• Syria’s de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, stated elections could take up to four years, with a new constitution potentially taking three years to draft.
• Al-Sharaa affirmed Syria’s strategic alliance with Russia & expressed hopes for U.S. sanctions relief, following the removal of a $10 million bounty on the HTS leader.
Syria’s de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has indicated that holding elections could take up to four years. This marks the first time al-Sharaa has commented on a potential electoral timeline since opposition forces, led by, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), ousted president Bashar al-Assad three weeks ago. In an interview with Saudi Arabia’s state-run Al Arabiya, al-Sharaa stated that drafting a new constitution could take as long as three years.
He also suggested that Syrians could expect substantial changes within the next year, with HTS—the dominant military and political force in Syria—set to dissolve during a national dialogue conference. These remarks come as the new government in Damascus strives to reassure its neighbours of the country’s commitment to peace and stability.
“Syria will not be a source of disturbance to anyone,” al-Sharaa told Al Arabiya. He emphasised Syria’s shared strategic interests with Russia, a key ally and military supporter of al-Assad during the 13-year Syrian conflict, reiterating his government’s desire for productive relations. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also remarked that the status of Russia’s military bases in Syria would be a topic of negotiations with the new leadership in Damascus.
“It is not just about maintaining our bases, but about the conditions of their operation, maintenance, and interaction with the local side,” Lavrov stated in an interview with Russian news agency RIA released on Sunday. Al-Sharaa further expressed hope that the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump would lift sanctions on Syria. After senior U.S. diplomats visited Damascus earlier this month, Washington decided to remove a $10 million bounty on the head of the HTS leader.
