HTS spokesman Obeida Arnaout solely provided a obscure response to a reporter’s query
A spokesman for the militant group Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham (HTS) stopped in need of denouncing Israel’s airstrikes and floor invasion of Syria when requested a direct query by a British journalist.
Opposition forces led by HTS and the Free Syrian Military took management of Damascus over the weekend, prompting Syrian President Bashar Assad to flee to Russia, the place he has been granted political asylum.
Within the following days, the Israel Protection Forces (IDF) carried out some 480 airstrikes on Syria, focusing on weapons stockpiles and naval vessels that used to belong to Assad’s military. In addition they superior from the Golan Heights deeper into the nation, increasing past the world they’ve been occupying since 1967.
When requested to touch upon these actions throughout his interview with the UK’s Channel 4 on Wednesday, Arnaout replied: “Our precedence is to revive safety and companies, to revive civilian life and establishments, and look after newly liberated cities.”
“There are numerous pressing elements of day-to-day life to revive: bakeries, electrical energy, water, communications, so our precedence is to supply these companies to the individuals,” he mentioned.
Nevertheless, the journalist saved urgent the spokesman on the difficulty, saying: “I perceive it’s not your precedence, however are you actually telling me that you don’t have anything to say about Israel placing… websites on this nation?”
“Have little doubt we would like everybody to respect the sovereignty of the brand new Syria. This level is essential to us,” Arnaout replied with out mentioning Israel straight.
Some media reviews claimed earlier that HTS chief Abu Mohammad al-Julani had mentioned that the group was not planning to have interaction Israel on the battlefield, as Syria is presently not prepared for an additional battle.
On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that the autumn of Assad’s authorities had been a “direct consequence” of the IDF’s navy marketing campaign in opposition to two key allies of Damascus, Hezbollah and Iran. He praised the regime change in Syria, calling it “a historic day within the historical past of the Center East.”
Israeli Protection Minister Israel Katz mentioned on Tuesday that the purpose of the IDF’s air strikes and incursion into Syria was to create a “sterile protection zone” that may “forestall the institution and group of terror in Syria” after the opposition forces took energy within the nation in a swift offensive.
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