Latest news with #AlawiteMuslims
CBC
14-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
'Step up': Windsorites want protections for loved ones in Syria who are 'living in fear'
Windsorites call for action, fearing for the safety of loved ones in Syria 2 hours ago Duration 4:04 Syrians in Windsor are sounding alarm bells, saying their loved ones back home are in need of protection, in the midst of targeted violence. Since the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad government in December, there has been a serious escalation of violence, especially in Syria's coastal region. For a Syrian-Canadian living in Windsor, it's been devastating to watch it unfolding from afar. We are keeping her real identity confidential to limit the risk to her family. Her husband, the father of her children, is in hiding in Syria, and she's fearful she may never see him again. "It's very heartbreaking," she said. "It's breaking my family apart." She and her husband are Alawite Muslims, a minority group in Syria. She has not seen her husband in years. While she has been living in Canada with their children, her husband, who is not a Canadian citizen, had been forced to serve in the Syrian military for many years until the collapse of the former government. Alawites 'feel totally helpless' As a former member of the military and as an Alawite, she says her husband is afraid for his life. The former government was largely made up of members of the Alawite sect in Syria, which means that much of the violence has been directed at the Alawite community which is clustered along the coast, explained Adam Coogle, the Deputy Middle East Director for Human Rights Watch. "Right now, unfortunately for the Alawite community, they very much feel totally helpless right now. They don't feel like they have any protection," he said. "It's very easy to understand why Alawites, particularly in Syria right now, are living in fear." The Windsor woman is heartbroken and at a loss, trying to stay strong for her and her husband's two kids. "He doesn't know if he's going to live again to see his children... My last conversation with him was, 'Hey, you know, if something happens to me, take care of the kids,'" she said, holding back tears. In recent months, hundreds of civilians have been killed in violent attacks. In March, in a sharp escalation, there were violent clashes between Syria's government and Assad loyalists, followed by a series of revenge killings. According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, there were more than 1,500 deaths that month, including more than 100 children. Investigations are still ongoing, so the exact number is unknown. The United Nations has reported instances of entire families being killed, with Alawite cities and villages targeted in particular. The Syrian-Canadian woman's husband is in hiding, in the coastal area of Syria. She said he was forced to give up his identification documents when he was discharged from the military, and now has no avenue to leave the country. "My kids ask about him every day. Every day we pray that we can bring him here," she said. "I can't be there with him because it's not safe for me or my children and there is no way for him to come here. So it's a very difficult situation." 'They feel dark, very hopeless' CBC also spoke with another Syrian-Canadian living in Windsor with extended family and friends in the coastal region of Tartus. We are protecting her identity to minimize risk to her family overseas. "My relatives are living in fear. Like they're literally hiding," she said. "People are living in fear of being killed." Much of her family is Alawite, but others are Christians. She says that they are also living in fear of discrimination. While Coogle with the Human Rights Watch says there's no evidence that new authorities are actively targeting the Christian community, he understands why Christians are worried, pointing to examples of fighters burning down Christmas Trees. At the time, the leading rebel group in the country's new administration said those responsible would be punished, but the incident did prompt questions about the new Islamist regime's tolerance of minorities. "Christians understandably are concerned about what the new authorities will do in the long term with the Christian community, both in terms of their religious practice and their presence in the country." The Windsor woman said her loved ones are afraid to even leave their homes. "Everybody's just kind of... they feel very dark, very hopeless," she said. She regularly receives voice note updates from loved ones sharing their fears. One voice note from a relative that she translated for CBC said, "We are living in fear every single day and every single night. There are killings, executions and kidnappings." It went on to say "We are unarmed. We are not doing anything. We just want to live in peace." She hopes for a better future in Syria soon, when she can return to the country that she loves so deeply. But for now, she says she's afraid, but hopes that by speaking out she can make a difference. "People need to know what's happening," she said. 'Step up and help these people' Coogle explained, after a brutal 14-year civil war, Syria is also dealing with extreme poverty and high criminality across the country. He confirmed that killings of unarmed civilians, kidnappings and checkpoints set up by militants stopping people at random, are a reality. He said there are many armed groups, including foreign fighters, operating within the country in support of the new government. Usually these groups would be under the control of the state, but right now, they are actually acting independently. "It remains a very, very dangerous country where the security forces have not managed to yet turn their forces into a cohesive force that can actually impose law and order throughout the country," he said. "That's not an excuse. The authorities have an obligation to provide security and ensure security of all citizens in Syria." Both Windsor women are calling for international intervention, for awareness and protections for minorities in Syria, as well as more efforts to help individuals trying to leave the country. "Step up and help these people," the woman whose husband is in hiding expressed. She said she feels like she has no where to turn to for help to get her husband out of Syria. A spokesperson for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada told CBC in an e-mailed statement that they are actively monitoring the situation and cannot speculate on future policy decisions. "Since 2016, Canada has continued to provide protection to thousands of Syrians through our existing refugee programs, including government-supported and privately-sponsored pathways," Communications Advisor Mary Rose Sabater said. In March, Global Affairs Canada issued a statement condemning the atrocities taking place, and calling on the interim authorities to end the violence. The statement went on to say, "Civilians must be protected, the dignity and human rights of all religious and ethnic groups must be upheld, and perpetrators must be held accountable."
