The Syrian Foreign Minister, Assaad al-Shibani (left), walks alongside the interim Syrian President, Ahmad al-Sharaa, on the tarmac of Jeddah airport in Saudi Arabia before boarding for Turkey on Feb. 4, 2025. (Credit: SANA/AFP)
Ahmad al-Sharaa, dressed in a simple white shirt with rolled-up sleeves, aviator sunglasses, and a beard trimmed even shorter than his last appearance, mingles with the crowd in the gardens of Tishreen Park in central Damascus. Hand-in-hand with his wife, Latifa al-Droubi, who wears a fitted long coat and a light-colored scarf, the couple is surrounded by a large escort in suits, armed with machine guns. Some are allowed through to shake hands with the interim president and first lady.Children weave their way through the crowd to receive an embrace from Syria’s new ruler, who readily plays along. Observers take note of the presence of a woman in his security team. This June 8 scene speaks volumes about the rapid transformation crafted by the former warlord — once affiliated with al-Qaeda before breaking away in 2016 and renouncing global...
Ahmad al-Sharaa, dressed in a simple white shirt with rolled-up sleeves, aviator sunglasses, and a beard trimmed even shorter than his last appearance, mingles with the crowd in the gardens of Tishreen Park in central Damascus. Hand-in-hand with his wife, Latifa al-Droubi, who wears a fitted long coat and a light-colored scarf, the couple is surrounded by a large escort in suits, armed with machine guns. Some are allowed through to shake hands with the interim president and first lady.Children weave their way through the crowd to receive an embrace from Syria’s new ruler, who readily plays along. Observers take note of the presence of a woman in his security team. This June 8 scene speaks volumes about the rapid transformation crafted by the former warlord — once affiliated with al-Qaeda before breaking away in 2016 and renouncing...