The leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Abu Muhammad al-Jolani, made a rare public appearance in an exclusive interview with CNN, asserting that the Syrian revolution remains committed to overthrowing the dictator Bashar al-Assad and establishing a governance system that represents all Syrians. Speaking from an undisclosed location in Syria, al-Jolani described the Assad regime as a spent force propped up by foreign powers.
“The seeds of the regime’s defeat have always been within it,” al-Jolani declared. “The Iranians attempted to revive the regime, buying it time, and later the Russians also tried to prop it up. But the truth remains: this regime is dead.”
The interview comes amidst a series of stunning advances by revolutionary forces, including the recent liberation of the cities of Aleppo and Hama, marking a significant blow to Assad’s regime and its Iranian and Russian allies. For the first time in years, the revolution appears to have gained significant momentum, reigniting a cause that had seemed dormant.
Al-Jolani painted a picture of Syria’s future after the fall of the Assad regime, emphasizing the need for institutions and governance rooted in popular support. “When we talk about objectives, the goal of the revolution remains the overthrow of this regime. It is our right to use all available means to achieve that goal,” he said.
According to al-Jolani, HTS envisions a Syria where all ethnic and religious groups live safely. “No one has the right to erase another group. These sects have coexisted in this region for hundreds of years, and no one has the right to eliminate them,” he stated, addressing concerns about the treatment of minorities in liberated areas.
He also expressed optimism that a stable and unified Syria would prompt refugees who fled abroad, including those now living in Europe, to return and help rebuild the country.
During the interview, al-Jolani sought to project a transformed image, distancing HTS from its extremist roots as a former al Qaeda affiliate. “A person in their twenties will have a different personality than someone in their thirties or forties,” he said, reflecting on his evolution as a leader.
Under al-Jolani’s leadership, HTS officially severed ties with al Qaeda in 2017, when it merged with other revolutionary groups to form what is known today as HTS. Despite these efforts, the group remains designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the United States and other countries. Al-Jolani dismissed this designation as politically motivated and argued that his group’s practices are fundamentally different from jihadist movements.
“We are talking about a larger project – we are talking about building Syria,” he said. “Hayat Tahrir al-Sham is merely one part of this dialogue, and it may dissolve at any time. It is not an end in itself but a means to perform a task: confronting this regime.”
Despite the ongoing conflict, Jolani highlighted efforts to stabilize life in liberated areas. In Aleppo, which revolutionary forces seized last week, markets have reopened, and life is reportedly returning to a semblance of normalcy, even in the aftermath of Russian airstrikes.
Al-Jolani assured civilians that they have little to fear under HTS governance, claiming the group is committed to protecting minorities and addressing past abuses. “There were some violations against them [minorities] by certain individuals during periods of chaos, but we addressed these issues,” he said.
Al-Jolani also called for the departure of all foreign forces from Syria, including those of the United States, Russia, Turkey, and Iran. He argued that Assad’s removal would create conditions for foreign forces to leave and for Syrians to resolve their differences internally.
“Syria deserves a governing system that is institutional, not one where a single ruler makes arbitrary decisions,” al-Jolani said, criticizing the Assad dynasty, which has ruled for over five decades. The conflict, which began in 2011, has displaced millions of Syrians and left hundreds of thousands dead. Al-Jolani positioned HTS as central to the effort to bring the revolution to fruition, reiterating its ultimate goal: “to overthrow this regime and give Syria back to its people.”
As the current Repelling the Aggression campaign continues to advance, liberating more territory, the stakes remain high for Syria’s future. Al-Jolani’s interview marks a strategic effort to reshape his group’s image while signaling a new chapter in the over-a-decade-long struggle against the brutal dictator Bashar al-Assad.
