In Syria, the leader of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) continues to lead the transition process and calls for the lifting of international sanctions on the country. But two weeks after the victory, the coalition led by HTS to overthrow the regime seems fragile. In Ghouta, a stronghold of the rebellion on the outskirts of Damascus which has suffered years of bombing and fighting, armed rebel groups from the local population have regained control of the area in an uncertain unity with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.
2 mins
With our special correspondents in Douma,
Bilal was 18 years old in 2011 when the revolution began. After the death of his best friend killed by the regime, he joined the armed group Jaysh al-Islam. After years of fighting and bombing in GhoutaBilal finally took refuge with his family in the north of the country. When he heard about the offensive towards Aleppo, he took up arms again.
“ We have made an agreement with the HTS. Before the launch of this offensive, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham banned any armed group that was not under its control. To liberate Damascus, we put our disagreements aside. But here we are all from Ghouta. We entered Damascus under the name of the Damascus rebels “, he explains.
“ We rely on God »
Today, however, the transitional authority seems to be held only by Hayat Tahr al-Sham. Faced with this observation, Bilal prefers to let his elder, Ali, speak. “ It’s true, no one can deny it. But we are tired after thirteen years of war. We rely on God. We believe that the new country and its authority should belong to everyone, Druze, Christians, Muslims… To all citizens “.
Off the microphone, Ali affirms that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham represents only 20% of the men who liberated Syria and refuses to be assimilated to a group considered terrorist by the international community.
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