The leader of the most powerful group in control of Syria has told the BBC that the country is exhausted by war and is no threat to its neighbours or the West. In an interview in Damascus, Ahmed al-Sharaa, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a powerful rebel alliance, spoke to BBC's international editor, Jeremy Bowen, and argued that sanctions on Syria should be lifted.

Sharaa led the lightning offensive that toppled Bashar al-Assad's regime less than two weeks ago. He is also known by his wartime name, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani. Under his leadership, HTS has become the most influential group in the rebel coalition. Despite the group's history, Sharaa advocated for its de-listing as a terrorist organisation, a designation it holds from the UN, US, and EU, stemming from its origins as a splinter group of al-Qaeda before breaking away in 2016.

In the interview, Sharaa denied that HTS was a terrorist group, claiming that the group did not target civilians and considered itself a victim of the Assad regime's crimes. He stressed that the victims of the regime should not be treated the same as the oppressors. Sharaa also sought to distance himself from comparisons with the Taliban, explaining that Syria and Afghanistan had very different traditions. He noted that in Syria, the society had a different mindset, making such a regime unlikely.

Sharaa also spoke on the issue of women's rights, asserting his belief in education for women. He highlighted the high number of women attending universities in parts of Syria, presenting a contrast to the hardline image often associated with his group. Throughout the interview, Sharaa appeared relaxed, wearing civilian clothes, and worked to reassure those who feared that HTS had not truly broken from its extremist past. However, many Syrians remain skeptical, fearing that a hardline Islamist government may emerge under his leadership.

Clive Myrie presented BBC News at Ten, with reporting by Jeremy Bowen from the Syrian capital, Damascus.

Disclaimer:This video is taken from BBC News.