HTS leader breaks silence on potential Syrian-Turkish rapprochement
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, formerly al-Nusra Front) commented Monday on the potential Ankara-Damascus reconciliation, saying the “Syrian revolution” is facing a new challenge against “the criminal regime and its allies.”
The statement of al-Jolani came in a video record broadcasted by Amjaad, a media outlet affiliated with the HTS.
The leader of the organization described the trilateral talks between Russia, Turkey and Syria as a “dangerous U-turn from the objectives of the Syrian revaluation.”
On December 28, a trilateral meeting took place between the Russian, Turkish and Syrian defense ministers in Moscow, which was described by the three parties as “constructive.”
He pointed out that the efforts to normalize with Damascus are a reward to the “Syrian regime” for a lot of violations against the Syrian, stressing on their refusal to stand by who he described them as “the murderers.”
He addressed the public saying, “The Syrian people have chosen a to live with pride and dignity.”
He added that their battle is neither a political fight for obtaining positions nor a civil war, but rather a war between “right and wrong”.
He warned that whoever stands against this struggle would “lose and be doomed.”
The leader of HTS stressed that they have prepared themselves for “hard coming days,” calling on everybody to join him in facing all challenges until the “regime is toppled.”
We will continue the struggle until we reach to Damascus and overthrow the government, he noted.
Al-Jolani addressed the Syrian government saying, “Do not rejoice, for what has passed is much more than what remains; your end is getting close.”