The Levant Liberation Committee Does Not Want Conflict With Israel: Al-Jolani
HTS leader Abu Mohamed Al-Jolani. X/ @GlobeEyeNews
December 14, 2024 Hour: 2:31 pm
One of the HTS priorities is avoiding being dragged into conflicts that could lead to further destruction, he said
On Saturday, Ahmed al-Charaa, better known by his war name Abu Mohamed Al-Jolani, stated that his organization is not interested in entering into a conflict with Israel.
RELATED:
Gathering in Jordan: A New Attempt to Shape Syria’s Future
“At this stage, the priorities are reconstruction and stability, and avoiding being dragged into conflicts that could lead to further destruction,” said the leader of the Levant Liberation Committee (HTS).
Since the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on December 8, Israel has bombed hundreds of military targets associated with the former regime, reportedly to prevent them from falling into the hands of rebel groups. Additionally, Israel has deployed its army in the demilitarized zone with Syria.
“Al-Charaa said that Israeli arguments have become weak and no longer justify their recent violations, pointing out that the Israelis have clearly crossed the lines of engagement in Syria, which threatens unjustified escalation in the region,” Syrian TV reported.
For this reason, the HTS leader called on the international community to intervene to curb Israeli escalation, arguing that the “only way” to achieve stability in the country is through a diplomatic solution.
Between Friday night and early Saturday, Israel launched 17 airstrikes on military targets in various parts of Syria, including an airbase and missile storage facilities on the outskirts of Damascus.
Al-Charaa also acknowledged that the state of the nation will require “well-thought-out plans” to emerge from its current situation. In this regard, he explained that before taking steps to address urgent issues, they will need to gather precise information and study it thoroughly. He also advocated for establishing “modern” foundations for a new state.
On Saturday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken admitted that President Joe Biden’s administration is in contact with HTS. His remarks came during a press conference in Aqaba, Jordan, where he participated in an international meeting to support a political transition in Syria.
Washington has designated the Levant Liberation Committee, which includes the former Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda, as a terrorist organization. The group is also classified as a terrorist organization under a United Nations Security Council resolution adopted during the height of the Syrian civil war.
Convened by King Abdullah II of Jordan, the conference on Syria also brought together several Arab countries and the foreign ministers Jean-Noël Barrot (France) and Hakan Fidan (Türkiye).
teleSUR/ JF Source: EFE