Syria's interim President Ahmed Sharaa has promised to punish those responsible for the mass killings of Alawites, including his own allies if necessary. In his first interview with a global news agency, Sharaa blamed pro-Assad groups backed by foreigners for triggering the bloodshed but acknowledged that revenge killings had followed. He also said that his government had no contacts with the United States since President Donald Trump took office and called for the lifting of sanctions imposed during the Assad era. Sharaa also expressed the possibility of restoring relations with Russia and resolving differences with Kurds.