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Global Eye - Season 2026 Episode 5 - What's Next For Syria
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00:00Hello and welcome to Global Eye, the program that brings you in-depth investigations and
00:24reporting by the teams of the BBC World Service. I'm Lise Doucette, the BBC's chief international
00:31correspondent. This week we're in Syria, a country I've reported from since the mid-1990s and we were
00:39here in Damascus during those extraordinary days after the repressive rule of Bashar al-Assad
00:45ended on December the 8th, 2024. Syrians surged into this iconic Umayyad Square. You could feel the
00:56euphoria, the rare hope. But on some streets across Syria there was also uncertainty. Some even felt
01:05feared. More than 50 long years of the Assad family's brutal dictatorship and a 14-year-long
01:13civil war had ended. But how hard has it been to build a new Syria? Also in this week's program,
01:23we'll reveal how Russia is luring foreign nationals from all over the world to fight in Ukraine with
01:29generous offers of money and citizenship. But they're often left with broken promises, threats to their
01:38family and condemned to serve on the most dangerous stretches of the front line.
01:52And I take an exclusive look inside the world of Hind Kabawat as she navigates her role as Syria's only
02:00female cabinet minister.
02:05December 8th was the day millions of Syrians thought they would never see. See that mountain just behind me?
02:12At the very top sits the presidential palace. Suddenly the president was gone. He fled to Russia with his
02:19family. And opposition fighters poured into this capital after their astonishing sweep across Syria,
02:26meeting hardly any resistance. Among them the most powerful of all, Hayat Tayyir al-Sham or HTS.
02:35It ended a nightmare which had seen hundreds of thousands killed. Hundreds of thousands had disappeared
02:42into dark dungeons, many tortured to death. And millions had been forced to flee their homes, their country.
02:50history. On that defining day, the leader of HTS, known by his war name Abu Muhammad al-Jalani,
03:00immediately came here to the Grand Umayyud Mosque in the historic old city. He announced a new history
03:09was now being written.
03:20He soon changed out of his military uniform into a suit and started using his real name, Amir al-Shara.
03:27Syrians wondered and some worried about what life would be like now under a new leader with his past links to
03:35Al-Qaeda and Islamic State. President Amir al-Shara presented himself as a pragmatist.
03:42When you're on, you can feel here what's changed and what's not. Syrians tell us they now feel freer
03:49to speak their mind. But some still worry a bit about social freedoms. Here in the old city, its famed
03:58restaurants and bars are still open. But some women say they feel a bit more pressure about what they wear,
04:05although there's still that same mix of headscarves and not. In some ways, life here hasn't really
04:13changed much. Syrians, including all these businesses, are still living with power cuts and
04:20water shortages. Ninety percent of Syrians are still living beneath the poverty line. They need jobs.
04:30This is Syria's story. This is Yarmouk. So many neighbourhoods on the edge of Damascus,
04:37in major cities like Homs and Aleppo, are just like this, in utter ruin. A decade ago, in the worst of
04:46the war, we managed to report from inside here, inside Yarmouk, a place besieged by government forces
04:55and saw the devastation, the desperation of a people starving for food, for freedom. A tactic called
05:03surrender or starve. The rebuild has begun a bit. The World Bank says Syria needs at least 200 billion
05:14dollars to fix the country. Millions of Syrians inside and outside the country can't return home, unless
05:24there's a home to come back to. President al-Shara keeps saying he wants investment, not aid. Now, some Western
05:35donors have committed millions and some wealthy Gulf states and Turkey have signed big deals, mainly for
05:41infrastructure, the ports, airports, electricity, energy. Most investors are still holding back,
05:49waiting for sanctions to be lifted, for a new legal structure to be put in place, waiting for security
05:56to improve. Syria's new flag now flies everywhere. One hand, one Syria, so the saying goes. But one year on,
06:06Syria's post-war politics is still dominated by the former fighters and close allies of President al-Shara,
06:14who come from Syria's majority Sunni community. There's been tension and violence against some
06:21of the minority communities, including the Alawites, the same Shia sect of the ousted Assad family.
06:28And also against the Druze in southern Syria. And there are issues, too, with the Kurds in the
06:37northeast. And to make matters even worse, Israel continues to bomb Syria, saying its own security is threatened.
06:45For Syrians, security is a major priority. Among the issues, the thousands of foreign fighters
06:59drawn into Syria during the civil war. Syria now is not just a destination for foreign fighters,
07:05it's become a source. Thousands of young vulnerable Syrians are now being recruited into other conflicts.
