Syria's Jolani sends message to 'Israel'

Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, Syria’s new leader, has pledged that Syria will not be used as a launchpad for attacks on “Israel” or any other country.

In an exclusive interview with The Times, Jolani—now prefers going by his birth name Ahmed al-Shara—called on “Israel” to end its airstrikes on Syria and withdraw from territories it controls.

Shara emphasized that “Israel’s” justification for its operations—based on the presence of Iranian militias and Hezbollah—was no longer valid. “We will not allow any attacks to originate from Syria,” he said. “The Syrian people need stability, and it’s time for strikes to end and for Israel to pull back.”

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He also urged Western nations to lift sanctions imposed during Bashar al-Assad’s regime, describing them as detrimental to rebuilding the war-torn country. Shara further sought to reassure Syria’s minorities, including Alawites, Christians, and Druze, that they would be protected under his leadership, with amnesty offered to all except those involved in regime atrocities.

While rejecting strict Islamic rule, Shara stressed that his focus would be on stabilizing Syria and initiating a long-term transitional process, which would include rebuilding efforts and eventual elections.

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