Syria’s al-Sharaa denies links to Muslim Brotherhood Says he was ISIS’s “main victim”

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has dismissed claims of any affiliation with the Muslim Brotherhood, insisting he has instead been “the main victim of ISIS.”

In an interview with the Lebanese daily An-Nahar, al-Sharaa said both nationalist and Islamist ideologies in the region had collapsed. 

He stressed that separatist calls within Syria would remain “a dream” and that any potential arrangements with Kurds or residents of the southern province of Suwayda must be negotiated strictly within the framework of national unity.

The Syrian leader underlined that Damascus’s policy was “based on tolerance, not revenge.”

On the question of normalising ties with Israel, al-Sharaa said this could only happen if the Golan Heights were returned and the 1974 disengagement agreement fully implemented.

“Without these conditions, there can be no talk of a peace deal,” he added.

Ahmed al-Sharaa, born in 1982 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is the current interim president of Syria. Previously known as Abu Mohammad al-Julani, he led the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which played a pivotal role in the 2024 military operation that ousted President Bashar al-Assad.

Following Assad's removal, al-Sharaa was declared president for a transitional phase on January 29, 2025. Under his leadership, Syria has initiated significant reforms, including the dissolution of the previous parliament and the formation of a new legislative council.

Al-Sharaa has emphasised the importance of rebuilding state institutions and preserving civil peace during this transitional period.

In terms of foreign relations, al-Sharaa has engaged in diplomatic efforts to strengthen Syria's international standing. He has met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, aiming to foster regional cooperation and support for Syria's reconstruction.

Additionally, al-Sharaa has called for the lifting of U.S. sanctions, arguing that they were imposed on the previous regime and now harm the Syrian people.

By Aghakazim Guliyev