Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa paid a quick visit to the northwestern province of Idlib on Saturday, his first since assuming his post.
The state news agency SANA reported that he inspected refugee camps in the area.
Social media posts showed Sharaa as he walked in the city, where he lived for several years during the war and from where the military operation that culminated in the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad in December was launched.
Government spokesman Mohammed al-Faisal told Asharq Al-Awsat that Sharaa “had not forgotten Idlib, the launch point for the liberation” of Syria.
“He visited it out of pride in its role and in appreciation of the sacrifices of its people, who embraced Syrians from across the country during the long difficult years of the revolution,” he added.
The refugees there are a priority for the government that wants to end their suffering and ensure that they can return to their homes as soon as possible, he went on to say.
Sharaa also visited Idlib’s martyrs square and its city center where anti-regime protests used to be held.
He visited his former residence and toured the streets where he was warmly greeted by the people.
He was accompanied by Damascus Governor Maher Marwan.
During the war, Sharaa formed the Nusra Front in Idlib in 2012. The group later pledged allegiance to the al-Qaeda extremist group before later breaking away from it and becoming known as the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.
Following the ouster of the regime, several Syrians visited Idlib, which was off limits to them by the regime. They discovered a city that was modern and enjoyed a free market and several services, such as electricity and modern technology provided by neighboring Türkiye.
Sharaa returned to Damascus after completing his hourslong visit.
Late Syrian President Hafez al-Assad had visited Idlib once throughout his entire term in power. It was back in summer 1971 and the people attacked him with tomatoes and shoes. He never returned. His son Bashar never visited Idlib.
