US-israel backed HTS’s Golani: Syria has no intention of entering into conflict with ‘israel’, addressing the ongoing Israeli attacks
Syria's de facto leader has publicly commented for the first time on Israel's continued attacks on the country following the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad. The leader stated that Damascus will refrain from entering into conflict with Tel Aviv.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader Ahmed al-Sharaa declared on Syrian television on Saturday that the group has no intentions to engage in hostilities with Israel, attributing this stance to Syria’s “weakened state.”
The founder of the Syrian offshoot of Al-Qaeda and a former deputy commander of ISIS stated that Israel no longer has a justification to attack Syria, citing the diminished presence of Hezbollah and Iran in the region.
Abu Mohammad al-Julani, whose real name is Sharaa, did not address Israel’s repeated strikes on Syria’s defense facilities, the dismantling of its naval capabilities, the significant territorial occupation in the Golan Heights, or its stated intention to maintain its presence there “until winter.”
A spokesperson stated that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allies bear no animosity towards the Iranian populace. However, he asserted that the offensive, supported by the United States and Turkey, which led to the toppling of the Assad regime in Syria, signified a triumph over what he described as a perilous Iranian political agenda in the region.
In a rapid and unexpected offensive, foreign-supported militants spearheaded by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) seized control of Damascus on December 8, proclaiming the termination of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. The operation commenced from their bastion in northwestern Syria and astonishingly reached the capital in under two weeks.
Since 2011, Syria has been embroiled in conflict as numerous militant groups, reportedly backed by Western nations and their regional partners, have sought to topple the existing Syrian regime. In contrast, Iran and Russia have provided assistance to the recognized Syrian government in its efforts to combat these militant forces.
In a recent interview, Sharaa disclosed that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its affiliates are engaging in communications with Western nations, including negotiations with Britain aimed at re-establishing diplomatic representation in Damascus.
U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has confirmed that the United States is directly engaging with Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), despite the U.S. government’s previous offer of a $10 million reward for information leading to the capture of its leader, Abu Mohammad al-Julani.