LBCI
10-03-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
New Syrian leader Sharaa says killings of Alawites threaten unity, vows justice
Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa said mass killings of members of ousted President Bashar al-Assad's minority sect were a threat to his mission to unite the country, and promised to punish those responsible, including his own allies if necessary. In his first interview to a global news agency, held after hundreds died in four days of clashes between Alawite Muslims and Syria's new Sunni Islamist authorities, Sharaa blamed pro-Assad groups backed by foreigners for triggering the bloodshed but acknowledged that revenge killings had followed. "Syria is a state of law. The law will take its course on all," he told Reuters from the Damascus presidential palace, where Assad resided until Sharaa's forces toppled him on December 8, forcing the ousted ruler to flee to Moscow. "We fought to defend the oppressed, and we won't accept that any blood be shed unjustly, or goes without punishment or accountability, even among those closest to us," Sharaa said. In a wide-ranging interview, Sharaa also said that his government had had no contacts with the United States since President Donald Trump had taken office. He repeated pleas for Washington to lift sanctions imposed in the Assad era. He also held out the prospect of restoring relations with Moscow, Assad's backer throughout the war, which is trying to retain two major military bases in Syria. He rejected criticism from Israel, which has captured territory in southern Syria since Assad was toppled. And he said he aimed to resolve differences with Kurds, including by meeting the head of a Kurdish-led group long backed by Washington. While he blamed the outbreak of violence in recent days on a former military unit loyal to Assad's brother and an unspecified foreign power, he acknowledged that in response "many parties entered the Syrian coast and many violations occurred." "It became an opportunity for revenge" for years of pent-up grievances, he said, although he said the situation had since been largely contained. Sharaa said 200 members of the security forces had been killed in the unrest, while declining to say the overall death toll pending an investigation, which will be conducted by an independent committee announced on Sunday before his interview.
Asharq Al-Awsat
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Syria's Sharaa Says Killings of Alawites Threaten Unity, Vows Justice
Syria's interim President Ahmed Sharaa said mass killings of members of ousted President Bashar al-Assad's minority sect were a threat to his mission to unite the country, and promised to punish those responsible, including his own allies if necessary. In his first interview to a global news agency, held after hundreds died in four days of clashes between Alawite Muslims and Syria's new authorities, Sharaa blamed pro-Assad groups backed by foreigners for triggering the bloodshed but acknowledged that revenge killings had followed. "Syria is a state of law. The law will take its course on all," he told Reuters from the Damascus presidential palace, where Assad resided until Sharaa's forces toppled him on December 8, forcing the ousted ruler to flee to Moscow. "We fought to defend the oppressed, and we won't accept that any blood be shed unjustly, or goes without punishment or accountability, even among those closest to us," Sharaa said. In a wide-ranging interview, Sharaa also said that his government had had no contacts with the United States since President Donald Trump had taken office. He repeated pleas for Washington to lift sanctions imposed in the Assad era. He also held out the prospect of restoring relations with Moscow, Assad's backer throughout the war, which is trying to retain two major military bases in Syria. He rejected criticism from Israel, which has captured territory in southern Syria since Assad was toppled. And he said he aimed to resolve differences with Kurds, including by meeting the head of a Kurdish-led group long backed by Washington. While he blamed the outbreak of violence in recent days on a former military unit loyal to Assad's brother and an unspecified foreign