SYNOPSIS

An exceptional investigation inside the new Syrian regime led by Ahmed al-Charaa since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. Journalist Sofia Amara provides an unprecedented insight into Syria's high-risk transition. On December 8, 2024, when the Assad dictatorship collapsed in ten days after more than half a century in power, including thirteen years of savage warfare against its own people, few knew the leader responsible for the regime's downfall: Ahmed al-Charaa, the warlord of Hayat Tahrir al-Cham (HTC), who fought under the pseudonym Abu Mohammed Al-Joulani. Now interim president, has he really broken with jihadist ideology to build a state of law that includes all components of Syrian society? If he has succeeded in convincing the Kurds to return to the fold of the Syrian state, why has he been unable to prevent the massacres of civilians perpetrated in March by men from his camp, within the Alawite community to which the Al-Assad family belongs? And beyond his intentions, what is the new government's margin for action?

Sofia Amara is a reporter specialist on the Middle East and the author of numerous award-winning reports and documentaries. Based in Lebanon for 24 years, she has covered conflicts in the region and produced numerous programmes for French media outlets (Arte, France 2, LCI, France 24, Canal+). Author of Infiltrée dans l'enfer syrien (Infiltrating Syrian Hell) and Baghdadi, calife de la terreur (Baghdadi, Caliph of Terror) (Stock), she provides journalism training for the Académie France Médias Monde and the CFPJ, and contributes to Ouest France and Le Monde.

DIRECTOR

CREDITS

Director : Sofia Amara

Written by Sofia Amara

DOP : Gari Gabli

Editing : Bruno Maruani

Music : Zacharie Berdugo

Produced by : Lila Production - ARTE G.E.I.E.

International seller : ARTE Distribution