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Syria’s government was not going to wait long to respond to the revival of this armed revolution- with gunfire. More on Channel 4 News at 6pm UK.

#Syria BREAKING: rebel forces have ENTERED the city of #Hama. It seems the regime has abandoned the city.

My Channel 4 News report on the rapid advance of Syrian rebels. Assad regime/Russian backers caught off guard. Iran/Hezbollah not much help when already pummelled by Israel. Result: Syria’s revolution rekindled, with Sunni Islamist fighters in vanguard. channel4.com/news/syrian-re…

After the rebel euphoria, the Syrian regime fights back:

It’s been a while since #Russia was precision striking hospitals in #Syria - but it’s restarted, as #Putin pursues a punishment campaign against civilians & vital infrastructure. This was #Idlib University hospital earlier today:

Russia accepts its first Syrian refugee

Jonathan Rugman Secunder Kermani Matt Frei Watch the full epsiode of the Fourcast here: youtu.be/CWWbHnO8M8c

So pleased to see Jonathan Rugman The Killing in the Consulate picked out as one of The Times and The Sunday Times Top Ten true crime books. It deserves to be in this excellent company.

My BBC podcast on a rebooted Saudi crown prince: MBS as the Ukraine peace broker. Interviewed by ⁦Jonny Dymond⁩ . bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w…

My Channel 4 News report on Turkey’s tragic descent from democracy. Istanbul, a city of 16 million, sees its mayor arrested just before he was due to announce his run for president. channel4.com/news/turkey-is…

With Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s latest power grab, which effectively removed his most formidable challenger from politics, Turkey has become a full, Russian-style autocracy, writes Gönül Tol. foreignaffairs.com/turkey/turkey-…

If anyone should know it was unwise to ride roughshod over Turkey’s greatest city, it should be Erdogan - its former mayor. His own credentials to lead Turkey were only embellished by the time he too was arrested and then jailed.

It suits Turkey’s government to portray protests as violent. So far they have overwhelmingly not been. We are about to find out if Erdogan - Turkey’s most successful politician since Ataturk - has made his biggest mistake in 22 years, in misjudging his ability to control this.

Critical friends, like France, are what Turkey needs. Diplomatic silence can be (mis)read as consent:

Many noting that Erdogan thinks he can do as he likes because of Trump in White House. That isn’t really it: after 20+ years, despotic types are often left with only ‘yes’ men in the palace and make mistakes. See: Putin, Ukraine, invasion of.

Join me on Thursday at 7 pm Frontline Club with Michael Goldfarb mgemancipation.bsky.social Jonathan Rugman Jonathan Rugman and Robin Lustig to discuss what happens when people democratically elect someone who is determined to undermine democracy?eventbrite.co.uk/e/panel-discus…