power, he acknowledged that in response "many parties entered the Syrian coast and many violations occurred". "It became an opportunity for revenge" for years of pent-up grievances, he said, although he said the situation had since been largely contained. Sharaa said 200 members of the security forces had been killed in the unrest, while declining to say the overall death toll pending an investigation, which will be conducted by an independent committee announced on Sunday before his interview. A UK-based war monitoring group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said that as of Sunday night as many as 973 Alawite civilians had been killed in revenge attacks, after fighting in which more than 250 Alawite fighters and more than 230 members of the security forces had died. 'MY CHEST TIGHTENS IN THIS PALACE' After years in the field at the helm of a guerrilla movement that broke off from Al-Qaeda, the 42-year-old son of an Arab nationalist was soft-spoken. "To be honest, my chest tightens in this palace. I'm astonished by how much evil against society emanated from every corner," Sharaa said. The unrest of recent days, the bloodiest since Assad was ousted, was his biggest setback as he seeks international legitimacy, to fully lift US and other Western sanctions and assert his rule over a country fractured by 14 years of war. He quickly welcomed a stream of foreign dignitaries and, along with his close circle, has toured the region to court support. But three months in, joy at Assad's ouster has largely been replaced by concern over the formidable challenges at home. The economy remains in tatters, large parts of the country including its oil-rich northeast, are out of state control and Israel has struck an increasingly threatening tone backed by airstrikes, incursions and seizure of territory. Sharaa recognized the violence of the past days threatened to derail his attempt to bring Syria together. It "will impact this path," Sharaa said, but he vowed to "rectify the situation as much as we can". To do that, Sharaa has set up an independent committee - the first body created by him that includes Alawites - to probe the killings within 30 days and bring perpetrators to account. A second committee was set up "to preserve civil peace and reconciliation, because blood begets more blood," he added. Sharaa declined to answer whether foreign fighters and other allied factions or his own security forces were involved in the mass killings, saying these were matters for the investigation. The killings have shaken to the core Syria's coastal towns and cities of Latakia, Banyas and Jableh, forcing thousands of Alawites to flee to mountainous villages or cross the border into Lebanon. Sharaa said Assad loyalists belonging to the 4th Division of Assad's brother, Maher, and an allied foreign power had triggered the clashes on Thursday "to foment unrest and create communal discord". He did not identify the foreign power, but pointed to "parties that had lost out from the new reality in Syria", an apparent reference to long-time Assad ally Iran, whose embassy in Damascus is still closed. Tehran has rejected any suggestion it was involved in the violence. 'OUR DOOR IS OPEN' Sharaa said security and economic prosperity were directly tied to lifting US sanctions imposed against Assad. "We cannot establish security in the country with sanctions still in place against us." But there has not been any direct contact with Trump's administration in the nearly two months since he took office, amid skepticism over Sharaa's former Al-Qaeda ties. When asked why, he said: "The Syrian file is not on US's list of priorities. You should ask this question to them. Syria's door is open." Meanwhile, talks are ongoing with Moscow over its military presence in the two strategic Mediterranean military bases, Tartous Naval Base and Hmeimin air base. Sharaa said Moscow and Damascus had agreed to review all former agreements, but there had not yet been enough time to get into details. "We do not want there to be a rift between Syria and Russia, and we do not want the Russian presence in Syria to pose a danger or threat to any country in the world, and we want to preserve these deep strategic relations," he added.
