Syrian President Disclaims 9/11 Responsibility in Interview

In a recent interview on Fox News, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa expressed no accountability for the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. These attacks resulted in nearly 3,000 fatalities across New York City, Washington, DC, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. When asked on “Special Report with Bret Baier” if he felt any regret, Al-Sharaa completely distanced himself from the events.

“I was only 19, very young, and I didn’t have decision-making power at that time, so I have nothing to do with it,” he stated. “And al-Qaeda was not present in my area at the time. So you’re talking to the wrong person about this.”

He then promptly shifted the dialogue.

“We mourn all the civilians who were killed,” Al-Sharaa added, acknowledging the toll of war, particularly on innocent bystanders who have suffered greatly.

On another note, President Donald Trump recently hosted Al-Sharaa, also welcoming former al-Qaeda members to the White House. Interestingly, just days before this meeting, the U.S. government had removed him from the list of terrorists. This comes amidst a complicated backdrop of conflict involving U.S. troops in Iraq and places like Abu Ghraib prison.

Al-Sharaa, who previously led the militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and was pivotal in the rebellion that ousted Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024, seems to have rebranded himself as a reformer favorable to Western interests. Some traditional media outlets have referred to his administration as “moderate” when compared to Assad’s rule.

This visit is particularly noteworthy as it marks the first instance of a Syrian leader entering the White House since Syria became independent in 1946. In a speech earlier this year in Saudi Arabia, Trump announced intentions to lift sanctions against Syria, signaling a potential shift in U.S. relations.