07:13BBCI Investigations has uncovered covert networks, funneling fighters from Syria, from Yemen,
07:20into Russia's war in Ukraine, lured by promises of cash and citizenship. Nawalan McAfee now reports on
07:28the human cost of a conflict reaching far beyond the borders of Russia and Ukraine.
07:34We're in Shakov in eastern Ukraine, 10 kilometres from Russian control territory.
07:45We're following Ukraine's 157th brigade.
07:52Just days earlier, the unit captured two fighters carrying Chinese passports.
07:57They're currently being held in a Ukrainian prisoner of war facility.
08:04The Russians are continuously recruiting foreign fighters from all over the world.
08:09Does that worry you?
08:10A lot of these foreign fighters are very desperate.
08:30What would you say to them?
08:31As we talk, we hear a drone approach from overhead.
08:54It seems to be getting closer.
08:56The war here shows no sign of ending.
09:03For the past year, BBCI has been investigating the network's enticing young men
09:08into joining Russia's ranks and tracking down the foreign soldiers
09:12that made it to the front line of this conflict.
09:15This is the voice of Omar, not his real name.
09:29He's spent 14 years living through Syria's brutal civil war,
09:34and is the sole breadwinner for his family who are struggling to survive.
09:38We're hiding his identity to protect him from the Russian authorities.
09:42He's been sending us voice notes from the front line.
10:04He's been sending us voice notes from the front line.
10:07Omar was recruited by this woman, Polina Alexandrovna Azarnikh,
10:26a 40-year-old former teacher and businesswoman from Russia's Voronish region.
10:30She's been recruiting men into the Russian army from all over the world,
10:37through this telegram channel.
10:39It's become a pipeline into Russia's army.
10:41In March 2024, Omar and six men from his hometown made their way to Moscow.
11:02There they met Polina. She promised them Russian citizenship,
11:07two and a half thousand dollars monthly and five thousand dollars up front,
11:12for signing a contract for one year.
11:14Omar says that Polina assured them that if they gave her a cut of three thousand dollars,
11:20she would also ensure that they'd only serve in non-combat roles.
11:24But that promise wasn't kept.
11:41In response to his accusations, Polina made this threat.
11:45We've spoken to 12 families whose sons were recruited by Polina.
12:06All of them are now either dead or missing.
12:10And in the last year, we've been able to track over 490 invitations,
12:14she's sent to men from all over the world.
12:26But she is not the only one operating in this way.
12:30The Kremlin has relied on informal recruiters globally
12:34since the start of the full-scale invasion.
12:38So far, Russia has succeeded in bringing in an estimated 20,000 foreign fighters,
12:44from places like Nepal, Egypt and Cuba, as well as other countries across Africa, Iraq and Yemen.
12:58We made our way to Lviv in western Ukraine,
13:01to one of the country's largest prisoner of war facilities,
13:04to meet some of the captured foreign fighters.
13:07Nowhere is the diversity of Russia's recruitment scheme more apparent than here.
13:16Does anyone here speak Arabic?
13:19Where are you from?
13:21Sri Lanka.
13:22Is it OK if we film your table?
13:25No?
13:25We're not allowed to show the prisoners' faces without their consent.
13:30But there are people here from all over the world.
13:32I've met someone from Egypt, from Senegal, from Sri Lanka.
13:36There are men here from everywhere.
13:39I'm being taken to meet fighters from Yemen.
13:42I'm with you, Nawala Al-Makhafiya. I'm Yemeniya, as well.
13:46I'm also a journalist.
13:48It's been a long time to talk to you with your friends.
13:53God, I'm not talking to you.
13:54I'm not talking to you. I'm not talking to you.
13:56God, I'm not talking to you.
13:59Let's go to the other room and sit in the room and talk to you.
14:04Khalil had only been in Russia six weeks before he was captured.
14:08Khalil told me he knew going to Russia
14:11might lead to army service,
14:12but the money they were promised convinced him.
14:15I mean, I'm 2400.
14:182400 dollars.
14:20I've never seen it.
14:22I don't think we can do it.
14:24I don't think we can do it.
14:27And if I'm working for 10 years,
14:30I'm not able to go to Russia.
14:33Do you think there are people on the other side?
14:38Do you want to fight them?
14:41If I knew it before,
14:43I wouldn't be able to get into this war.
14:46Khalil asked if he could call his mother to let her know he's alive.
14:52Hello, welcome.
14:54Hello, Khalil.
14:54Hello, Khalil.
14:55Khalil can only leave prison if he's sent back to Yemen,
15:14For now Khalil can only leave prison if he is sent back to Yemen or traded in a prisoner
15:26exchange with Russia.
15:30Despite his newly gained Russian citizenship, neither country has tried to repatriate him.