Al Arabiya
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Syria's al-Sharaa says killings of Alawites threaten unity, vows justice
Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa said mass killings of members of ousted president Bashar al-Assad's minority sect were a threat to his mission to unite the country, and promised to punish those responsible, including his own allies if necessary. In his first interview to a global news agency, held after hundreds died in four days of clashes between Alawite Muslims and Syria's new Sunni authorities, al-Sharaa blamed pro-Assad groups backed by foreigners for triggering the bloodshed but acknowledged that revenge killings had followed. 'Syria is a state of law. The law will take its course on all,' he told Reuters from the Damascus presidential palace, where al-Assad resided until al-Sharaa's forces toppled him on December 8, forcing the ousted ruler to flee to Moscow. 'We fought to defend the oppressed, and we won't accept that any blood be shed unjustly, or goes without punishment or accountability, even among those closest to us,' al-Sharaa said. In a wide-ranging interview, al-Sharaa also said that his government had had no contacts with the United States since President Donald Trump had taken office. He repeated pleas for Washington to lift sanctions imposed in the al-Assad era. He also held out the prospect of restoring relations with Moscow, al-Assad's backer throughout the war, which is trying to retain two major military bases in Syria. He rejected criticism from Israel, which has captured territory in southern Syria since Assad was toppled. And he said he aimed to resolve differences with Kurds, including by meeting the head of a Kurdish-led group long backed by Washington. While he blamed the outbreak of violence in recent days on a former military unit loyal to al-Assad's brother and an unspecified foreign power, he acknowledged that in response 'many parties entered the Syrian coast and many violations occurred.' 'It became an opportunity for revenge' for years of pent-up grievances, he said, although he said the situation had since been largely contained. Al-Sharaa said 200 members of the security forces had been killed in the unrest, while declining to say the overall death toll pending an investigation, which will be conducted by an independent committee announced on Sunday before his interview. A UK-based war monitoring group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said that as of Sunday night as many as 973 Alawite civilians had been killed in revenge attacks, after fighting in which more than 250 Alawite fighters and more than 230 members of the security forces had died. 'My chest tightens in this palace' After years in the field at the helm of a guerrilla movement that broke off from al-Qaeda, the 42-year-old son of an Arab nationalist was soft-spoken. His voice sometimes barely registered above a whisper during the interview, held after midnight on Monday during the holy month of Ramadan when business is often conducted late. His entourage of young, bearded men appeared to still be adjusting to protocol in the opulent seat of power. 'To be honest, my chest tightens in this palace. I'm astonished by how much evil against society emanated from every corner,' al-Sharaa said. The unrest of recent days, the bloodiest since al-Assad was ousted, was his biggest setback as he seeks international legitimacy, to fully lift US and other Western sanctions and assert his rule over a country fractured by 14 years of war. His forces rode into the capital pledging to rule for all of Syria's communities – Sunnis, Alawites, Druze, Christians, Shias, Kurds and Armenians – while trying to assuage domestic and foreign concern over his extremist Islamist background. He quickly welcomed a stream of foreign dignitaries and, along with his close circle, has toured the region to court support. But three months in, joy at al-Assad's ouster has largely been replaced by concern over the formidable challenges at home. The economy remains in tatters, large parts of the country including its oil-rich northeast, are out of state control and Israel has struck an increasingly threatening tone backed by airstrikes, incursions and seizure of territory. Al-Sharaa recognized the violence of the past days threatened to derail his attempt to bring Syria together. It 'will impact this path,' al-Sharaa said, but he vowed to 'rectify the situation as much as we can.' To do that, al-Sharaa has set up an independent committee – the first body created by him that includes Alawites – to probe the killings within 30 days and bring perpetrators to account. A second committee was set up 'to preserve civil peace and reconciliation, because blood begets more blood,' he added. Al-Sharaa declined to answer whether foreign fighters and other allied Islamist factions or his own security forces were involved in the mass killings, saying these were matters for the investigation. Syrians have circulated graphic videos of executions by fighters on social media, some of which have been verified by Reuters, including one showing at least 20 dead men in a town. Al-Sharaa said the fact-finding committee would examine the footage. The killings have shaken to the core Syria's coastal towns and cities of Latakia, Banyas and Jableh, forcing thousands of Alawites to flee to mountainous villages or cross the border into Lebanon. Al-Sharaa said al-Assad loyalists belonging to the 4th Division of al-Assad's brother, Maher, and an allied foreign power had triggered the clashes on Thursday 'to foment unrest and create communal discord.' He did not identify the foreign power, but pointed to 'parties that had lost out from the new reality in Syria,' an apparent reference to long-time al-Assad ally Iran, whose embassy in Damascus is still closed. Tehran has rejected any suggestion it was involved in the violence. