Assad must be held accountable for his actions, Syria’s interim president tells Fox News
Following the fall of the former Syrian regime, the country has entered a new era, Syria’s interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa said in an interview with Fox News after his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House.
“For the past 60 years, Syria had been isolated from the rest of the world. Relations between the United States and Syria were cut off, and this is the first time since the establishment of the Syrian Republic in the 1940s that a Syrian president has visited the White House,” al-Sharaa said.
When asked whether Syria had agreed to join the coalition fighting the Islamic State (ISIS) in the Middle East, al-Sharaa responded: “We have fought many battles against ISIS and have suffered heavy losses over 14 years. I lost most of my forces in the fight against ISIS. The U.S. military presence in Syria should be based on coordinated action with the Syrian government. Therefore, we must discuss these issues, talk, and reach an agreement regarding ISIS.”
The journalist reminded the Syrian leader of his past links to the terrorist organization al-Qaeda, noting that less than a year ago, the U.S. government had listed him as a terrorist. Now, however, he is in Washington, playing basketball with American military officials and meeting with President Trump.
Asked what had changed in U.S.–Syria relations, al-Sharaa said that during talks with Trump, they discussed the future, the lifting of sanctions, and investment opportunities — emphasizing that Syria should no longer be viewed as a security threat but rather as a geopolitical partner and a potential site for major U.S. investment, particularly in natural gas extraction.
Regarding Trump’s wish for Syria to join the Abraham Accords, al-Sharaa said: “The situation in Syria is different from that of the countries that signed the Abraham Accords. Syria borders Israel, and Israel has occupied the Golan Heights since 1967. We are not ready to enter direct negotiations right now, but perhaps the U.S. administration under President Trump will help us reach that stage.”
Finally, when asked whether former President Bashar al-Assad should be held accountable, al-Sharaa stated: “Justice must prevail. We have established a justice commission to ensure that everyone, including Bashar al-Assad, is held responsible for their actions.”
