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HTS leader calls on the international community as Israel continues its operations in Syria
The new Syrian authorities are calling on the international community to intervene and help it stop Israeli strikes, the head of the Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham (HTS) jihadist group Abu Mohammed al-Julani has said.
In an interview on Saturday on the Istanbul-based Syria TV channel Ahmad al-Sharaa, who is better known by his nom de guerre, spoke about Israel for the first time since taking over the country. Militant groups led by HTS launched an offensive against Syrian troops in November, capturing major cities and advancing towards Damascus. After the collapse of the Syrian military, Former President Bashar Assad fled the country and was granted asylum in Russia.
Al-Julani said that “the Israeli arguments have become flimsy” and “do not justify their recent violations.” The HTS leader stressed that West Jerusalem has “crossed the lines of engagement” in the country, which might threaten an escalation in the region.
Earlier in the week, Israel launched a major operation, reportedly striking weapons stockpiles and naval vessels that belonged to Assad’s army before armed opposition groups took control of the country. Israeli troops are also remaining in the UN-patrolled buffer zone between Israel and Syria, claiming it is a temporary “sterile defense zone” in southern Syria to prevent any “terrorist threat.” Speaking to Channel 4 on Wednesday, an HTS spokesman stopped short of outright condemning the Israeli strikes, merely stating that the group wants “everyone” to respect the sovereignty of “the new Syria.”
Al-Julani called on the international community to intervene in the situation and “assume its responsibilities towards this escalation.” The HTS leader believes that the only way to ensure security and stability is through “diplomatic solutions” and “away from ill-considered” military incidents.
