Rebel leader: “Building a new Syria”… Public speech declaring victory in Islam’s holiest site
Israel advances into disputed area for the first time in 50 years… U.S. airstrikes 75 IS strongholds in Syria
Pursuing the elimination of Assad’s chemical weapons
Rebel leader victory speech Abu Muhammad al-Julani, head of the Sunni rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-sham (HTS), which led the occupation of Damascus, the capital of Syria, gave a public speech at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus on the 8th.He emphasized that the collapse of the Bashar al-assad regime is “a victory for all of Islam.” Damascus = AP Newsis
“islam has triumphed. “We will build a new syria that will become the beacon of the Islamic State.”
Abu Muhammad al-Julani (42), leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a Sunni rebel group that has taken over Damascus, the capital of Syria, gave a victory speech on the 8th and said, “The collapse of the Assad regime is a historic event for all of islam.” He said this himself.
President Bashar al-Assad, who fled abroad just before HTS occupied Damascus, virtually went into exile in Russia. According to Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency, the Russian President’s Office (Kremlin) was asked on the 9th about media reports that the Assad family had defected to Russia, and responded, “Decisions on granting political asylum cannot be made without the participation of the head of state.” . It is an admission that the person who granted asylum was Russian President Vladimir putin.
While the HTS-led transfer of power has virtually begun, neighboring countries and the international community are working hard to turn this situation to their advantage.On the same day, Israel quickly occupied some Syrian military bases on Mount Hermon in the Golan Heights, a disputed territory with Syria.
The United States also conducted airstrikes on 75 IS strongholds in Syria to eliminate the possibility that the Sunni extremist armed group ‘Islamic State (IS)’ could take advantage of the power vacuum to rebuild. He also expressed his intention to cooperate with several countries in the Middle East to prevent chemical weapons owned by the Assad regime from falling into the hands of terrorist groups.
● Julani “Purge Syria, victory for Islam”
julani, who has been reluctant to be exposed, held an unusual public speech on this day and declared victory in the civil war. Appearing at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus amid cheers from the crowd, he criticized both the Assad regime and Iran behind it, saying, “assad has turned Syria into a ‘farm for Iran’s greed.’ “We will purify Syria,” he shouted. He emphasized that this victory was possible thanks to the sacrifices of people and fighters who were unjustly imprisoned under the assad regime.
major holy site in Islam. The fact that Julani chose this place, rather than the presidential palace where President Assad’s office is located, as the venue for his first speech is also interpreted as an attempt to emphasize his claim that it is God’s will for him to become the next leader. The Guardian also diagnosed him as the person most likely to become the new ruler of Syria.
After taking over Damascus, Julani introduced himself under his real name, Ahmed Hussein al-Shara. This can be interpreted as a move to emphasize that he joined al-Qaeda, the group responsible for the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2003, but ended his association in 2016.
President Assad and his family, who left Damascus on a plane just before the HTS advance, are staying in Moscow, the Russian capital, the Russian state-run TASS news agency reported. However, the Kremlin did not reveal where the Assad family is. He added that President Putin has no plans to meet with President Assad for the time being.
Russia has had a naval base at the port of Tartus in western Syria since the Soviet era. Even after the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, it has claimed to be a major supporter of the Assad regime.
● Israel additionally occupies the Golan Heights
Israel, taking advantage of the chaos throughout Syria, occupied some Syrian military bases on Mount Hermon in the Golan Heights on the 8th for the first time in 50 years since 1974. Israel occupied the Golan Heights,which was Syrian territory,during the Third Middle East War in 1967 and has effectively controlled about 80% of it. Until now,the western part of the plateau was controlled by Israel,the central part was controlled by UN peacekeeping forces,and the northeastern part was controlled by Syria,but with today’s advance,even some Syrian military bases in the northeastern part were taken over.
Mount Hermon, with a summit height of 2814m, is only 40km away from Damascus. From here, Damascus, which is located on relatively low ground, can be monitored with the naked eye. Additionally, the Jordan River and Sea of Galilee, which originate in the Golan Heights, are Israel’s main sources of drinking water.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited another part of the Golan Heights on the same day and said, “The Assad regime, which was a key link in the ‘Axis of Evil’ created by Iran, has fallen.“This is the result of Israel dealing a blow to Iran and Hezbollah, a pro-iranian armed group in Lebanon,” he praised.
Prime Minister Netanyahu also met with family groups of hostages held by Hamas. He was optimistic that “the fall of the Assad regime (by heightening Hamas’ sense of crisis) will also help reach an agreement on the return of hostages.”
