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From Our Own Correspondent

Syria’s sectarian faultlines

From Our Own Correspondent

BBC

News, News Commentary

4.41.3K Ratings

🗓️ 26 July 2025

⏱️ 29 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Kate Adie introduces stories from Syria, Lebanon, Chile, Pakistan and France.

Sectarian violence has erupted again in Syria, this time between Druze and Bedouin communities, leaving hundreds of people dead. The country's interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, blamed the violence on ‘outlawed factions’ and has vowed to protect the Druze. Though as Jon Donnison heard in the Druze-majority town of Suweida, locals are also blaming government forces for the violence.

Meanwhile in Lebanon, thousands of Alawite Syrians - the same Shia Muslim sect of the former President Bashar al-Assad - have fled across the border in recent months to escape a previous bout of sectarian violence which broke out back in March. Emily Wither travelled to Tripoli where she met young Alawites looking to define themselves beyond the Assad regime.

In Chile we visit a ghost town in the Atacama Desert as it's brought back to life for one day a year. Former residents of Chuquicamata return to where they once lived for an annual party - though the former mining town is now too polluted for humans to live in. Robin Markwell paid a visit.

In the Pakistan province of Punjab, authorities have launched a crackdown against people keeping big cats like lions and tigers as household pets. The BBC’s Pakistan correspondent Azadeh Moshiri joined wildlife rangers on a raid on an illegal big cat farm.

And we’re in Marseille where a group of eminent restaurateurs have come together to protect the heritage of a much-treasured French dish - Bouillabaisse. Rob Crossan went to sample a bowl, to see if it lives up to the hype.

Series Producer: Serena Tarling Production Coordinators: Sophie Hill & Katie Morrison Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Hello, today we're in Chile, rebuild their community after fleeing violence across the border. In Pakistan, big cats,

0:23.3

as household pets, has become a big problem. We head out with rangers tackling the illegal trade

0:29.4

in lions and tigers. And finally, we are sampling the Provisal Fish Stew, known as Buiabess,

0:37.0

charting its evolution from poor man's dish to fashionable

0:40.4

delicacy with a hefty price tag.

0:43.5

But first to Syria, where, after a week of deadly sectarian violence between the country's

0:49.5

Druze and Bedouin communities, a tense truce is holding.

0:53.8

Fighting began in the predominantly Druze city of Sueda,

0:58.1

where Syria's interim president, Ahmed al-Shara,

1:01.8

sent troops to bring the situation under control.

1:05.1

But they too became embroiled in the fighting

1:07.5

and have been accused by residents of violations against the Druze.

1:12.2

The president has blamed the violence in which hundreds of people were killed on outlawed

1:17.6

factions and has vowed to protect the Druze. John Donison has been in Sueda.

1:24.0

The first thing you need to know about Syria in 2025 is it's complicated.

1:29.4

If you've been trying to follow the news, you will realise that.

1:33.4

Bedouin tribesmen have been fighting with the minority Druze community,

1:37.1

while leaders in the new Syrian government, with historic links to al-Qaeda, try to enforce a ceasefire.

1:44.2

Israel, also in the mix, has been attacking the Syrian government forces.

1:48.8

It says to try and protect the Druze, followers of an esoteric religion with an eclectic

1:54.5

mix of doctrines. It's a lot to get your head around.

1:59.1

I first took the road to Damascus 18 years ago back in 2007.

...

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