'Syria will not engage in conflict with Israel': De-facto ruler makes first comments on Israeli attacks
The former ISIS and Al-Qaeda commander said the Turkish and US-backed coup in Syria was 'a victory over the dangerous Iranian political project' in West Asia
Syria's de-facto new ruler and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader Ahmed al-Sharaaon 14 December addressed for the first time Israel's numerous violations of Syrian territory and sovereignty.
"We are not about to engage in a conflict with Israel," Sharaa – who recently shed his nom de guerre Abu Mohammad al-Julani – said in an interview on Syrian TV, pointing to “Syria's weakened state.”
The former deputy commander of ISIS and co-founder of Al-Qaeda in Syria added that Israel's “arguments” for attacking the country “no longer exist.” “Hezbollah and Iran are no more,” he said.
Nevertheless, Sharaa failed to address Israel's occupation of large swathes of Syrian land in the southwest of the country, which officials in Tel Aviv claim will last “through the winter.”
Sharaa went on to claim that HTS and its allies “have no hostilities with Iranian society.” Nevertheless, he called the US and Turkish-backed coup in Syria “a victory over the dangerous Iranian political project in the region.”
He also said his forces “could have struck Russian bases in Syria” but decided to "give the Russians a chance to reconsider their relationship with the Syrian people."
Reports in Russian media reported this week said officials in Moscow believe they reached “an informal understanding” with the Al-Qaeda offshoot to maintain its two military bases in the country – a naval base in Tartous and the Hmeimim Air Base near the port city of Latakia.
On Saturday, Reuters cited Syrian officials as saying the Kremlin is “reducing” its military presence on the front lines in northern Syria and from positions in the Alawite Mountains but keeping its two bases.
Elsewhere in his televised interview, Sharaa revealed he is in contact with western embassies and is "holding discussions with Britain to restore its representation in Damascus."
"We have systematic plans to address the systematic destruction practiced by the regime," Sharaa said, adding that his “experience” ruling Idlib governorate with Turkish support "will advance in the rest of the country's governorates."
On Saturday, US State Secretary Antony Blinken said the White House is in direct contact with HTS and Sharaa, who still has a $10 million bounty on his head by the US government.
“Yes, we have been in contact with HTS and with other parties,” Blinken said during a news conference in Aqaba, Jordan. "Our message to the Syrian people is this: We want them to succeed, and we’re prepared to help them do so,” Blinken added.