Bloody clashes in Syria... Ahmed al-Shara blames Assad loyalists and foreign powers

Last week, Syria witnessed four days of violent clashes between government forces and elements loyal to ousted leader Bashar al-Assad. Following the rise in civilian casualties and the escalation of tension in the country, Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara gave an exclusive interview to the British news agency Reuters. Al-Shara argued that Assad loyalists and foreign supporters were behind the events.

"Syria is a state of law, and the law will apply to everyone," said al-Shara, noting that the events in the country were not limited to clashes, as some groups had engaged in revenge attacks. "We fought to protect the oppressed, and we will not allow anyone to be killed unjustly," al-Shara said, emphasizing that the perpetrators would be punished regardless of who they are.

FORMER REGIME ELEMENTS FUELED THE CONFLICT

Al-Shara alleged that the 4th Division, which is loyal to Assad's brother Maher al-Assad, and foreign-backed former regime loyalists were behind the events. Stating that the events began with attacks launched by these groups on Thursday, al-Shara expressed that many foreign elements entering the Syrian coast also increased the turmoil.

"These clashes caused years of hostility to turn into an opportunity for revenge," said al-Shara, noting that control in the country has been largely established. However, he avoided giving clear information about who the foreign elements involved in the clashes were. By saying that "parties harmed" by the developments in Syria were involved in the events, he indirectly alluded to Iran.

'INDEPENDENT COMMITTEE IS CONDUCTING THE INVESTIGATION'

Announcing that 200 members of the security forces lost their lives in the clashes, al-Shara said that an investigation into the total death toll is being conducted by an independent committee. Emphasizing that this committee also includes Alawite representatives, al-Shara said, "Those responsible will be brought to justice within 30 days."

Stating that they have no diplomatic contact with the US, al-Shara called on the Trump administration to lift sanctions. "It is not possible to ensure security in our country while sanctions against us are in effect," said al-Shara, adding that Washington has not put Syria on its agenda. "We are not the addressee of this problem; it is clear that we are not among the priorities of the US," he said.

'WE WANT TO PROTECT OUR STRATEGIC RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA'

The Syrian leader emphasized the importance of relations with Russia, which supported the Assad regime during the civil war. Stating that they are in talks with Moscow regarding new demands for the Tartus Naval Base and the Hmeimim Air Base, al-Shara said, "We do not want a rift to form between us and Russia. Their presence in Syria should not pose a threat to other countries. We want to maintain our deep strategic relations."

Stating that they did not directly intervene in Russian bombardments, al-Shara used the expression, "We gave Russia space to initiate a dialogue and negotiation process after the liberation."

When asked whether he had requested the extradition of Bashar al-Assad from Moscow, he did not respond to this question.

HARSH REACTION TO ISRAEL

The Syrian President also made statements regarding the Israeli-occupied territories in the south of his country. Responding harshly to Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz describing him as a "terrorist from the Al-Qaeda school," al-Shara said, "This is nonsense. Israel has massacred tens of thousands of civilians in Gaza and Lebanon over the last 18 months. They are the last country that can talk about this issue."

News Source: İHA