“Syria is not seeking confrontation with israel,” states HTS leader in response to devastating strikes
Syria's newly established leader has publicly addressed the recent Israeli attacks on the country following the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad. He stated that Damascus does not intend to enter into a conflict with Tel Aviv.
In a televised statement on Syrian TV this Saturday, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader Ahmed al-Sharaa announced that the group has no intentions of entering into a conflict with Israel, attributing the decision to Syria’s current “weakened state.”
The former leader of the Syrian Al-Qaeda faction and ex-deputy commander of ISIS has asserted that Israel now lacks justification for military action against Syria, claiming that “Hezbollah and Iran are no longer present.”
Abu Mohammad al-Julani, also known as Sharaa, did not address Israel’s multiple strikes on Syria’s military infrastructure, the obliteration of Syria’s naval capabilities, the ongoing occupation of significant territories in the Golan Heights, or its declared intention to maintain this presence “until winter.”
The speaker stated that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allies harbor no animosity towards the Iranian populace. However, he asserted that the offensive, supported by the United States and Israel and resulting in the ousting of the Assad government in Syria, signified a triumph against what he described as a perilous Iranian political initiative in the region.
On December 8, foreign-backed insurgents spearheaded by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) seized control of Damascus, declaring the cessation of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime following a swift and unexpected offensive. Originating from their bastion in northwestern Syria, the militants advanced rapidly, reaching the capital in just under two weeks.
Syria has been engulfed in conflict since 2011, as various armed factions, backed by Western nations and their regional allies, launched efforts to topple the Syrian government. Concurrently, Iran and Russia have stood by the Syrian administration, providing support in its battle against these insurgent groups.
In a recent interview, Sharaa revealed that Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allied groups are engaging in dialogues with Western nations, including discussions with the United Kingdom aimed at re-establishing its diplomatic presence in Damascus.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has confirmed that American officials are engaged in direct communications with Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), despite the U.S. government previously placing a $10 million bounty on the group’s leader, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani.
