Syria has been in an uneasy stalemate following a decade of civil war, with President Bashar al-Assad’s regime claiming victory with the help of Russia, Iran, and militants. However, this week, insurgents led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham launched a successful raid into Aleppo, highlighting the fragility of Assad’s regime. HTS, an offshoot of al-Qaeda, has been building its military capacity and aims to conquer Damascus. The group’s offensive has pushed back regime forces, leading to concerns about the future of the conflict in Syria. In Idlib, the Syrian opposition group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) is seen as a crucial ally in keeping Syrian refugees out and targeting jihadist groups, despite concerns about their governance and human rights abuses. As the most powerful opposition group in the region, HTS has control over economic sectors and rules with a strict hand, leading many Syrians to reluctantly support them in the absence of better alternatives. While HTS claims to have reformed and be willing to engage politically, their true intentions remain uncertain, with international engagement needed to verify their claims and address their human rights violations.
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