15:39The contracts foreign fighters sign are issued by the Ministry of Defence.
15:45Recruiters like Polina facilitate this.
15:48On her Telegram group, she says that the contract only lasts a year.
15:54What she fails to mention is that a September 2022 decree from President Putin binds all soldiers
16:00to serve until the war ends, leaving men like Omar trapped.
16:07She says that it's not a matter of time, but it's not a matter of time.
16:14Now, it's a matter of time.
16:19I want to say thank you, first of all, for advertising.
16:23Where did you go?
16:24You all understood well that you are going to war.
16:26So why are you complaining?
16:28Are you thinking of stealing Russia, stealing the Ministry of Defense, getting the money,
16:33getting the Russian passport, and not doing anything?
16:35And staying in a five-star hotel?
16:37That's not happening, guys.
16:38For free, nothing is happening.
16:40We reached out to Polina.
16:49Hi, Polina.
16:50This is Nawal Al-Makhafi from the BBC.
16:52I'm reaching out to you because I want to ask if you'd be willing to do an interview.
16:59Good evening, Nawal.
17:01Thank you very much.
17:02How are you?
17:03I hope everything's fine.
17:08After weeks of back and forth, she agrees to speak to us via video call.
17:16Hello.
17:17Hello.
17:18Hello.
17:19Good evening.
17:22Is this Polina?
17:24Yes.
17:25Polina, you know that I'm going to make this call.
17:28I'm Nawal Al-Makhafi at the BBC.
17:31Yes, let's go.
17:33Okay, so my first question is, I've spoken to recruits who say that you promised them non-combat
17:39roles, and they say that you misled them.
17:42What's your answer to this?
17:44Can you explain to her that it's really important?
17:48I'm just hung up.
17:51It's okay.
17:53We sent our allegations to Polina in full.
17:57She left us this voice note.
18:00Polina, look at me.
18:02All accusations may be prosecuted, let's say, in a clave.
18:07For the accusations, we need to present evidence.
18:10And in their words, the respected Arab citizens may be attached to their head.
18:17I'm sorry.
18:18I'm sorry.
18:19I'm sorry.
18:20I'm sorry.
18:21I'm sorry.
18:22I'm sorry.
18:23For now, the war between Russia and Ukraine grinds on, putting more civilians at risk.
18:28Moscow will continue to feed its war machine.
18:31The burden falls on the vulnerable.
18:33The young men sent to fight with no experience.
18:36The families waiting for news.
18:38And the prisoners forgotten in Ukraine.
18:42From here, I ask the brothers, the prisoners and the sisters to bring them to the right and the political side of Russia.
18:52Here are some other stories that the BBC World Service has covered this week.
19:14We just saw Nawal al-Makhafi's investigation into Russia's foreign fighters.
19:19This week, Nawal has also been reporting on a network of secret prisons run by the UAE during Yemen's decade-long civil war.
19:29Former detainees told the BBC they were subjected to brutal treatment and harsh conditions.
19:36Nawal's full story is on the BBC News website.
19:42Syria confronts so many challenges.
19:45Syrians tell us they know it will take time to build a new Syria, but they want to see their leader moving towards a more inclusive system.
19:54His current cabinet only includes one woman.
19:58So how much can Hind Kabawat, Syria's Minister of Social Affairs and Labour, really achieve?
20:04A new start for Syria.
20:08The dead weight of dictatorship gone.
20:11You can still feel the lightness.
20:15But building a new Syria takes time.
20:21Hind Kabawat feels the pressure.
20:23Oh my God, you have to meet these two women.
20:26She's the director of Dara'a and she's the director of Kunaitira.
20:31They were the women's representatives coming from, they have positions in Dara'a.
20:34They have positions and now we are supporting them.
20:37I didn't change my furniture.
20:39To her office, Hind brings her own history.
20:42Educated in the East and West.
20:44Lawyer, former opposition leader.
20:47Living in exile for 14 years.
20:49Now a seat at the top table.
20:52Some staff from the old ministry working with her.
20:56Having two social affairs and labour, one would be a lot of work.
21:01Having two.
21:02Two in transition period and post-conflict.
21:08It's too much?
21:09Yeah, it is too much, but it's okay.
21:13This is the challenge.
21:15In Syria, women have always been visible in public life.
21:20Many now want to be part of this moment of sweeping change.
21:25Do you think you bring something different to your job because you are a woman?
21:29You know what?
21:31Without no diplomacy here, yes.
21:34But you're lonely there.
21:35You're the only woman in the government.
21:36You're dominated.
21:37You're surrounded by the men who are leading.
