Al-Joulani To Arab Press: Syrian President Will Be Chosen By Elections, I May Run; Armed Factions Will Be Dissolved; We Seek Good Relations With Other Countries, Including Russia And Iran; We Will Not Enter Conflict With Israel But Its 'Escalation' In Syria Must Be Stopped; Turkey Is Our 'Closest Friend'

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In recent days, multiple Arab media outlets have published interviews with Ahmad Al-Shar' aka Abu Muhammad Al-Joulani, leader of Syrian jihadi group Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), after the Military Operations Command comprising his group and other jihadi and militant factions toppled the Assad regime on December 8, 2024.

The various sources ascribed very similar statements to Al-Joulani, who is currently serving as the de facto head of the Syrian state during a transitional period scheduled to continue until March 2025. This report will organize Al-Joulani's remarks by topic.

Syria's President Will Be Chosen Through Elections; Al-Joulani May Run

The Saudi daily Al-Arabiya quoted Al-Joulani as stating that the transitional administration will use the current period "to serve the Syrians and build the future."[1] Declaring that the victory against the regime was not a "coincidence" but had been planned for years, Al-Joulani said, according to the Istanbul-based Syria TV: "We have plans to treat all Syria's crises, and are now at the stage of gathering information. We have plans in place for building and development in Syria."[2]

According to the London-based Elaph news site, Al-Joulani explained that committees would be established to "reexamine the constitution," and the form of government left to "experts, jurists, and the Syrian people" to determine, while officeholders in the future state would be chosen on ability and merit.[3] Syria's Al-Araby TV similarly reported that Al-Joulani promised to form committees to reexamine the Syrian constitution, adding that the committee would not be comprised of HTS members but of "specialized experts." He declared: "We seek to build a state based on institutions and the rule of law. The vehicle of coming to power will be through the ballot box."[4]

With respect to whether he would run for president in future elections, Al-Arabiya quoted Al-Joulani: "It is enough for now that I am in Damascus."[5] Elaph reported a slightly different response: "If the Syrians do not request that, I will be content,"[6]  while Al-Araby TV quoted the Syrian leader as saying: "I will run for president … if the citizens or those around me ask me to."[7]

Syria Must Abandon "Revolutionary Mentality" To Run A State; New Currency Will Be Issued; Captagon Production Will Cease

Syria TV similarly quoted Al-Joulani as saying that Syria faces a "real tragedy" requiring "deliberate plans" to solve it, stressing the importance of gathering data and analyzing it correctly in order to deal with "pressing issues" affecting the country. Stating that while the "Syrian revolution" achieved a "victory," it is now necessary to abandon the "revolutionary mentality" to properly lead the country, he declared that Syria must establish a state based on law and institutions, to guarantee "lasting stability." He further asserted that the country's future depends on "laying the foundations of government and justice." Al-Joulani called for "hard work" to rebuild the Syrian state on "modern foundations guaranteeing rights and justice for all Syrians," and warned against repeating past mistakes.[8]

Pro-HTS Telegram channels quoted remarks Al-Joulani made at "the recent press conference," where he stressed that "the first priority is to build destroyed homes and return the IDPs, until the last tent." Promising to consider raising wages by 400%, Al-Joulani also said: "A new currency will be issued in Syria after the current currency stabilizes and improves its value."[9]

In addition, Al-Joulani told Syria TV that the new administration will stop the production of the Captagon drug in Syria.[10]

Armed Factions Will Be Dissolved; Forced Conscription Will End

Speaking to Syria TV, Al-Joulani explained that the transitional government's Defense Ministry will dissolve all armed factions "and there will be no weapons outside the authority of the Syrian state."[11] Al-Araby TV quoted Al-Joulani similarly: "We will demand the dissolution of all [military] factions and the collection of weapons under the authority of the state within the relevant institutions."[12]

Telegram channels supporting HTS reported that at a recent press conference, Al-Joulani stated: "There will be no compulsory conscription to the army, except for [those with] some specialties, which will be mandatory for brief periods."[13]

New Syrian Administration Has Good Relations With Christians, Druze, Kurds

Qatar's Al-Jazeera quoted Al-Joulani as saying that the new administration has "ties with the Christians and Druze, and they fought alongside us within the Military Operations Command." The Syrian leader distinguished between "Kurdish society" and the "PKK" (Kurdistan Workers' Party), meaning the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which includes factions linked to the PKK militant organization.[14]

In a brief video clip filmed by Al-Arabiya correspondent Omar Shiekh Ebrahim, Al-Joulani declared: "The Kurds are part of the homeland and suffered great oppression, as we have. … In the future Syria, our Kurdish people are essential. We will live together, Allah willing, and each of us will receive his rights by law. From today, there will be no oppression against our Kurdish people." When asked about the Kurds of the Afrin area, Al-Joulani said: "We will strive to return them to their villages and areas, Allah willing."[15]

