Adil Al-Shalchi

So the leader of HTS, which is short for Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, is Ahmed al-Shar'a, formerly known by his nom de guerre Abu Muhammad al-Jolani. And at least publicly, he's been making all the right noises. This week, he said that all rebel factions that helped overthrow Bashar al-Assad will be disbanded and absorbed into the Ministry of Defense and that everyone will be subject to the rule of law.

So the leader of HTS, which is short for Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, is Ahmed al-Shar'a, formerly known by his nom de guerre Abu Muhammad al-Jolani. And at least publicly, he's been making all the right noises. This week, he said that all rebel factions that helped overthrow Bashar al-Assad will be disbanded and absorbed into the Ministry of Defense and that everyone will be subject to the rule of law.

So the leader of HTS, which is short for Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, is Ahmed al-Shar'a, formerly known by his nom de guerre Abu Muhammad al-Jolani. And at least publicly, he's been making all the right noises. This week, he said that all rebel factions that helped overthrow Bashar al-Assad will be disbanded and absorbed into the Ministry of Defense and that everyone will be subject to the rule of law.

He said it's time to move on from war to civilian life. He's even stopped wearing his fatigues. But Syria is a very diverse country, so HTS needs to find a way to reunite it. And so many cities have been destroyed in the war, so rebuilding the infrastructure is going to be something they'll need to tackle. And then HTS has roots in al-Qaeda.

He said it's time to move on from war to civilian life. He's even stopped wearing his fatigues. But Syria is a very diverse country, so HTS needs to find a way to reunite it. And so many cities have been destroyed in the war, so rebuilding the infrastructure is going to be something they'll need to tackle. And then HTS has roots in al-Qaeda.

He said it's time to move on from war to civilian life. He's even stopped wearing his fatigues. But Syria is a very diverse country, so HTS needs to find a way to reunite it. And so many cities have been destroyed in the war, so rebuilding the infrastructure is going to be something they'll need to tackle. And then HTS has roots in al-Qaeda.

It has told Syrians it won't turn the country into another Afghanistan. But a lot of Syrians are worried, will they end up imposing a very stringent form of Islamic rule that will upend their lives?

It has told Syrians it won't turn the country into another Afghanistan. But a lot of Syrians are worried, will they end up imposing a very stringent form of Islamic rule that will upend their lives?

It has told Syrians it won't turn the country into another Afghanistan. But a lot of Syrians are worried, will they end up imposing a very stringent form of Islamic rule that will upend their lives?

Sure. So HDS has been using former Assad regime bureaucrats to get things up and running. They have to. These rebels just don't have the expertise needed to run a country. So students did go back to school this week. ATMs are working again. And even the first domestic flight took off from Damascus International Airport.

Sure. So HDS has been using former Assad regime bureaucrats to get things up and running. They have to. These rebels just don't have the expertise needed to run a country. So students did go back to school this week. ATMs are working again. And even the first domestic flight took off from Damascus International Airport.

Sure. So HDS has been using former Assad regime bureaucrats to get things up and running. They have to. These rebels just don't have the expertise needed to run a country. So students did go back to school this week. ATMs are working again. And even the first domestic flight took off from Damascus International Airport.

And then I went to a protest last night, probably the first mass gathering ever. in more than a decade. The site was unimaginable just a couple of weeks ago. People chanting for a secular state, against an Islamist state, even some anti-HTS slogans. There were some HTS forces guarding the area also, but they pretty much left the protesters alone.

And then I went to a protest last night, probably the first mass gathering ever. in more than a decade. The site was unimaginable just a couple of weeks ago. People chanting for a secular state, against an Islamist state, even some anti-HTS slogans. There were some HTS forces guarding the area also, but they pretty much left the protesters alone.

And then I went to a protest last night, probably the first mass gathering ever. in more than a decade. The site was unimaginable just a couple of weeks ago. People chanting for a secular state, against an Islamist state, even some anti-HTS slogans. There were some HTS forces guarding the area also, but they pretty much left the protesters alone.

I met Sana Mustafa at the protest, and she was exiled for 11 years for being a Syrian activist. This was her first time back, and she said, yes, she feels fear and is cautious, but there was a lot of fight in her voice.

I met Sana Mustafa at the protest, and she was exiled for 11 years for being a Syrian activist. This was her first time back, and she said, yes, she feels fear and is cautious, but there was a lot of fight in her voice.

I met Sana Mustafa at the protest, and she was exiled for 11 years for being a Syrian activist. This was her first time back, and she said, yes, she feels fear and is cautious, but there was a lot of fight in her voice.

Right. So we already know that countries like Qatar and Turkey have opened up their embassies. And then even though the French embassy is still closed, it raised its flag there over the past week. The French foreign ministry said it was a show of solidarity with the Syrian people in this time of crisis. quote, transition. And seniors U.S.

Right. So we already know that countries like Qatar and Turkey have opened up their embassies. And then even though the French embassy is still closed, it raised its flag there over the past week. The French foreign ministry said it was a show of solidarity with the Syrian people in this time of crisis. quote, transition. And seniors U.S.