further Listening: - What the C ... Show More
20m 8s
Dec 2024
Analysis: The Regional Fallout of Syria's Unrest
Last weekend, Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former al Qaeda affiliate with a base in northwest Syria, launched a surprise offensive. The rebels captured Syria’s second-largest city, Aleppo, and headed toward Homs and Hama, two major population centers. The weekend’s battles mark ... Show More
9m 3s
Dec 2024
Reigniting Syria's civil war
A rebel group changed the course of Syria's long civil war when it seized Aleppo this past weekend. The Syria Report's Jihad Yazigi tells us what motivates the group's canny and mysterious leader.This episode was produced by Peter Balonon Rosen and Miles Bryan, edited by Matt Col ... Show More
27m 39s
Dec 2024
The Middle East After Assad
After rebels took Syria’s capital, President Bashar Al-Assad fled Damascus for Russia, ending his brutal 24-year reign. His ouster marks the beginning of a new, uncertain phase for a country that’s been ravaged by 13 years of civil war.   On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg’s ... Show More
15m 28s
Dec 2024
Syrian rebels enter Homs and close in on Damascus
Syrian President's grip on power wanes as another strategic city falls to Islamist rebels. Also: Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is rededicated in front of world leaders and the conman in India who duped families into thinking he was their long lost son. 
29m 43s
Dec 2024
The final hours of the Assad regime
President Bashar al-Assad has fled Syria, ending 50 years of authoritarian rule by his family. Over the weekend, rebels who had already taken Aleppo and Hama began to close in on the city of Homs and set their eyes on the capital Damascus.As it became clear that Assad had fled, t ... Show More
28m 18s
Dec 2024
End of an era: The fall of the Assad regime
Following more than a year of turmoil and transformative changes reshaping the Middle East, the region witnessed another shock with the downfall of the Assad family’s 54-year rule over Syria last weekend. The rapid collapse was triggered by a lightning rebel offensive led by Haya ... Show More
31m 24s
Dec 2024
Syria special
Syria's army says it's bolstering defences around the capital, Damascus, as rebels intent on overthrowing President Assad converge on the city. 
14m 8s
Dec 2024
Breaking: Assad Regime Falls
Tommy and Ben discuss the breaking news that Bashar al-Assad has fled Syria after rebel factions took over Damascus in a stunning sweep after 13 years of Civil War. They talk about the speed with which it all happened, what could come next as Syrians decide their own fate after d ... Show More
55m 38s