Syrian president: Assad's ouster planned without foreign funding

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has said the overthrow of former President Bashar al-Assad was planned and coordinated from within Syria without foreign financial support.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, al-Sharaa noted that the operation was based on lessons learned from previous campaigns, with accumulated experience helping opposition forces develop a more effective strategy.

He remarked that earlier military setbacks and losses had provided valuable experience, enabling the leadership to adapt despite limited resources.

According to the president, opposition forces received no external funding and instead established an independent and balanced economic model in Syria's Idlib province.

Al-Sharaa stressed that the change of power was necessary not only for Syria but for the security of the wider region.

The president further stated that preparations for post-war state-building were carried out alongside military operations, with economic development receiving as much attention as combat efforts despite external pressure and blockade conditions.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov