Global News Podcast
Syria's de facto leader says the country is not a threat to its neighbours or the west
Thu, 19 Dec 2024
Syria's new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa told the BBC that Syria is exhausted by war and is not a threat to its neighbours or to the west. Also: listen to the 'earliest known country song' ever recorded.
Full Episode
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This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Jackie Leonard and in the early hours of Thursday, the 19th of December, these are our main stories. Syria's new de facto leader has told the BBC that the country is exhausted by war and poses no threat to Western countries or its neighbours.
An out-of-control Indian Navy vessel has collided with a passenger ferry off the coast of Mumbai, killing at least 13 people. And police in Liberia are investigating a fire that has destroyed much of the country's parliament. Also in this podcast, what's believed to be the earliest recording of a country song.
Records of this type, these are unicorns. They're reputed to exist, but they've never been seen.
The de facto leader of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharra, says his country is exhausted by war and is not a threat to its neighbours or the West. In an interview with the BBC in Damascus, he called for sanctions on Syria to be lifted. Al-Sharah, who has now discarded his nom de guerre, Abu Mohammed al-Jalani, led the lightning offensive that toppled the Assad regime less than two weeks ago.
He is the leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, also known as HTS, the dominant group in the rebel alliance. He said HTS should be delisted as a terrorist organisation. It is designated as one by the UN, the US, EU and UK, among many others. It started as a splinter group of al-Qaeda, from which it broke away in 2016.
In the Syrian capital Damascus, our international editor Jeremy Bowen met Ahmed al-Sharra, who was relaxed during the interview and was wearing civilian clothes. This is his report.
The de facto leader of Syria, Ahmad al-Sharra, chose to do the interview in the presidential palace built by the Assad's. He told me he wasn't surprised that the old regime collapsed so quickly. Syrians, he said, needed to keep calm to tackle all the problems they face. You've made a lot of promises.
You've said that you'll respect the mosaic of different sectarian groups here in Syria, minorities as well. Are you going to keep those promises?
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