The BBC's Jeremy Bowen has been speaking to HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa. In just a matter of weeks, he has gone from governing the province of Idlib, to leading a rebel offensive on Damascus, to becoming the de facto leader. After interviewing al-Sharaa at the presidential palace which until recently was the heart of Bashar al-Assad's regime, Jeremy speaks to Lucy Hockings for this episode of The Global Story. So, is he really a reformed radical? Will he respect the rights of women? And even if these are his intentions, is he the man who can make it happen? The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas, stories and experiences to help us understand and tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. Producers: Richard Moran, Tom Kavanagh and Alix Pickles Sound engineers: Mike Regaard Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson
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Hello, I'm Lucy Hawkings from the BBC World Service.
This is the global story today.
The rebel leader who's now running Syria.
In just a matter of weeks, Ahmad Al Shara has gone from leading a rebel faction in control of a single Syrian province to being the country's de facto leader.
He arrived on our screens clad in military fatigues as his rebel forces swept across Syria.
And now the world is scrambling to understand who he is and what he might do next.
Foreign governments say they're relieved a dictator has been toppled, but how concerned should they be that his successor spent years as a jihadi?
There are basic principles for the revolution.
Revolution is not meant for revenge.
It should not be vengeful.
The BBC's international editor, Jeremy Bowen, sat down with Ahmad Al Shara at the Presidential palace in Damascus this week for an interview with big questions to answer.
Is he really a reformed radical?
Will he respect the rights of women?
And even if these are his intentions, is he the man who can make it happen?
Do a clap when you're running all the cameras.
There you are sitting down to start this interview with Ahmed Alshara.