HTS leader pledges Syria will not pose threat to other Arab nations

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader Ahmad al-Shara has pledged that Syria will not pose a threat to other Arab countries, and expressed hope of emulating Gulf development models to boost Syria's economic growth.

In an interview with the pan-Arab newspaper Asharq al-Awsat, al-Shara, also known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, stated that Syria would no longer serve as a "platform of concern" for Arab or Gulf states.

He declared that "the revolutionary period" had ended with the fall of the previous government and outlined his administration's commitment to constructive ties fostering economic cooperation and long-term peace.

"We won't allow Syria to attack or unsettle any Arab or Gulf country," al-Shara said, adding that a nationwide dialogue is underway to draft a new constitution, though he did not provide further details.

U.S. officials meet with al-Shara 

On the same day, al-Shara met with senior U.S. diplomats visiting Damascus, marking a significant shift in Western engagement with HTS. The meeting came as Western governments, including the U.S., France and the UK, explore the possibility of removing HTS's terrorist designation.

The U.S. has outlined a set of principles. The delegation emphasized that Syria's future government must be inclusive, respect the rights of minorities and ensure that terrorist groups cannot pose a threat.

Following the meeting, Barbara Leaf, top Middle East diplomat at the State Department, told reporters that al-Shara "came across as pragmatic" and announced the U.S. would remove a $10 million bounty on his head.

Washington designated al-Shara a terrorist in 2013, saying al Qaeda in Iraq had tasked him with overthrowing Assad's rule and establishing sharia Islamic law in Syria. It said the Nusra Front, the predecessor of HTS, carried out suicide attacks that killed civilians and espoused a violent sectarian vision.

Al-Shara said the terrorist designation was unfair and that he opposed the killing of innocent people. Previously a commander of an al-Qaeda affiliate, al-Shara led the 12-day military campaign that resulted in the fall of the Bashar al-Assad government on December 8.

UN condemns presence of Israeli troops in demilitarized zone

Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council extended its peacekeeping mission in the Golan Heights for another six months on Friday, warning that military activities in the demilitarized zone risk escalating tensions.

The UN Disengagement Observer Force, which has patrolled the area since the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement between Israel and the Syrian Arab Republic, expressed concern over Israeli air strikes in Syria and the presence of Israeli troops in the demilitarized zone.

Israeli officials have described their actions as temporary measures to secure the country's borders but have provided no timeline for troop withdrawal.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres underscored that no military forces other than UN peacekeepers should operate in the area, calling Israeli air strikes violations of Syrian sovereignty and territorial integrity that "must stop."

In the resolution adopted on Friday, the Security Council stressed that all parties must adhere to the 1974 ceasefire agreement to prevent further escalation and ensure the safety of local civilians and UN personnel.

(With input from agencies)