SYRIA’S new Islamist rulers opened a long-awaited national dialogue conference today, calling it a “rare historical opportunity” to rebuild the country.

About 600 representatives from across Syria gathered in Damascus, hosted by the new authorities led by former insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) that spearheaded the lightning offensive that ousted former president Bashar al-Assad in early December.

“Just as Syria has liberated itself by itself, it is appropriate for it to build itself by itself,” interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa told the conference.