Syrian rebel leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani went to Damascus’ famous Umayyad mosque to deliver a speech after his forces earlier captured the Syrian capital, ousting Bashar al-Assad.

As he entered the iconic mosque in the Old City of Damascus, the head of the radical Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) was greeted by crowds shouting “Allah Akbar (God is great),” according to circulating videos. on the internet.

In his speech, he said the Assad regime “imprisoned thousands of its citizens unjustly and without any crime,” adding that “today, we have been rewarded with this victory. This victory is for all Syrians.”

“Commander Ahmed al-Shareh (a.k.a. Jolani’s real name) prostrated and kissed the country” as soon as he arrived in the city, the rebels’ Telegram channel reported.

In the footage, the head of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the radical organization that leads the rebel coalition, is seen bowing to a green plant.

“Our will is firm and our resolve unshakable,” Al-Jolani said in a statement broadcast on state-run Syrian television, which is now controlled by the rebels. “We continue to act with determination to achieve the goals of our revolution,” he continued. “The future is ours and we are heading towards victory”, he emphasized.