DAMASCUS: As the previous president blasted the country’s new rulers as “terrorists,” the leader of the organization that spearheaded the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad has promised that Syria’s opposition factions will be “disbanded.”
After decades of ruthless rule and years of civil war came to an end on December 8, Assad left Syria as rebels led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took control of the capital, Damascus.
HTS chief Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, who now goes by Ahmed al-Sharaa, has made an effort to persuade governments outside and domestic minority that the country’s interim leaders will defend state institutions and all Syrians.
He declared that all rebel groups would “be disbanded and the fighters trained to join the ranks of the defense ministry” during a meeting with Druze community members on Monday.
