New Syrian Leader Speaks On Saudi Arabia’s Role During Transition Period

Syria’s de factor leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa has praised the role of Saudi Arabia in the country’s transition period.

“I am proud of everything Saudi Arabia has done for Syria,” Al-Sharaa commented in remarks made during an exclusive interview with Saudi broadcaster Al Arabiya, adding that the Kingdom has a major role in Syria’s future.

The interview would be aired later on Sunday.

Al-Sharaa, leader of the Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) Islamist group, spearheaded a lightning 11-day offensive that led to the ouster of Bashar Assad and ending the family’s five-decade iron-fisted rule.

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Al-Sharaa – better known as Abu Mohammed Al-Golani – also said the liberation of Syria ensures the security of the whole region and the Gulf for the coming 50 years.

Al-Sharaa noted the difficulty of holding elections in Syria, which can take up to four years, as well as drafting a constitution for the country which can take up to three years.

Syrians will take about a year to see drastic changes, he added.

Among other things, he promised to dissolve the armed wing and integrate into Syrian armed forces. The Syrian defense ministry will also integrate Kurdish forces into its ranks, he added.

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Al-Sharaa also told Al Arabiya the “Syrian people have saved themselves by themselves.”

On Russia, the military chief said he did not want Russia to leave in a manner unbefitting its relationship with Syria. Russia has military bases in Syria, was a close Assad ally during the long civil war and has granted Assad asylum.

He however said that “Iran should have sided with the Syrian people.”

Al-Sharaa also said HTS would be dissolved in a national dialogue conference.

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Al-Sharaa also said he hopes the administration of US President-elect Donald Trump will lift sanctions imposed on Syria.

Senior US diplomats who visited Damascus this month said Al-Sharaa came across as pragmatic and that Washington has decided to remove a $10 million bounty on the HTS leader’s head.