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey have strongly backed al-Sharaa amid the violence, while former al-Assad ally Russia expressed deep concern and Iran said no group should be 'oppressed.' Washington blamed 'radical Islamist terrorists, including foreign jihadis.' 'Our door is open' Al-Sharaa said security and economic prosperity were directly tied to lifting US sanctions imposed against al-Assad. 'We cannot establish security in the country with sanctions still in place against us.' But there has not been any direct contact with Trump's administration in the nearly two months since he took office, amid skepticism over al-Sharaa's former al-Qaeda ties. When asked why, he said: 'The Syrian file is not on US' list of priorities. You should ask this question to them. Syria's door is open.' Meanwhile, talks are ongoing with Moscow over its military presence in the two strategic Mediterranean military bases, Tartous Naval Base and Hmeimin air base. Al-Sharaa said Moscow and Damascus had agreed to review all former agreements, but there had not yet been enough time to get into details. 'We do not want there to be a rift between Syria and Russia, and we do not want the Russian presence in Syria to pose a danger or threat to any country in the world, and we want to preserve these deep strategic relations,' he added. Ties with Moscow were so key that 'we tolerated the (Russian) bombardment and did not target them directly in order to make room for meetings and dialogue between us and them after liberation,' he said. He declined to confirm whether he had asked Moscow to hand over al-Assad. Russia has been an ally of Syria for decades and a key supplier of fuel and grain. Reuters reported last week that Moscow had sent a tanker full of diesel to Syria in spite of US sanctions. Hundreds of thousands died in Syria's civil war and half the population was displaced. Western countries, Arab states and Turkey initially backed opposition forces, while Russia, Iran and militias loyal to Tehran backed al-Assad in a theatre for proxy conflicts. Since al-Assad's ouster, Turkish-backed groups have clashed with Kurdish forces that control much of Syria's oil-rich northeast. Damascus has yet to impose its authority there amid ongoing talks with the commander of the US- backed Syrian Democratic Forces, Mazloum Abdi, who said the recent violence justified their concerns over integration. Al-Sharaa said he wanted a negotiated resolution and would meet with Abdi. Government control is also weak in Syria's south, where Israel has proclaimed a demilitarized zone and threatened to target al-Sharaa's forces if they deploy. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Monday called al-Sharaa 'a jihadist terrorist of the al-Qaeda school who is committing horrifying acts against a civilian population.' Al-Sharaa dismissed increasingly belligerent Israeli threats and Katz's comments as 'nonsense.' 'They are the last ones who can talk,' he said, noting the Israeli killing of tens of thousands of people in Gaza and Lebanon over the past 18 months.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New Syrian leader Sharaa says killings of Alawites threaten unity, vows justice
By Samia Nakhoul, Maya Gebeily and Timour Azhari (Reuters) - Syria's interim President Ahmed Sharaa said mass killings of members of ousted President Bashar al-Assad's minority sect were a threat to his mission to unite the country, and promised to punish those responsible, including his own allies if necessary. In his first interview to a global news agency, held after hundreds died in four days of clashes between Alawite Muslims and Syria's new Sunni Islamist authorities, Sharaa blamed pro-Assad groups backed by foreigners for triggering the bloodshed but acknowledged that revenge killings had followed. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. "Syria is a state of law. The law will take its course on all," he told Reuters from the Damascus presidential palace, where Assad resided until Sharaa's forces toppled him on December 8, forcing the ousted ruler to flee to Moscow. "We fought to defend the oppressed, and we won't accept that any blood be shed unjustly, or goes without punishment or accountability, even among those closest to us," Sharaa said. In a wide-ranging interview, Sharaa also said that his government had had no contacts with the United States since President Donald Trump had taken office. He repeated pleas for Washington to lift sanctions imposed in the Assad era. He also held out the prospect of restoring relations with Moscow, Assad's backer throughout the war, which is trying to retain two major military bases in Syria. He rejected criticism from Israel, which has captured territory in southern Syria since Assad was toppled. And he said he aimed to resolve differences with Kurds, including by meeting the head of a Kurdish-led group long backed by Washington. While he blamed the outbreak of violence in recent days on a former military unit loyal to Assad's brother and an unspecified foreign power, he acknowledged that in response "many parties entered the Syrian coast and many violations occurred". "It became an opportunity for revenge" for years of pent-up grievances, he said, although he said the situation had since been largely contained. Sharaa said 200 members of the security forces had been killed in the unrest, while declining to say the overall death toll pending an investigation, which will be conducted by an independent committee announced on Sunday before his interview. A UK-based war monitoring group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said that as of Sunday night as many as 973 Alawite civilians had been killed in revenge attacks, after fighting in which more than 250 Alawite fighters and more than 230 members of the security forces had died. 