Western analysts and regional observers have speculated that al-Awda could emerge as a counterweight to Syria’s new rulers, particularly given his previous ties to Russia and his potential backing from regional players like the UAE and Jordan
The UN Special Envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen, has welcomed the “clear and repeated” assurances from Syria’s caretaker leadership that “the new Syria will belong to all Syrians and will be built on inclusive and credible foundations.”
In a statement, Abdul Rahman Mustafa, head of the interim government, described Ahmad al-Sharaa’s assumption of the Syrian presidency as a “historic milestone that embodies the free will of Syrians and marks the beginning of a new era in state-building based on justice and the rule of law.”
Al-Shaar’s criminal record extends beyond Syria. During the years of Syrian military occupation in Lebanon, he was one of the key enforcers of repression, particularly during the tenure of notorious Syrian intelligence chief Ghazi Kanaan.
