Abu Mohammad al-Julani, the leader of an Islamist insurgent alliance that has conquered Damascus in a swift offensive, is working to moderate his image.

In an interview with CNN aired at 3 p.m. on Friday, al-Julani stated, “When we talk about objectives, the goal of the revolution remains the overthrow of this [Assad] regime. It is our right to use all available means to achieve that goal.”

After years of operating covertly, al-Julani has stepped into the public eye, engaging with international media and making appearances in Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city, following its capture from government forces for the first time in the civil war.