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Al-Jawlani celebrates the fall of the Assad regime in the Umayyad Mosque

The jihadist leader proclaims the ‘purification’ of Syria as the US conducts raids against ISIS bases

Syria is experiencing a momentous moment: Bashar al-Assad’s regime has collapsed, the dictator has found asylum in Russia, and the country has come under the control of Abu Mohammad al-Jawlani and the jihadists of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The symbolic image of the triumph is al-Jawlani’s speech in the Umayyad mosque, where he proclaimed the ‘purification’ of the nation and celebrated a ‘historic victory for the entire Islamic community’.

Welcomed by the crowd to the cry of ‘Allah Akbar’, al-Jawlani attributed the success to divine grace and the sacrifice of martyrs, outlining the first steps for the transition of power. The outgoing premier, Mohammed Ghazi al-Jalali, confirmed his willingness to guarantee the continuity of the state, reiterating that the government will remain at the service of the people until new elections.

Meanwhile, Assad’s flight to Moscow was confirmed by the Kremlin: ‘Russia has granted asylum to the president and his family for humanitarian reasons,’ said a source close to Vladimir Putin. Moscow has initiated contacts with the leaders of the Syrian armed opposition to ensure the protection of Russian military bases and diplomatic offices in the country.

In the US, President Joe Biden welcomed the fall of the regime, describing it as an act of justice after years of brutality, torture and massacres. However, Biden also warned of the risk that ISIS could exploit the political vacuum to strengthen itself. Therefore, Washington conducted a series of targeted strikes against jihadist bases in Syria and declared its commitment to work with all local groups for a transition to a sovereign and democratic Syria.

Despite Assad’s collapse, uncertainty prevails. Biden acknowledged the human rights violations committed by some rebel factions, stressing that the US will closely monitor their future actions. ‘This is a time of risk and opportunity,’ the president said, highlighting the importance of inclusive leadership and a UN-backed process to ensure lasting peace.

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