SYRIAN rebel leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, widely known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, revealed on Wednesday that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the jihadist group he leads, is collaborating with international organizations to locate and secure sites that may contain chemical weapons. HTS, originally rooted in al-Qaeda’s Syrian branch, has in recent years attempted to moderate its image.
In a written statement shared exclusively with Reuters, al-Sharaa emphasized that HTS would not use chemical weapons under any circumstances. He further disclosed efforts to “dissolve the security forces of the previous regime and close the notorious prison” associated with the government of deposed dictator Bashar al-Assad, where tens of thousands of detainees are believed to have been held.
Al-Sharaa reiterated plans to form a technocratic government, with the current transitional administration slated to rule until March 2025, according to a statement by HTS.
The Pentagon responded positively to his remarks about securing chemical weapons sites but stressed that “actions have to meet words as well.”
Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported fresh Israeli airstrikes on Wednesday targeting Assad-linked sites in the coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus. “Israeli warplanes launched airstrikes” on “military sites,” including the Latakia port and warehouses in Tartus, the monitor said. It claimed that this marked the fourth consecutive day of Israeli operations aimed at dismantling what remains of Syria’s military arsenal since the collapse of the Assad regime.
Separately, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with his Israeli counterpart, Israel Katz, to discuss the evolving situation in Syria. According to the Pentagon, Austin reaffirmed Washington’s support for a peaceful and inclusive political transition in Syria. He also highlighted the United States’ ongoing mission to prevent the resurgence of the Islamic State.
Austin further urged Katz to improve the humanitarian conditions in Gaza amid Israel’s military operations against Hamas, following the militant group’s October 7, 2023, attacks that triggered the current conflict. (With AP)