New Administration Is In Touch With Many Parties, Seeks Good Relations With Other Countries

Regarding the new administration's foreign policy, Al-Araby TV quoted Al-Joulani as saying: "We strive to conclude joint defense agreements and build strategic military ties with several countries … We will not let Syria be a source of worry and fear for any neighboring country."[16]

According to Al-Jazeera, Al-Joulani spoke to Turkish correspondent Kemal Öztürk in Damascus on December 12, and told him: "We are in touch with all parties, directly or indirectly … We are also in contact with many countries."[17]

Al-Joulani with Öztürk

Al-Jazeera also quoted Al-Joulani as reporting that the transitional government has been in contact with Western embassies and is discussing the possibility that the UK will return its envoy to Damascus.[18]

Iran's Agenda Endangered Syria And The Region; Syrian Administration Is In Contact With Tehran And Has No Enmity For Iranian Nation

According to Syria TV, Al-Joulani claimed that Iranian expansion in the region and its use of Syria as a "platform for carrying out its agenda" posed a grave danger to the country, as well as neighboring countries and the Gulf states. He said: "We managed to end the Iranian presence in Syria. But we harbor no enmity to the Iranian people, as our problem was with the policies that harmed our country."[19]

According to Al-Araby TV, Al-Joulani stated: "We have received messages from Iran seeking reassurance about its embassies and some of the [Shi'ite] shrines in Damascus. The Iranian expansion project in the Arab countries has become much weaker with its disappearance from Damascus."[20]

Syria Will Not Enter Conflict With Israel; International Community Must Use Diplomacy To Stop Israeli "Escalation" In Syria

Al-Joulani told Al-Arabiya: "Israel intended to enter Syria using the excuse of the Iranian presence, and its excuse has now ended." He added: "There is no excuse for any foreign intervention in Syria now after the departure of the Iranians."[21]

As quoted by Al-Jazeera, Al-Joulani said that the new administration will not "enter a conflict with Israel, but the Israeli side has violated the 1974 ceasefire agreement."[22]

Discussing Israeli intervention in Syria, Al-Joulani told Syria TV that "the Israeli excuses have become weak and do not justify its recent violations … The Israelis have clearly crossed the lines of engagement in Syria, threatening unjustified escalation in the region." Declaring that Syria has been "exhausted" by years of war and conflict, Al-Joulani said the country is unable to enter any new conflicts and that Syria must prioritize "building and stability" and avoid "being drawn into conflicts that may lead to additional destruction." He called on the international community to "immediately intervene and take responsibility" to stop Israeli "escalation" and respect Syrian sovereignty, stating that "diplomatic solutions are the only way to guarantee security and stability," not "uncalculated military escapades."[23]

New Syrian Administration Is Open To Relations With Russia

According to Al-Arabiya, Al-Joulani described that the Russians had "tired of the worn-out Assad regime and that Syria's new leadership had "given Russia the chance to build new relations."[24] Syria TV similarly quoted Al-Joulani as saying that the new Syrian administration has "refrained from antagonizing Russia and has given it the opportunity to reassess its relationship with Syria in a way that serves shared interests."[25]

Turkey Is Syria's "Closest Friend"

Discussing the visit by İbrahim Kalın, director of Turkey's National Intelligence Organization, to Damascus, Al-Joulani said: "The Turkish nation is the closest friend of our nation … We gain from their experience and are sure that they will be on our side in the future, too. Therefore, Turkey is a country of great importance to us."[26]

Those Guilty Of Human Rights Violations Will Be Prosecuted; Saydnaya Prison Will Be Turned Into A Museum Open To Visitors From All Countries

With respect to the Assad regime's infamous Saydnaya prison on the outskirts of Damascus, Al-Jazeera quoted Al-Joulani as saying: "This prison represents the extent of the Assad regime's barbarity and cruelty. Therefore, we are gathering evidence from this place to prosecute Bashar Al-Assad. We have already begun to identify the individuals who committed torture or implemented executions there. We will reveal those names and bring them to justice. We plan to invite human rights organizations and independent civil institutions from all over the world to visit this prison. We want the whole world to bear witness to this terrible place and the injustice that took place in it. In the future, we will turn it into a museum to testify to these atrocities, and open it to visitors from all over the world."[27]

Al-Joulani has made several public addresses since the capture of Damascus, celebrating the victory over the Assad regime and vowing to prosecute "war criminals" who tortured Syrians on behalf of the former regime.[28]

Following Al-Joulani's promise to dissolve armed factions, Arab media reported that several Palestinian militant groups in Syria have surrendered their weapons to the Military Operations Command.[29]