Ahmed Sara, the transitional president of Syria, stated that any party responsible for civilian killings will be punished, even allies if necessary. In his first international press interview following hundreds of deaths in four days of clashes between Alawite Muslims and new Sunni Islamic authorities, Sara condemned groups loyal to Bashar al-Assad, backed by foreign forces, for instigating bloodshed but admitted retaliatory killings followed. From the presidential palace in Damascus, where Assad resided until Sara’s forces ousted him on December 8th, forcing the deposed leader to flee to Moscow, Sara emphasized that Syria is a rule-of-law state and justice will prevail. He reiterated his commitment to defending the oppressed and ensuring accountability among close allies. Additionally, Sara mentioned no contact with the U.S. since Trump’s presidency began and called for lifting sanctions imposed during Assad’s era. He left open the possibility of restoring relations with Moscow, Assad’s ally during the war, which seeks to maintain two major military bases in Syria. Sara rejected Israeli criticism and aims to resolve disputes with the Kurds. Acknowledging recent violence, he noted it as an opportunity for revenge for years of injustice, though the situation has largely stabilized since. Sara also announced the establishment of an independent commission, including Alawites, to investigate killings within 30 days and hold perpetrators accountable. A second committee was formed to maintain peace and reconciliation among citizens. Despite circulating videos showing executions by fighters, some verified by Reuters, Sara avoided direct answers about foreign jihadists or allied Islamist factions’ involvement in mass killings.