Syria Islamist rebel chief hails ‘victory’, at landmark Damascus mosque

– Syria’s rebel leader hailed a “historic” victory Sunday from a historic mosque in Damascus after his Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group wrested the capital from government control in less than two weeks. – According to Russian news agencies – Bashar al-Assad fled — to Moscow — at the end of his repressive regime, which began celebrating throughout Syria and beyond, saying, “This is victory, my brothers.”, is historic for the region,” HTS leader Abu Muhammad al-Jolani, who now uses his real name Ahmad al-Shara, said in a speech at the Umayyad mosque. He also said the rebels’ control of Telegram A video statement shared by the rebels also claimed victory “for the entire Islamic nation”. remained closed, and the mujahideen (warriors) broke their chainsReferring to Assad’s ally Iran and its Lebanese proxy Hezbollah, he said that under Assad, Syria had “become a place of Iranian ambitions, where sectarianism was on the rise.” As soon as he entered the mosque, the crowd could be seen welcoming him and chanting Allahu Akbar. the greatest)”, shown in videos circulating online. HTS has its roots in al-Qaeda’s Syrian branch, with which it severed ties in 2016.. Banned as a terrorist organization by Western governments, HTS has tried to soften its image in recent years. The government fell 13 years after Assad’s crackdown on anti-government protests sparked Syria’s brutal civil war, which has drawn in foreigners. Powers, jihadists and claimed more than half a million lives.