● Ukraine says, “If we side with Putin, we will fall”
<img src="https://dimg.donga.com/wps/NEWS/IMAGE/2024/12/10/130602569.4.jpg" alt="A torn and discarded photo of Assad. A man tears up a photo of Syrian President bashar al-Assad and stomps on it in front of the Syrian Embassy in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, Eastern Europe, on the 8th. Nicknamed the 'Butcher of the Middle East' for his brutal suppression of opposition,
Torn and abandoned photo of Assad
A man tears up a photo of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and stomps on it in front of the Syrian Embassy in belgrade, the capital of Serbia, Eastern Europe, on the 8th. Nicknamed the ‘Butcher of the Middle East’ for his brutal suppression of opposition,he virtually went into exile in Russia. The Russian President’s Office also announced on the 9th that the Assad family is in Russia.Belgrade = AP Newsis
Ukraine, which suspended diplomatic relations with Syria as the Assad regime supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, also welcomed the rebels’ victory.Foreign minister Andriy Cibiha pointed out on the 8th that President Assad was close to President Putin and pointed out, “Dictators who bet on Putin have always fallen and will continue to do so.” He also said that he would like to quickly restore diplomatic relations with the new Syrian government.
Turkiye, who supported some rebels after the outbreak of the Syrian civil war, also appears to welcome the collapse of the Assad regime. Currently, at least 3 to 4 million Syrian refugees live in Turkye, causing public discontent. Expectations are high that an opportunity has been created to send them back to their home country.
How might international responses to the Syrian conflict influence the balance of power among local factions?
Title: A New Dawn for Syria? An Interview with Conflict Expert Dr. Sarah Al-Farouq
Time.news Editor: Welcome, Dr. Al-Farouq. Thank you for joining us today. The recent events in Syria have raised many questions about the future of the region. Can you provide some context to the recent declarations made by Abu Muhammad al-Julani, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)?
Dr. Sarah Al-Farouq: Thank you for having me. Abu Muhammad al-Julani’s victory speech at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus marked a significant moment in the ongoing Syrian civil war. His proclamation of the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime as a “victory for all of Islam” indicates his aspirations not just for power but to frame this conflict in a broader Islamic context. He envisions an Islamic state, which makes his leadership quite concerning for many.
Editor: His choice of the Umayyad Mosque as a venue seems quite symbolic. Why do you think he opted for this location instead of a more political site?
dr.Al-Farouq: The Umayyad Mosque is one of the holiest sites in Islam, and by choosing this venue, al-Julani is declaring his authority and legitimacy in a religious sense. It is a clear attempt to position himself as not just a political leader but a spiritual one as well. This could appeal to both his base and potential supporters who see the regime’s fall as a divine victory.
Editor: Fascinating. Given these developments, we also see Israel taking steps to occupy some Syrian military bases in the Golan Heights. What do you think this signifies in the context of the ongoing conflict?
Dr. Al-Farouq: Israel’s actions in the Golan Heights are indicative of its strategic interests in the region. They have historically viewed Syria as a threat, and in light of the power vacuum created by Assad’s decline, they are seizing opportunities to bolster their security. This could also represent a larger shift in how Israel interacts with various factions in syria, particularly amid concerns over Iran’s influence.
Editor: The U.S. also conducted airstrikes on IS strongholds following the changing dynamics. How does this fit into the broader picture?
Dr. Al-Farouq: The U.S. airstrikes are aimed at preemptively preventing the Islamic State from regaining a foothold in Syria, which is a significant concern as the region becomes more chaotic. The U.S. and its allies must navigate a complex landscape where they need to counter both the resurgence of extremist groups and the influence of Iranian-aligned militias, while also considering the aspirations of Sunni groups like HTS.
Editor: You mentioned al-Julani’s background and his previous ties to al-Qaeda. How might this history affect his leadership and the future of Syria?
Dr. Al-Farouq: His history complicates things.Although he has distanced himself from al-Qaeda, the memory of his association casts a long shadow. How he handles this—balancing his extremist roots with a vision for governance—will be critical. If he leans too far toward extremist ideology, it could alienate more moderate factions and hinder stability, but if he seeks to establish a broader coalition, it could lead to a more unified front against Assad and other threats.
Editor: Lastly, given the ascendance of HTS and the apparent exile of Assad, what do you think the next steps for Syria might look like?
dr. Al-Farouq: The next steps are filled with uncertainty. HTS might attempt to consolidate power, but they will likely face resistance from both internal factions and external players. The international community,particularly Russia,will play a pivotal role. if they continue to support assad while managing their own geopolitical interests, we could see protracted conflict rather than a straightforward resolution. The regional dynamics, especially concerning Iran and Israel, further complicate this landscape.
editor: Thank you, Dr. Al-Farouq, for this insightful conversation. The situation in Syria remains fluid, and it will be crucial for all stakeholders to navigate these developments carefully.
Dr.Sarah Al-Farouq: Thank you for having me. It’s certainly a pivotal moment, and I hope for a peaceful resolution to this long-standing conflict.
End of Interview