Barran Press - Anadolu Agency
On December 14, 2024, Ahmad al-Shar'a, the leader of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, emphasized the necessity of shifting from a revolutionary mindset to a state-oriented approach in order to rebuild Syria following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime. In an exclusive interview with the non-governmental outlet Syria TV, al-Shar'a highlighted the urgent need for well-planned strategies to address the country's dire situation.
He stressed the importance of establishing a state based on law and institutions to ensure sustainable stability, stating, "Syria faces a real tragedy that requires studied plans for resolution." Al-Shar'a asserted that the future of Syria depends on establishing governance and justice, urging a transition from revolutionary efforts to state-building.
He called for a committed effort to reconstruct Syria according to modern principles that guarantee rights and justice for all citizens, warning against repeating past mistakes that hindered stability.
On December 8, opposition factions took control of Damascus and other cities, leading to the withdrawal of regime forces from public institutions and streets, effectively ending 61 years of Ba'ath Party rule and 53 years of Assad family dominance.
Regarding Israeli incursions into the buffer zone, al-Shar'a dismissed Israeli justifications as weak and unconvincing, asserting that Israel has blatantly crossed engagement lines in Syria, which threatens to escalate tensions in the region.
He noted that Syria's war-torn condition does not permit the initiation of new conflicts, emphasizing that the current priority should be reconstruction and stability rather than being drawn into further disputes that could cause more destruction.
Al-Shar'a urged the international community to intervene urgently and take responsibility for the escalating Israeli actions, stressing the importance of stabilizing the region and respecting Syrian sovereignty. He reaffirmed that diplomatic solutions are the only path to ensure security and stability, steering clear of uncalculated military adventures.
In recent days, Israel has intensified its airstrikes against various military sites across Syria, exploiting the political shift following the opposition's victory over Assad. Israel announced the collapse of the 1974 disengagement agreement with Syria and the deployment of its army in the demilitarized buffer zone of the Golan Heights, a move condemned by the United Nations and several Arab states.
According to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), the demilitarized zone stretches over 75 kilometers in length and varies in width from approximately 10 kilometers in the center to 200 meters in the southernmost region.