ALWAGHT- Syria’s de-facto new ruler has addressed the Israeli regime’s continued assaults on the country following the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad, stating that Damascus "will not engage" in a conflict with Tel Aviv.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, in an interview on Syrian TV Saturday, stated that Syria will not engage in conflict with Israel, citing the country’s "weakened state" as the primary reason. Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani, claimed that Israel no longer has a reason to attack Syria because "Hezbollah and Iran are no more." However, he did not address Israel's ongoing attacks on Syria's military industries, its occupation of large areas of the Golan Heights, or its plan to remain there "until winter."
Sharaa, who was the founder of the Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda and a former deputy commander of ISIS, emphasized that HTS and its allies have no hostility toward Iranian society. He also stated that the US- and Turkish-backed offensive that led to the ousting of President Assad was a "victory over the dangerous Iranian political project in the region." HTS and foreign-backed militants took control of Damascus on December 8, declaring the end of Assad's rule in a swift offensive launched from their stronghold in northwestern Syria.
Syria has been embroiled in conflict since 2011 when various armed groups, supported by Western nations and their regional allies, attempted to overthrow the Syrian government. Meanwhile, Iran and Russia have backed the Syrian government in its battle against these militant groups.
During the interview, Sharaa confirmed that HTS and its allies are in contact with Western countries and are engaging in discussions with Britain about restoring its diplomatic representation in Damascus. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also acknowledged direct US contact with HTS, despite the fact that the US government had previously issued a $10 million bounty for Sharaa's capture.
