Celebration in Damascus as world leaders discuss challenges facing Syria
Al Jazeera
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham promises to form inclusive government but UN says situation remains ‘fluid’.
Tens of thousands of Syrians have converged at the landmark Umayyad Mosque in the capital Damascus to celebrate the removal of President Bashar al-Assad, as world leaders held meetings to discuss the challenges facing the war-torn country.
Friday’s celebration was called for by the leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) armed group Ahmed al-Sharaa – also known as Abu Mohammed al-Julani.
HTS swept across the country and took the capital last week, removing al-Assad who fled to Russia and capping nearly 14 years of war.
The group, which was affiliated to al-Qaeda before breaking ties in 2016, is designated “a terrorist organisation” by many Western governments that now face the challenge of determining their approach.
In a meeting in Turkiye, United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken said it was “imperative” to work against a resurgence of ISIL (ISIS) in Syria following the fall of al-Assad.