21:39No.
21:40Or who are in charge.
21:41Actually, I surround them.
21:43Really?
21:44Don't underestimate the power of women.
21:47The president is very supportive of us.
21:50I have the full authority to do whatever I want in my ministry.
21:54They respect what I do.
21:56And I want to have more women in the cabinet.
22:01Today, the minister takes her team to Idlib,
22:04the former rebel stronghold of the men now in charge.
22:0814 years of war left many wounds.
22:11This is one.
22:12Hundreds of thousands of displaced people still languish in camps like this.
22:21Hind is here to hear their stories.
22:23Families live in flimsy tents, in pain, poverty, and no aid from anyone.
22:41Hind throws it back to them.
22:42A minister unable to offer much aid, except to try to help people help themselves.
23:06Do you fear that people's patience will run out?
23:10Of course, and they're right.
23:12You put yourself into their shoes.
23:14And we don't have the money.
23:16And if we don't have united effort from the international community to help,
23:22at least building some houses for those people, because this is hard for them.
23:27What members of the international community say is the government is too slow,
23:31that you're not moving quickly enough on establishing a new legal framework, on transparency.
23:37We are moving, but you have to understand, it's only one year now.
23:42We get a country that's been completely destroyed.
23:44There are still long shadows at the start of Syria's new day,
23:51a country some call a mosaic, many traditions and sects.
23:57War created deep cracks.
23:59Some fear they're getting worse.
24:02Alawites, Druze, Kurds, all accuse Syria's new leaders, former fighters,
24:08all Sunni Muslims, of turning their guns against them.
24:12In the past year, there was this massacre in the coastal areas, 1,400 people killed.
24:21And the inquiry said possible war crimes were committed.
24:25Again, violence in the south against the Druze.
24:28This has opened a wound.
24:32Did the government make mistakes in how it responded?
24:35Mistakes happen in transition, in post-conflict.
24:38More than just mistakes?
24:40Yeah, but what happened, immediately there is a commission of inquiry, there is investigation.
24:49And I know now so many of those who committed those crimes are in prison.
24:53Am I happy about it? Of course not.
24:55Not even the president, everyone, we're not happy.
25:00Syria's scars run deep.
25:03Entire neighborhoods wiped out by war.
25:06Some of the worst fighting was here, on the edges of the capital.
25:12I came to Jobar with Fauzia Al-Assad, a civil society activist.
25:18She's focused on the most painful of issues for many ministries, including HINZ.
25:23Falziah shows me images on her phone, of her effort to heal these wounds.
25:34Truth tents, they're called, a space where Syrians meet every month, to share their photos, their stories.
25:56Falziah has her own.
25:58Her father, Halid, detained on October 21st, 2012.
26:06When the regime fell, only a confirmation came.
26:11He was dead.
26:13Uncle Abdul Karim had been taken to that same year, one month later.
26:18And Uncle Khalid, but no one seems to know what happened to them.
26:24Are you getting any support at all from the government?
26:27We don't have any support from anyone.
26:32We're working on the organizations, on the political movement.
26:37They're telling us, they're telling us what they're doing now, what's going on.
26:42And what about the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor with HINZ-Kabawat?
26:47Have you gone there?
26:47No, no, no.
26:48We didn't have the Social Security Council, or the State of HINZ-Kabawat.
26:55We wish to come to the government and go and sit with them and talk.
27:01We wish to come to the real world, to the real world, to the real world, and to the real world,
27:06to the real world, and to the real world, to the real world.
27:10Syrians want answers and action.
27:15HINZ says it's a priority, but so much else is too.
27:22Home. HINZ's family home.
27:26A place to refresh, to reflect.
27:30Is there one moment in this last year where you came home, you thought, I just can't do it?
27:37I see the suffering of the people post-conflict.
27:41I see the suffering of the women who lost their children, and I feel responsible for their pain.
27:50And sometimes I say, why did I do this?
27:56But in the end, I say, if I don't serve them now, I will have more tears later.
28:05So tears at home, feeling that sometimes I don't have the resource to help everybody.
28:13That's the only time I feel like, why did I do this?
28:20Syrians still celebrate the end of decades of dictatorship.
28:32A year is a short time to move from war to peace.
28:37But Syrians now want to see clearer signs that this is a new start.
28:42Thank you for joining us here in Syria.
28:47We like receiving your feedback, so let us know what you think on social media using the hashtag BBC Global Eye.
28:55Goodbye for now.
28:56Thank you for joining us.
29:26Thank you for joining us.
29:32Thank you for joining us.
29:33Bye for now.
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29:54�vCE.
29:54Bye.
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