How will President Ahmed Al-Sharaa shape Syria’s future?
The Take
Al Jazeera
4.7 • 748 Ratings
🗓️ 4 February 2025
⏱️ 20 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Once an al-Qaeda-affiliated fighter, Syria’s interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa now governs a nation in flux. He claims to be focused on stability, dissolving rebel groups and rebuilding institutions. His visit to Saudi Arabia signals shifting alliances and efforts to ease sanctions. But can he truly redefine Syria’s future – and what will it mean for the region?
In this episode:
- Osama bin Javaid (@osamabinjavaid), Al Jazeera English, correspondent
Episode credits:
This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan and Tamara Khandaker, with Sarí el-Khalili, Hagir Saleh, Melanie Marich, Hanah Shokeir, and our host, Natasha Del Toro. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz and Sarí el-Khalili.
Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad Al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s head of audio.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Al Jazeera Podcasts. |
| 0:07.0 | Today, it's a new day in Syria. |
| 0:14.0 | I stand before you today, 54 days after we were all liberated. |
| 0:20.0 | Syria was liberated from the shackles of a criminal regime that had oppressed us for decades. |
| 0:27.2 | How will the country's new interim president, Ahmed al-Shara, shape his country's political |
| 0:31.9 | future? |
| 0:33.2 | And what will it mean for the rest of the region? |
| 0:38.0 | I'm Natasha Delturo, and this is the take. |
| 0:48.2 | My name is Osama Bidjaveh. |
| 0:50.1 | I am a correspondent for Al-Dazira English, and I'm speaking to you from Damascus. |
| 0:54.9 | Osama, I'm so glad that you're here with us today. |
| 0:58.5 | And I understand that you have been reporting in this region for a long time. |
| 1:02.2 | How long has that been? |
| 1:03.3 | Well, it's been an on and off affair with Syria for the last 14 years. |
| 1:08.7 | So, Osama, you're in Damascus reporting right now on Syria's new government. |
| 1:14.1 | Former rebel leader Ahmed al-Shara has taken over as president during this transitional period |
| 1:20.4 | after years of conflict under Bashar al-Assad, which you have reported on. But before we even get |
| 1:26.9 | into all of that, |
| 1:28.3 | this is such a historic moment. |
| 1:31.4 | Maybe you could paint a scene for us |
| 1:34.1 | of what you're witnessing on the ground. |
| 1:38.6 | It has been an emotional roller coaster for a lot of people, |
... |
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