HTS arrives in Damascus, pledges to build a unified Syria after ousting Bashar al-Assad

From the Umayyad Mosque, al-Julani told a jubilant crowd that Syrians are the "rightful owners" of their country

The leader of Syria's main opposition armed group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Abu Mohammed al-Julani, has declared that a "new history" has been written for the entire Middle East following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad's government. Al-Julani made the remarks during a victory speech in Damascus on Sunday after his forces successfully captured the Syrian capital in a lightning offensive.

Speaking from the historic Umayyad Mosque, al-Julani told a jubilant crowd that the Syrian people are the "rightful owners" of their country. "We have been fighting, and today we have been rewarded with this victory," he said, emphasizing that Syrians had been wronged by the regime. “The [al-Assad] regime has imprisoned thousands of its own civilians unjustly and without them committing any crimes,” he added.

The capture of Damascus marked the end of over 13 years of brutal civil war, which saw the Assad regime, supported by Russian and Iranian forces, struggle to maintain control. Al-Julani’s speech came just hours after opposition forces declared the fall of Assad’s government and reported that the president had fled the country, reportedly heading to Russia.

“A new history, my brothers, is being written in the entire region after this great victory,” al-Julani proclaimed, reflecting on the significance of the moment. "It will take hard work to build a new Syria that will be a beacon for the Islamic nation," he warned, stressing the difficult road ahead in the post-Assad era.

In his address, al-Julani also called for unity among Syrians, emphasizing that the country now belongs to all its citizens, regardless of their past affiliations. He invoked gratitude, urging prayers for the success of the revolution and reminding Syrians that "God will not fail you."

Despite his current leadership of HTS, a group previously linked to al-Qaeda, al-Julani has distanced himself from the organization in recent years. HTS is still designated as a terrorist group by the United States, the European Union, and Turkiye, and has faced criticism for alleged human rights abuses in Idlib, where it has held power since 2017. However, al-Julani has sought to present HTS as a more unified and pragmatic force in Syria’s future.

In his speech, al-Julani emphasized that there should be no room for vengeance in the post-Assad Syria, stressing that unity must be prioritized. He also took aim at Iran’s role in Syria, vowing that a future Syria will no longer be influenced by foreign actors like Tehran.

Speaking to Al Jazeera from the Lebanon-Syria border, reporter Zein Basravi highlighted two key elements of al-Julani's speech: "He pushed this idea that there should not be vengeance … that Syria for all Syrians, should be something that people should focus on," Basravi said, noting al-Julani's critical stance on Iran’s involvement in the country.

The victory in Damascus comes after months of rapid territorial gains by HTS and allied rebel groups, marking the culmination of more than a decade of armed conflict that began as a peaceful uprising in 2011. The war spiraled into a complex, multi-sided conflict that saw foreign powers such as Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah intervene in support of Assad.

The HTS-led offensive gained momentum after Russia became preoccupied with its war in Ukraine, while Iranian and Hezbollah forces were weakened by their ongoing conflict with Israel.

In an earlier statement, al-Julani reiterated his commitment to the revolution, saying, "We continue to work with determination to achieve the goals of our revolution … We are determined to complete the path we started in 2011." He vowed that the fight would continue "until all the rights of the great Syrian people are secured."

As Syria enters this uncertain new chapter, al-Julani’s calls for unity and rebuilding stand in stark contrast to the years of division and devastation under Assad’s rule. But with a new government now taking shape, it remains to be seen whether the hopes of a unified Syria can be realized after more than a decade of conflict.