Christoph Reuter writes in Der Spiegel: ‘As a militia leader in the northern Syrian, rebel-held province of Idlib, [Ahmed al-]Sharaa grew more powerful over the course of the civil war, but also more moderate. And then, in a lightning offensive one year ago, he finally toppled the 54-year dictatorship of the Assads.
Today, he is Syria’s head of state, received in the White House by U.S. President Donald Trump. He now wears a suit and tie instead of combat gear, his full beard a bit shorter from appearance to appearance. His life reads like a Hollywood script – but one that would likely be rejected as too unrealistic.’

Reuter remarks that Sharaa ’ has demonstrated brilliant diplomatic skills.’ So brilliant that ‘both the U.S. and Russia value him – with both countries maintaining military bases on Syrian soil.’

The former terrorist, an everyone’s friend, looking for more power. And a nice palace.

(a sf 2023)