Build stable future, world leaders urge Syrians

KABUL (Pajhwok): After the fall of Bashar al-Assad administration, say the future of the country is a matter for the Syrians to determine.

In a post on X, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wrote: “After 14 years of brutal war & the fall of the dictatorial regime, today the people of Syria can seize an historic opportunity to build a stable & peaceful future. The future of Syria is a matter for the Syrians to determine.”

He said the UN would honour the memory of those who have borne the brunt of this conflict.

Guterres added: “We remain committed to helping Syrians build a country where reconciliation, justice, freedom & prosperity are shared realities for all.”

Olaf Scholz, the Chancellor of Germany, said he stood alongside the people of Syria who hoped for a free and peaceful future.

US President Joe Biden saw the fall of Assad's regime as a historic opportunity for Syria, saying that now is the best chance for the Syrian people to shape their own future.

According to the BBC, Russia said its military bases in Syria were on “high alert” but a Kremlin source told Russian media their safety had been guaranteed by the rebels.

A supporter of the Assad regime, Iran said it expected “friendly” relations with Syria to continue.

The foreign ministry in Tehran urged “the initiation of national dialogue involving all segments of Syrian society to establish an inclusive governance structure that represents all Syrians”.

Turkey pledged stepped-up efforts to help secure Syria’s peaceful and stable future in the coming days, including the repatriation of millions of Syrians who have fled during the civil war .

Meanwhile, CNN reported strikes could be heard in Damascus in the early hours of Monday morning. But it was not immediately clear who had conducted the strikes.

"Hayat Tahrir al-Sham," led by Abu Muhammad al-Julani, took control of Damascus on Sunday, bringing an end to over fifty years of the Assad family's rule.

Ahmed Hussein al-Shara, known as Abu Muhammad al-Julani, the leader of the group, promised in an interview with CNN before capturing Damascus that the future government of Syria would be based on the will of the people, and their war's objective was not to gain power.

sa/mud