The leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, recognized as terrorist and banned in Russia – editor’s note) group Ahmed al-Sharaa, known as Abu Muhammad al-Julani, announced his intention to disband the security services associated with the regime of ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The statement came as the new government in the country continues to assert itself. According to al-Julani, one of the first measures will be the closure of the notorious prisons used to hold political prisoners and torture.

In his address, the HTS leader spoke of the need to dismantle structures that symbolize the oppression of the previous regime. He also stressed that special attention will be paid to ensuring the safety of chemical weapons warehouses. For this purpose, coordination with international organizations has reportedly already begun.

"We are obliged to take control of all potential chemical weapons facilities to eliminate any possibility of their use in the future," — al-Julani noted.

Washington, for its part, expressed cautious optimism about the initiatives. Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said the U.S. welcomed the moves, but stressed that real action must back up the rhetoric. Singh said the international community would be watching developments closely to assess whether they were consistent with the stated goals.

In addition, al-Julani confirmed that the new directorate's responsibilities include pursuing those involved in the torture and murder of detainees.

"We intend to hold accountable all those who participated in crimes against the Syrian people. There will be no pardon for such people," - he declared.

Despite the declarations of reform, many analysts and international experts express concerns about the future of Syria. The HTS group, recognized as terrorist in a number of countries, still raises serious doubts about its ability to ensure stability in the region. There are also questions about how effective it will be in coordinating with the international community on key issues such as disarmament and human rights.

Meanwhile, the situation in Syria remains unstable.