In brief
In a recent interview, the leader of the rebel faction Hayat Tahrir al-Sham expressed a strong desire for change in post-war Syria.
Ahmed al-Sharaa, the leader of Syria's dominant rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has declared that the war-torn nation is no longer a threat to its neighbors or Western countries. In a revealing interview with the BBC conducted in Damascus, he spoke candidly about the urgent need for sanctions on Syria to be lifted, emphasizing the country's exhaustion from years of conflict. Just two weeks after leading a significant offensive that successfully overthrew the Assad regime, Sharaa, previously known by his battlefield alias Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, outlined his vision for Syria’s future. He underscored that HTS should have its designation as a terrorist organization lifted, arguing that the group had distanced itself from its al-Qaeda roots since breaking away in 2016.Sharaa firmly stated that HTS does not target civilians or civilian infrastructure, claiming they instead see themselves as victims of the Assad regime's violent oppression. “Those who suffer should not be equated with their oppressors,” he declared in a statement that aims to reshape public perception of his group.Rejecting comparisons to war-torn Afghanistan, he noted the distinct cultural and societal frameworks that separate the two nations. Unlike Afghanistan's tribal-based organization, Sharaa highlighted a commitment to education—especially for women—as a pillar of HTS's ideological stance.Throughout the conversation, Sharaa exuded a sense of calm, presenting himself in ordinary civilian attire while striving to alleviate fears about his group’s past extremism. While the interview aimed to present HTS in a more favorable light, skepticism remains among many Syrians regarding the future intentions of the new leaders. The true test for Sharaa and his faction will be their ability to uphold promises of human rights and democratic governance in the months to come, as they navigate the complex landscape of post-conflict Syria. The international community, including the UN, continues to watch closely as the nation grapples with its identity in a pivotal transition period.
