Syrian President Ahmed Şara outlines war and reconstruction strategy

In an Al Jazeera interview, Syrian President Ahmed Şara said the country’s identity is rooted in 7,000 years of diversity and that his sense of belonging to the Golan Heights was shaped from childhood. He noted the influence of Arab nationalist and Islamic discourses, stressing the need to separate different Islamic experiences.

Şara described Syria as a key regional state and said he has drawn on all past experiences to organise the overthrow of the old regime from within, without external support. Despite a siege and intense pressure, he said the opposition is simultaneously pursuing military action and preparing for reconstruction, arguing that the removal of the former regime is essential for Syria and the wider region. He highlighted ongoing work in Idlib and other opposition‑held areas and the effort to convey these activities to the international community through media visits.