Syria vows legal pursuit of Assad but rules out clash with Russia

Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, said his government will exhaust “all legal means possible” to seek justice for alleged crimes committed under Bashar al-Assad.

Speaking in an interview broadcast on CBS’s 60 Minutes, al-Sharaa warned that a military confrontation with Russia would be prohibitively costly and contrary to Syrian interests.

In his first U.S. television interview, al-Sharaa toured the devastated suburb of Jobar, where entire neighbourhoods were flattened, warning that nearly 14 years of conflict had left 13 million Syrians displaced and over half a million dead. He described the Assad regime’s destruction as deliberate, with assistance from Russia and Iran.

Al-Sharaa called for the lifting of U.S. and international sanctions, noting that limited electricity, water, and a collapsed economy hinder reconstruction. He estimates rebuilding Syria will cost $600–900 billion and appeals for global investment and aid.

On security, al-Sharaa stressed that Israel must withdraw from territory seized after Assad’s fall, while Syria seeks a non-aggressive relationship with its neighbour. Parliamentary elections are planned once the necessary infrastructure and civil documentation are in place, allowing for full participation.

Despite lingering sectarian violence and scrutiny over militia actions, al-Sharaa promised a transition to democracy, declaring, “General elections will be held… every person will have one vote.”

By Aghakazim Guliyev