The former British Army colonel and chemical weapons expert tells Venetia Rainey about <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/01/11/bashar-al-assad-syria-middle-east-war-isis-iraq-damascus/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">his recent trip to Syria, </a>his optimism about the country’s future, and the efforts to find the evidence of Assad’s use of chemical weapons. Plus: Can negotiators get a Gaza ceasefire deal over the line before Donald Trump’s inauguration next Monday?  Contact us with feedback or ideas:battlelines@telegraph.co.uk @venetiarainey@RolandOliphant <hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

The former British Army colonel and chemical weapons expert tells Venetia Rainey about his recent trip to Syria, his optimism about the country’s future, and the efforts to find the evidence of Assad’s use of chemical weapons. Plus: Can negotiators get a Gaza ceasefire deal over the line before Donald Trump’s inauguration next Monday? Contact us with feedback or ideas: battlelines@telegraph.co.uk @venetiarainey @RolandOliphant Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The former British Army colonel and chemical weapons expert tells Venetia Rainey about <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/01/11/bashar-al-assad-syria-middle-east-war-isis-iraq-damascus/" rel="noopener noreferrer">his recent trip to Syria, </a>his optimism about the country’s future, and the efforts to find the evidence of Assad’s use of chemical weapons. Plus: Can negotiators get a Gaza ceasefire deal over the line before Donald Trump’s inauguration next Monday?&nbsp; Contact us with feedback or ideas:battlelines@telegraph.co.uk&nbsp;@venetiarainey@RolandOliphant Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Hamish de Bretton-Gordon on Syria’s new leader, Russia’s quick exit and chemical weapons

Battle Lines is The Telegraph’s defence, security and foreign affairs podcast. It offers expert analysis and on-the-ground reporting from around the world, everywhere from China and the United States to the Middle East and Europe. Three times a week, veteran foreign correspondents Roland Oliphant and Venetia Rainey bring you on-the-ground dispatches from the world’s most volatile regions and informed analysis from world-class experts. Every Wednesday on Battle Lines x Global Health Security they’re joined by Arthur Scott-Geddes to look at the intersection between health and security, from bioweapons to warzone diseases to frontline medicine.&nbsp;You can watch these episodes <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVCaWbKZbRUi1KVej5VziwNy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>. Whether it’s the Russia-Ukraine war, the Israel-Gaza conflict, Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific, tensions between India and Pakistan, or the civil war in Sudan, Battle Lines covers the world’s most critical flashpoints with depth and clarity. When will China invade Taiwan? Can Donald Trump bring peace to the Middle East? What should Europe do to help Ukraine beat Russia? Is Iran building a nuclear bomb? What is the point of NATO? Can the United Kingdom still defend itself?&nbsp; Created by David Knowles, Battle Lines answers all these questions and more, bringing together the best of The Telegraph’s international, geopolitical, and conflict reporting in one place. Don’t forget to follow and leave a review to stay updated on the latest in global conflict and foreign affairs. Battle Lines: Global Health Security is supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.<hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

News

News Commentary

Battle Lines is The Telegraph’s defence, security and foreign affairs podcast. It offers expert analysis and on-the-ground reporting from around the world, everywhere from China and the United States to the Middle East and Europe. Three times a week, veteran foreign correspondents Roland Oliphant and Venetia Rainey bring you on-the-ground dispatches from the world’s most volatile regions and informed analysis from world-class experts. Every Wednesday on Battle Lines x Global Health Security they’re joined by Arthur Scott-Geddes to look at the intersection between health and security, from bioweapons to warzone diseases to frontline medicine. You can watch these episodes here. Whether it’s the Russia-Ukraine war, the Israel-Gaza conflict, Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific, tensions between India and Pakistan, or the civil war in Sudan, Battle Lines covers the world’s most critical flashpoints with depth and clarity. When will China invade Taiwan? Can Donald Trump bring peace to the Middle East? What should Europe do to help Ukraine beat Russia? Is Iran building a nuclear bomb? What is the point of NATO? Can the United Kingdom still defend itself?  Created by David Knowles, Battle Lines answers all these questions and more, bringing together the best of The Telegraph’s international, geopolitical, and conflict reporting in one place. Don’t forget to follow and leave a review to stay updated on the latest in global conflict and foreign affairs. Battle Lines: Global Health Security is supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Battle Lines is The Telegraph’s defence, security and foreign affairs podcast. It offers expert analysis and on-the-ground reporting from around the world, everywhere from China and the United States to the Middle East and Europe. Three times a week, veteran foreign correspondents Roland Oliphant and Venetia Rainey bring you on-the-ground dispatches from the world’s most volatile regions and informed analysis from world-class experts. Every Wednesday on Battle Lines x Global Health Security they’re joined by Arthur Scott-Geddes to look at the intersection between health and security, from bioweapons to warzone diseases to frontline medicine.&nbsp;You can watch these episodes <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJnf_DDTfIVCaWbKZbRUi1KVej5VziwNy" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>. Whether it’s the Russia-Ukraine war, the Israel-Gaza conflict, Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific, tensions between India and Pakistan, or the civil war in Sudan, Battle Lines covers the world’s most critical flashpoints with depth and clarity. When will China invade Taiwan? Can Donald Trump bring peace to the Middle East? What should Europe do to help Ukraine beat Russia? Is Iran building a nuclear bomb? What is the point of NATO? Can the United Kingdom still defend itself?&nbsp; Created by David Knowles, Battle Lines answers all these questions and more, bringing together the best of The Telegraph’s international, geopolitical, and conflict reporting in one place. Don’t forget to follow and leave a review to stay updated on the latest in global conflict and foreign affairs. Battle Lines: Global Health Security is supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

Share Hamish de Bretton-Gordon on Syria’s new leader, Russia’s quick exit and chemical weapons

Sign up to save your podcasts

Hamish de Bretton-Gordon on Syria’s new leader, Russia’s quick exit and chemical weapons

Hamish de Bretton-Gordon on Syria’s new leader, Russia’s quick exit and chemical weapons

More shows like Battle Lines

The Eastern Border

War on the Rocks

Russian Roulette

The Telegraph Rugby Podcast

Christmas Tales

Expenses

The Daily T

Crossfire

Coronavirus: The Latest

In Moscow's Shadows

Irregular Warfare Podcast

Planet Normal

The Trump Card, with Nigel Farage

Bed of Lies

The Juggling Act

Global Security Briefing

Imposters

Off Script

History Defended

School of War

Off Script

This Is Not A Drill with Gavin Esler

Ukrainecast

Ukraine: The Latest

Battleground

Geopolitics Decanted with Dmitri Alperovitch

Call Bethel

Silicon Curtain

The Daily T: Investigates

The Telegraph Women's Sport podcast

I Witnessed History

Bright Ideas with Anita Rani

Frontline: The War in Ukraine and Global Security