Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader Ahmed al-Sharaa told a Turkish newspaper on Wednesday: Syria would develop a strategic relationship with Türkiye move forward.

Sharaa, better known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed Jolani, said Syrians seeking refuge in Türkiye had been treated better there than anywhere else.

“I hope Syria will not forget this kindness,” the HTS leader told Turkish newspaper Yeni Safak.

“There will be strategic relations. Turkey has many priorities in the reconstruction of the new Syrian state,” he added.

“There will also be mutual trade relations. We trust Turkey when it comes to transferring its experience in economic development to Syria.”

Sharaa added that the success of the revolution in Syria was also a cause for celebration for the Turkish people.

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“This victory is not only the victory of the Syrian people but also that of the Turkish people,” he said.

Turkey hosts nearly three million Syrian refugees, but Turkish officials say the total number of Syrians remaining in the country at any given time is closer to five million.

Ankara believes the new Syrian government must dialogue with all countries in the region, including those in the Gulf, where suspicion of Islamic-oriented movements is strong.

When asked if he intended to expand the revolution to other Islamic countries, Sharaa replied that his movement had no right to interfere in the affairs of other nations.

“We do not intend to undertake tasks beyond our capabilities, such as solving all the problems of the Islamic world, which would distract us from our primary responsibility towards our own people,” he said .

“We will strive to establish and develop relationships with all countries in a manner that benefits our nation.”