The de facto leader of Syria has pledged to hold elections within four years.

Ash-Sharaa, also known as Mohammed al-Jolani, is the leader of the group "Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham," which has been designated as a terrorist organization by the UN, the US, and various other countries around the globe. At the beginning of December, the forces under his command captured Damascus in a lightning offensive, ending the 53-year rule of the dictator Bashar al-Assad's family.

According to Ash-Sharaa, elections in the country might take place following a population census that still needs to be conducted.

In an interview with "Al-Arabiya," Ash-Sharaa pledged to dissolve "Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham" during an upcoming national dialogue conference. He expressed hope that the administration of the newly elected US President Donald Trump would lift sanctions on Syria and criticized the UN for its inaction in the country.

At the same time, the de facto leader of Syria advocated for the normalization of relations with Tehran and Moscow, who have supported Assad's regime. The head of "Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham" referred to Russia as the "second most powerful country in the world," with which, according to him, Damascus shares common interests. "We do not want Russia to withdraw from Syria in a way that undermines our relationship," he stated.