Damascus: Syria’s rebel leader celebrated a “historic” triumph on Sunday from a prominent mosque in Damascus after his Islamist group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), led a swift offensive, capturing the capital in under two weeks.
In his speech, the leader hailed the victory as a significant moment, not just for his group, but for the entire Islamic world. His remarks, shared via video on Telegram, came as President Bashar al-Assad fled the country – reportedly to Moscow, according to Russian news outlets – sparking celebrations across Syria and abroad marking the end of his oppressive regime.
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"This victory, my brothers, is historic for the region," HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, now using his real name Ahmed al-Sharaa, said in a speech at the Umayyad Mosque. "Today, Syria is being purified," he said, adding that "this victory is born from the people who have languished in prison, and the mujahideen (fighters) broke their chains".
He said that, under Assad, Syria had become a place for "Iranian ambitions, where sectarianism was rife," in reference to Assad's allies Iran and its Lebanese proxy Hezbollah. As he entered the mosque, crowds could be seen cheering him on and chanting "Allahu akbar (God is greatest)", videos circulating online showed.
HTS, which evolved from the Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda before severing ties with the terrorist group in 2016, has long been designated as a terrorist organization by Western nations. However, in recent years, the group has made efforts to soften its image.
This rebel-led takeover marks a dramatic turning point in a conflict that began over 13 years ago when Assad's brutal crackdown on anti-government protests ignited the Syrian civil war. The war, which has drawn in foreign powers and jihadists, has led to the loss of more than half a million lives.
Agency
Published: 09 Dec 2024, 09:20 am IST
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