Syrian interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa declared on Friday that Syria “will not move backward” and warned against any violations of the state's established rules during a speech to the nation.
“Syria has moved forward and will not take a single step back,” the president stated, emphasizing that security forces must avoid excessive measures. “I insist that law enforcement must not allow anyone to overstep boundaries or overreact,” he added,
"Referring to the bloody clashes in recent days between the forces of the new Syrian leadership and the loyalist groups supporting the ousted president, Bashar al-Assad, in the Latakia province.
Addressing supporters of the former regime, Sharaa delivered a stern message: “You have committed an unforgivable sin,” referring to ongoing tensions with remnants of the ousted government. He also accused these groups of “seeking provocation to trigger unrest.”
The Syrian leader reaffirmed his commitment to protecting civilians, warning that “any attack against defenseless civilians will be punished.” He insisted that the state must retain full control over the use of weapons: “We will continue our policy of ensuring that weapons remain solely in the hands of the state, and we will not allow uncontrolled arms usage.”
Sharaa also addressed residents of the coastal region, historically a stronghold of the former regime: “Our brothers in the coastal areas are part of our responsibility, and we have a duty to protect them.”
In a further show of firmness, he ordered that prisoners from the former regime must be treated with dignity: “No prisoner should be insulted or beaten,” he warned.
Finally, Sharaa reiterated his commitment to national stability: “We will remain the guarantors of civil peace despite the betrayals we have suffered,” stressing the unity of the Syrian people. “Today in Syria, there is no longer a distinction between the government and the people,” he concluded.
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