Syria opposition confirms that HTS leader is in Damascus

Syria’s opposition factions have confirmed that the leader of Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), Ahmed Al-Sharaa — also known by his nom de guerre Abu Muhammad Al-Julani — arrived in Damascus on Sunday, hours after announcing the overthrow of Bashar Al-Assad.

The factions posted a video clip on social media showing him prostrating on the ground next to a main road, with the caption, “Commander Ahmed al-Sharaa prostrates to God in gratitude upon his arrival in Damascus.”

In a statement read out on Syrian state television earlier on behalf of Al-Sharaa, he confirmed that the factions have “unshakable” determination.

“We continue to work with determination to achieve the goals of our revolution, which was launched for pride, dignity and freedom. There is no room for retreat, and we are determined to complete the path we started in 2011,” said the HTS leader. “We will not stop the struggle until all the rights of the great Syrian people are achieved. The future is ours and we are moving towards victory.”

The fall of the Assad regime in Syria comes more than 13 years after the outbreak of protest movements which were suppressed violently by the authorities, and turned into a civil war.

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