In December 2024, President Bashar al-Assad lost control of Syria because of a strategic offensive from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani. The Assad family lost its grip on power for more than fifty years while leaving Syria to become an ongoing and complicated battlefield.
The Rise of Abu Mohammad al-Jolani
Al-Jolani started life under the name of Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa when he was born in 1982 but spent his early years between displacement from the Golan Heights followed by living in Damascus. The early 2000s caused him radical transformation through regional turmoil that led to his insurgent activities following the 2003 U.S. occupation of Iraq. His return to Syria during 2011 coincided with the national uprising of the country to establish Jabhat al-Nusra which proved being an al-Qaeda affiliate. Al-Jolani separated from al-Qaeda so he created HTS in 2016 with the goal of becoming the top opposition force against the Assad government.
Strategic Offensive and Assad’s Downfall
The seven-year Syrian domestic conflict finally came to a tremendous end through late 2024. Jabhat al-Nusra conducted its swift offensive towards Idlib while led by Commander al-Jolani. During the span of a few days HTS seized all major Syrian cities which began with Hama and Homs before taking Damascus and Aleppo. HTS displayed Syrian strength through blitzkrieg warfare that exposed the Syrian Army’s weaknesses and revealed the Assad regime’s excessive dependence on foreign support from Russia and Iran. HTS conducted a campaign that established new records in speed and efficiency which forced Assad to flee Syria and seek refuge in Russia.
HTS’s Governance and Al-Jolani’s Transformation
The acquisition of new territory brought forth management obstacles. Several years ago Al-Jolani positioned himself as a knowledgeable leader of pragmatic approach toward Syria’s future by starting his transition from jihadist associations. The Syrian Salvation Government rose under Al-Jolani in Idlib to fulfill the role of public administration and public service delivery. pornos make public Western-style appearances while conducting international media interviews to demonstrate his dedication towards Syria’s reconstruction and minority support. Stakeholders showed doubt regarding HTS and its leader al-Jolani because of their historical record.
A Nation in Turmoil
The country faces many obstacles along its journey to establish lasting peace even after changing its political leadership. An accelerated offensive produced substantial population displacement because since November 27, 2024 the United Nations documented that 280,000 individuals had to leave their residences. Various factions fight for power in the current vacuum because each group tries to achieve dominance and influence. Military groups together with their many internal ideologies and outside influences maintain Syria in endlessly ongoing conflict so peace becomes increasingly difficult to achieve.
The International Dimension
The Syrian region exists in a prolonged state of warfare because of elements beyond domestic factors. Multiple global and regional powers with their own interests have established complicated relationships of alliances while developing enmities between different entities. Russia through military aid supports Assad even as Iran supports Shia militias together with Turkey backing different rebel factions which collectively delayed and intensified the ongoing conflict. The fragmented response from world powers tends to make divisions worse than promoting unity in establishing peace.
The Road Ahead
Syria currently stands at a crucial juncture which produces an unknown future direction. HTS under Al-Jolani must transform itself from an insurgent organization into an organization capable of governing Syria’s divided population. Creating political stability plus reconstruction and national reconciliation presents remarkable difficulties for all parties involved. The worldwide community needs to play an essential role in backing or blocking the transformation process. The Syrian people continue to hope for lasting peace coupled with national prosperity because the ongoing destruction has burdened them for many years.
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