In days, the international community, some with outrage and others with joy, has been closely following the events in Syria, where the terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), with alleged financial and military support from the United States and assistance from Turkey, has carried out a coup.
Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani, the leader of HTS, is now positioning himself as a potential leader in post-Assad Syria. Without their sudden and devastating advance from their base in the northwestern province of Idlib toward the cities of Aleppo, Hama, and Homs, the recent tumultuous events would certainly not have occurred.
In addition to HTS, other rebel groups have also risen against the regime, creating a sense of united opposition in Syria and contributing to the regime's rapid collapse. With support from Ankara, Kurdish-led forces in the east have taken advantage of the fall of Syrian troops to gain control of the city of Deir El-Zour.
The U.S. is reportedly supporting HTS as part of a broader strategy to contain Russian and Iranian influence in the region, seeing this as an opportunity to shift power dynamics on the ground. Al-Jawlani aims for HTS to be seen as a pragmatic alternative to Assad's regime, despite its past connections to Al-Qaeda, which led to it being designated as a terrorist group.
Despite internal conflicts and alleged human rights violations, HTS seeks to present an image of inclusivity and rejection of vengeance. The end of Assad's rule does not change the current divisions within Syria, where different groups control various territories.
The future of Syria will depend on the effectiveness of HTS's policies, the ambitions of other groups, and the roles of external powers, such as Iran, Russia, Turkey, and the U.S., which have been heavily involved in the country's history.
These powerful states are now reshaping their strategies to protect their interests following the fall of the Assad dynasty, with the U.S. playing a key role by providing military assistance to HTS in an effort to transform the region.e.
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