peso63, Al-Julani’s Victory Speech Marks A New Phase In The Syrian Conflict?

Al-Julani’s Victory Speech Marks A New Phase In The Syrian Conflict? | Photo- AP Al-Julani’s Victory Speech Marks A New Phase In The Syrian Conflict? | Photo- AP

After 13 years of civil war and five decades under the oppressive Baathist regimepeso63,, Syria awoke on Monday to an uncertain future as rebels captured the capital, Damascus, and forced President Bashar al-Assad to flee to Russia.

The city’s fall marked the culmination of a long struggle and the beginning of a new chapter in the Middle East’s complex political landscape.

Abu Mohammed al-Julani, leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the main Syrian opposition group, delivered a speech following the group’s victory in Damascus. Standing in the iconic Umayyad Mosque, al-Julani declared that a “new history” had been written, not just for Syria, but for the entire region.

He emphasised that the Syrian people were the rightful owners of their country.

ALSO READ | Who Is Abu Mohammed Al-Julani, The Man Behind The Fall Of Syria's Assad Regime

“Without them committing any crimes, the (Al-Assad) regime has imprisoned thousands of its own civilians unjustly. We, the Syrian people, are the rightful owners of this country. We have fought long and hard. And today, we have been rewarded with this victory,” Al-Jazeera has quoted al-Julani stating.

Reflecting on the immense human toll the conflict had taken, he continued, “How many people were displaced across the world? How many people lived in tents? How many drowned in the seas?”

Al-Julani’s words resonated deeply with those who had endured the hardship and loss of war. “A new history is being written in the entire region after this great victory,” he proclaimed. “This victory is for all Syrians; they were all part of this victory.”

As per CNN, Al-Julani’s rise to power has been marked by significant transformation. Once an al-Qaeda fighter, he has distanced himself from radical groups in favor of broader sectarian tolerance. His strategic speech signaled a shift in his political identity. As he stood before the mosque’s towering stone walls, he said, as reported by the CNN website, “This victory, my brothers, is a victory for the entire Islamic nation.”

It was a statement not just for those who had supported him, but for the broader Sunni majority in Syria, to whom he belongs. He signaled that this victory belonged to them as well.

READ MORE | Bashar Al-Assad's Regime Falls In Syria | War Is Everywhere

Al-Julani’s road to power has not been without controversy. As a leader of a group deemed a terrorist organisation by the United States and other Western nations, he faces significant external opposition. A $10 million bounty has been placed on his head.

Al-Julani has worked to ensure that his message reaches key international audiences. In interviews with Western media outlets like CNN, he has sought to present himself as a leader who has moved beyond the brutal tactics of past jihadist groups.

He positioned himself as a more pragmatic figure who is willing to engage with the world.

As Syria embarks on a new and uncertain path, al-Julani’s leadership and the actions of his group will play a pivotal role in shaping the country’s future.

The coming months will determine whether this victory will be the beginning of a new era of stability and governancepeso63,, or if it will plunge the nation further into chaos and conflict. The world watches closely as the new Syrian reality unfolds.

With his message, he seemed to have attempted to break sectarian divides. He denounced Syria’s sectarian history and the influence of Iran, which had long supported Assad’s regime, the CNN reported. “This new triumph marks a new chapter in the history of the region, a history fraught with dangers that left Syria as a playground for Iranian ambitions,” he said.

“Syria became a place where corruption and sectarianism were spread by external forces, and now, this era is over.”

Al-Julani’s speech also served as a pointed message to international powers, particularly Iran, which had long held sway in Syria. He declared that “Syria is being purified”.

Al-Julani’s road to power has not been without controversy. As a leader of a group deemed a terrorist organisation by the United States and other Western nations, he faces significant external opposition. A $10 million bounty has been placed on his head.

Al-Julani has worked to ensure that his message reaches key international audiences. In interviews with Western media outlets like CNN, he has sought to present himself as a leader who has moved beyond the brutal tactics of past jihadist groups.

He positioned himself as a more pragmatic figure who is willing to engage with the world.

As Syria embarks on a new and uncertain path, al-Julani’s leadership and the actions of his group will play a pivotal role in shaping the country’s future.

The coming months will determine whether this victory will be the beginning of a new era of stability and governance, or if it will plunge the nation further into chaos and conflict. The world watches closely as the new Syrian reality unfolds.

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