'MY CHEST TIGHTENS IN THIS PALACE' After years in the field at the helm of a guerrilla movement that broke off from Al Qaeda, the 42-year-old son of an Arab nationalist was soft-spoken. His voice sometimes barely registered above a whisper during the interview, held after midnight on Monday during the holy month of Ramadan when business is often conducted late. His entourage of young, bearded men appeared to still be adjusting to protocol in the opulent seat of power. "To be honest, my chest tightens in this palace. I'm astonished by how much evil against society emanated from every corner," Sharaa said. The unrest of recent days, the bloodiest since Assad was ousted, was his biggest setback as he seeks international legitimacy, to fully lift U.S. and other Western sanctions and assert his rule over a country fractured by 14 years of war. His forces rode into the capital pledging to rule for all of Syria's communities - Sunnis, Alawites, Druze, Christians, Shi'ites, Kurds and Armenians - while trying to assuage domestic and foreign concern over his extremist Islamist background. He quickly welcomed a stream of foreign dignitaries and, along with his close circle, has toured the region to court support. But three months in, joy at Assad's ouster has largely been replaced by concern over the formidable challenges at home. The economy remains in tatters, large parts of the country including its oil-rich northeast, are out of state control and Israel has struck an increasingly threatening tone backed by airstrikes, incursions and seizure of territory. Sharaa recognised the violence of the past days threatened to derail his attempt to bring Syria together. It "will impact this path," Sharaa said, but he vowed to "rectify the situation as much as we can". To do that, Sharaa has set up an independent committee - the first body created by him that includes Alawites - to probe the killings within 30 days and bring perpetrators to account. A second committee was set up "to preserve civil peace and reconciliation, because blood begets more blood," he added. Sharaa declined to answer whether foreign jihadist fighters and other allied Islamist factions or his own security forces were involved in the mass killings, saying these were matters for the investigation. Syrians have circulated graphic videos of executions by fighters on social media, some of which have been verified by Reuters, including one showing at least 20 dead men in a town. Sharaa said the fact-finding committee would examine the footage. The killings have shaken to the core Syria's coastal towns and cities of Latakia, Banyas and Jableh, forcing thousands of Alawites to flee to mountainous villages or cross the border into Lebanon. Sharaa said Assad loyalists belonging to the 4th Division of Assad's brother, Maher, and an allied foreign power had triggered the clashes on Thursday "to foment unrest and create communal discord". He did not identify the foreign power, but pointed to "parties that had lost out from the new reality in Syria", an apparent reference to long-time Assad ally Iran, whose embassy in Damascus is still closed. Tehran has rejected any suggestion it was involved in the violence. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey have strongly backed Sharaa amid the violence, while former Assad ally Russia expressed deep concern and Iran said no group should be 'oppressed'. Washington blamed "radical Islamist terrorists, including foreign jihadis". 'OUR DOOR IS OPEN' Sharaa said security and economic prosperity were directly tied to lifting U.S. sanctions imposed against Assad. "We cannot establish security in the country with sanctions still in place against us." But there has not been any direct contact with Trump's administration in the nearly two months since he took office, amid scepticism over Sharaa's former Al Qaeda ties. When asked why, he said: "The Syrian file is not on U.S.'s list of priorities. You should ask this question to them. Syria's door is open." Meanwhile, talks are ongoing with Moscow over its military presence in the two strategic Mediterranean military bases, Tartous Naval Base and Hmeimin air base. Sharaa said Moscow and Damascus had agreed to review all former agreements, but there had not yet been enough time to get into details. "We do not want there to be a rift between Syria and Russia, and we do not want the Russian presence in Syria to pose a danger or threat to any country in the world, and we want to preserve these deep strategic relations," he added. Ties with Moscow were so key that "we tolerated the (Russian) bombardment and did not target them directly in order to make room for meetings and dialogue between us and them after liberation," he said. He declined to confirm whether he had asked Moscow to hand over Assad. Russia has been an ally of Syria for decades and a key supplier of fuel and grain. Reuters reported last week that Moscow had sent a tanker full of diesel to Syria in spite of U.S. sanctions. Hundreds of thousands died in Syria's civil war and half the population was displaced. Western countries, Arab states and Turkey initially backed the rebels, while Russia, Iran and militias loyal to Tehran backed Assad in a theatre for proxy conflicts. Since Assad's ouster, Turkish-backed groups have clashed with Kurdish forces that control much of Syria's oil-rich northeast. Damascus has yet to impose its authority there amid ongoing talks with the commander of the U.S.- backed Syrian Democratic Forces, Mazloum Abdi, who said the recent violence justified their concerns over integration. Sharaa said he wanted a negotiated resolution and would meet with Abdi. Government control is also weak in Syria's south, where Israel has proclaimed a demilitarized zone and threatened to target Sharaa's forces if they deploy. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Monday called Sharaa "a jihadist terrorist of the al-Qaeda school who is committing horrifying acts against a civilian population." Sharaa dismissed increasingly belligerent Israeli threats and Katz's comments as "nonsense." "They are the last ones who can talk," he said, noting the Israeli killing of tens of thousands of people in Gaza and Lebanon over the past 18 months.
