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Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt met on Sunday in Syria with Ahmad al-Sharaa, leader of the “Hayat Tahrir al-Sham” (HTS) group, after the toppling of ousted President Bashar al-Assad.
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Jumblatt, who was a vocal critic of al-Assad and his regime, arrived in Syria heading a political and religious delegation including the Druze Spiritual leader in Lebanon Sami Abu al-Mona.
It marked Jumblatt’s first visit to Syria in years. Syria is home to the Druze religious minority.
“We salute the [Syrian] people who got rid of tyranny and oppression,” Jumblatt said during the meeting according to AnbaaOnline.
“Greetings to you and to all of those who contributed to this victory,” he said, addressing al-Sharaa, who was sporting a suit and a tie.
“We hope that Lebanese-Syrian relations will return through the embassies, and that all of those who committed crimes against the Lebanese will be held accountable, and that fair trials will be held for all those who committed crimes against the Syrian people.”
For his part, al-Sharaa told Jumblatt and the visitng delegation that Syria “was a source of concern and disturbance, and its interference in Lebanese affairs was negative.” He stressed that Syria will not be a “case of negative interference in Lebanon at all” and will rather be a support.
Syria, which has heavily invovled in Lebanon’s political affairs, withdrew its troops from Lebanon in 2005 after three decades of occupation.
Al-Sharaa also slamed al-Assad’s regime and “Iranian-backed militias” saying they scattered Syrians and divided families adding that the process of toppling the regime was done in a “smooth manner.”
Ahead of meeting al-Sharaa, Jumblatt held talks with caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed al-Bashir.
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Syrian authorities appoint an HTS commander as defense minister, source says
