The head of a new alliance of Syrian Islamist factions including al Qaeda‘s former branch promised to escalate attacks against the Syrian army and its Iranian-backed allies, with the goal of toppling President Bashar al-Assad.

Hashem al-Sheikh, leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham that was formed last month, also said in his first video speech that the new grouping sought to „liberate“ all of Syrian territory.