Idlib under HTS: A Testing Ground for the Syria of Tomorrow

Idlib under HTS: A Testing Ground for the Syria of Tomorrow

HTS: From a Jihadist Group to a Military Power
HTS: From a Jihadist Group to a Military Power

Over the years, Islamist group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has built a substantial military arsenal and established a force that is both professional and cohesive – an accomplishment that posed a significant challenge when the group was formed in 2017, following the merger of Jabhat Fatah al-Sham (formerly al-Nusra) with five other jihadist ...

Sharaa–Bin Laden: Reversed Paths!
Sharaa–Bin Laden: Reversed Paths!

Let it be crystal clear: no Syrian, no Lebanese, no Palestinian… regrets the fall of the Khmer Rouge of the Levant. The Assad dynasty, guilty of crimes against humanity and large-scale massacres against its own people, as well as those of “brotherly” countries, has finally fallen after fourteen years of civil war. The problem is that today, ...

From Turban to Power Suit: The Reinvention of Ahmad al-Sharaa
VideosFrom Turban to Power Suit: The Reinvention of Ahmad al-Sharaa

Ahmad al-Sharaa, once a commander in Syria’s brutal jihadist landscape, now claims he’s the only one who can rebuild what Assad destroyed. Once a symbol of war, now a voice of reconstruction? Who is this man reshaping his image, and possibly Syria’s future?  

HTS: Repression Driving the Protests
HTS: Repression Driving the Protests

Starting in February 2024, a wave of protests has swept through the cities of Idlib, Binnish and Sarmada, quickly spreading across much of Syria's northwestern province. The demonstrations are a direct response to the repressive governance of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), compounded by worsening economic conditions and a collapse in basic ...

HTS: The Syrian Salvation Government and the Formation of a Proto-State
HTS: The Syrian Salvation Government and the Formation of a Proto-State

Before gaining control of significant parts of Syria following a swift assault on Bashar al-Assad’s forces, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) had spent several years establishing a proto-state model in the region of Idlib. This experiment in governance mirrored the group’s ideological transformation over time. The Takeover of the Idlib ...

HTS: From a War Economy to a Fully-Functioning State
HTS: From a War Economy to a Fully-Functioning State

After seizing control of most of the Idlib region, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) evolved from a mere Islamist group into a de facto governing authority responsible for millions of civilians. It was thus forced to rebuild an economy ravaged by years of war while also shifting the sources of its internal funding. Following Jabhat al-Nusra’s split ...