Ahmad al-Sharaa

Lebanon’s Tense Borders Signal End of Iranian Influence 

From the military skirmishes at the southern border to the clashes portrayed as tribal disputes in the northeastern front, the connection is clear, and the backdrop is the same: Iran and its proxies. The major blow suffered by the pro-Iranian axis in Lebanon and Syria—leading to the collapse of Tehran’s affiliates due to its inability to ...

Syria Leader tells Podcast Thousands Joining New Army

Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa said in an interview released Monday that "thousands" of people were joining the country's new army following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad and the dissolution of his military. "I did not impose mandatory conscription in Syria. Instead, I opted for voluntary enlistment, and today thousands are joining ...

Erdogan Hails Syria Leader's 'Strong Commitment' to Fighting Terror

Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday hailed Syria's Ahmed al-Sharaa for his "strong commitment" to fighting terror as the newly installed interim president made his first visit to Turkey. Sharaa flew to Ankara from Saudi Arabia where he had sought Riyadh's support to fund Syria's reconstruction and revive its economy after 13 years of civil ...

In First Address to the Nation, Sharaa Promises "National Dialogue" and Stability

Syria's interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, promised Thursday to hold a "national dialogue conference" in his first address to the nation since the fall of ousted leader Bashar al-Assad. Sharaa, who was appointed interim president a day earlier for an unspecified transitional period, vowed to preserve "civil peace" and Syria's territorial ...

Qatar PM: Doha to Help Rehabilitate Syria Infrastructure

Qatar's prime minister vowed Thursday to support the rehabilitation of Syria's infrastructure, devastated by nearly 14 years of civil war, during his first visit to Damascus since Islamist-led forces seized power last month. "We will provide the necessary technical support to make the needed infrastructure operational again and provide support ...

'Foreign Jihadists' Among Rebels to Be Made Syria Army Officers

Former rebels were promoted to officers in Syria's future army in a decree passed by de facto leader Ahmad al-Sharaa—with a war monitor and experts identifying on Monday foreign jihadists among them. The new authorities in Damascus, who until recently were Islamist-led rebels fighting to overthrow Bashar al-Assad, last week unveiled an accord ...

Syria's Ahmad al-Sharaa Meets with Iraqi Intelligence Chief

Syrian official Ahmad al-Sharaa met with Iraqi intelligence chief Hamid al-Shatri, who was sent as an envoy by the Iraqi prime minister. The meeting, as reported by the General Command, also saw the participation of Syrian Foreign Minister Assad Hassan al-Shaibani and the newly appointed head of Syrian intelligence, Anas Khattab. The discussions ...

Syrian Leader Vows State Monopoly Over Weapons

Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa said Sunday all weapons would come under state control during a press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who urged the lifting of sanctions on Syria. Sharaa said that after upcoming consultations with defense and military officials on a new structure for the military, armed "factions will ...

Al-Sharaa met Joumblatt, vows country will not negatively interfere in Lebanon

Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa told Lebanese Druze leaders on Sunday that his country  would not negatively interfere in Lebanon and would respect its neighbour's sovereignty. Syria will no longer exert "negative interference in Lebanon at all -- it respects Lebanon's sovereignty, the unity of its territories, the ...