HTS: The Islamist Rebel Group That Toppled Bashar al-Assad in Syria

Islamists who pledged allegiance to Al-Qaeda claim to have abandoned their original roots, yet they are still designated as terrorists by the UN and the USA, raising concerns about persistent radicalization.

A New Power in Syria

After fifty years under the al-Assad dynasty, Syria is experiencing a seismic shift. The Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Cham (HTS), once an ally of Al-Qaeda, has seized control of Damascus. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who led the nation for 24 years, including 14 years of war, has been forced to flee and now resides in Moscow.

A Political Shift

Despite its radical beginnings, HTS is striving to rebrand itself as a local political alternative. In 2017, the group renamed itself and began distancing from Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, yet this has not fully convinced Western governments.

They have also established a “Salvation Government” that manages the economy of the Idlib province and provides crucial services to its residents, according to Jérôme Drevon, a jihadism expert at the International Crisis Group.

Progress and Reservations

Despite these reform efforts, HTS is still labeled a terrorist organization by the UN, the USA, and some European countries. Observers urge caution, noting that HTS retains a fundamentally Islamist ideology.

Tammy Palacios, head of counter-terrorism at the New Lines Institute, points out the group’s opportunistic nature in forming alliances and allegiances.

An Uncertain Future

As HTS attempts to reshape its image, international skepticism persists. “HTS may have broken away from Al-Qaeda, but Al-Qaeda hasn’t let go of HTS,” warns Tammy Palacios. The legitimacy of Syria’s new rulers remains in question, casting doubts on the country’s future.