“It’s a hopeful moment for Syria, after a long, brutal dictatorship… but there is also an awful lot of uncertainty in an already very uncertain region,” said Gregory Treverton, professor of the practice of international relations and spatial sciences at the University of Southern California.
WHO WILL GOVERN SYRIA?
HTS, which led the insurgency to topple Assad, is set to be a major player in Syria’s governance.
But the militant group’s historical ties to al-Qaeda could prove tricky – it has been designated a terrorist organisation by many, including the UN, United States and Turkiye.
In 2016, the group broke links to al-Qaeda and rebranded, with commander Abu Mohammed al-Golani depicting himself as a champion of pluralism and tolerance.
Analysts said a fundamental worry is that HTS is an Islamic group, and it remains to be seen if it can find a balance with secular aspects of Syria’s society. They are also hopeful the group will form a coalition with other oppositions, instead of dominating the landscape.
Source: CNA
