Piers Hadil El-Shalchi

And while it's still a fundamentalist and not a democratic group by any stretch, they've become a bit more pragmatic, focusing on civilian rule, you know, setting up services, running a stronger economy in areas they control, etc.

And while it's still a fundamentalist and not a democratic group by any stretch, they've become a bit more pragmatic, focusing on civilian rule, you know, setting up services, running a stronger economy in areas they control, etc.

And while it's still a fundamentalist and not a democratic group by any stretch, they've become a bit more pragmatic, focusing on civilian rule, you know, setting up services, running a stronger economy in areas they control, etc.

HTS's leader, Mohamed Jolani, told CNN in an interview today that, quote, the revolution has evolved from chaos and randomness into a state of order, both militarily and civilian matters. But there are questions whether this HTS branding is real or just a PR campaign. Given their background, do we have a sense of what civilians in Aleppo City and Hama have been saying? For sure.

HTS's leader, Mohamed Jolani, told CNN in an interview today that, quote, the revolution has evolved from chaos and randomness into a state of order, both militarily and civilian matters. But there are questions whether this HTS branding is real or just a PR campaign. Given their background, do we have a sense of what civilians in Aleppo City and Hama have been saying? For sure.

HTS's leader, Mohamed Jolani, told CNN in an interview today that, quote, the revolution has evolved from chaos and randomness into a state of order, both militarily and civilian matters. But there are questions whether this HTS branding is real or just a PR campaign. Given their background, do we have a sense of what civilians in Aleppo City and Hama have been saying? For sure.

So the main sentiment has been cautious optimism. Syrians living under government control have long complained about severe oppression. Some people I spoke to in Aleppo said the rebel forces were able to restore order back to the city as soon as they took it over. Video circulating online showed fighters and civilians celebrating in the streets and Jolani driving through, being greeted with joy.

So the main sentiment has been cautious optimism. Syrians living under government control have long complained about severe oppression. Some people I spoke to in Aleppo said the rebel forces were able to restore order back to the city as soon as they took it over. Video circulating online showed fighters and civilians celebrating in the streets and Jolani driving through, being greeted with joy.

So the main sentiment has been cautious optimism. Syrians living under government control have long complained about severe oppression. Some people I spoke to in Aleppo said the rebel forces were able to restore order back to the city as soon as they took it over. Video circulating online showed fighters and civilians celebrating in the streets and Jolani driving through, being greeted with joy.

There's also been images of prisoners being released from Hama's jails where dozens of people were detained for anti-government activities. But then there are also thousands of people fleeing Hama, afraid. Kurds who hold their own rival territory in the northeast and many Alawites. They're the sect that Assad family comes from.

There's also been images of prisoners being released from Hama's jails where dozens of people were detained for anti-government activities. But then there are also thousands of people fleeing Hama, afraid. Kurds who hold their own rival territory in the northeast and many Alawites. They're the sect that Assad family comes from.

There's also been images of prisoners being released from Hama's jails where dozens of people were detained for anti-government activities. But then there are also thousands of people fleeing Hama, afraid. Kurds who hold their own rival territory in the northeast and many Alawites. They're the sect that Assad family comes from.

Our sites are all on the next big city, Homs, where there are reports that there's fighting on the outskirts already. The regime has also tried to destroy strategic bridges leading to Homs. We're on the road to Damascus. And if the rebels keep up this momentum, they'll be inching closer to the Syrian government's seat of power. That is NPR's Hadil Alshanti. Hadil, thank you. You're welcome.

Our sites are all on the next big city, Homs, where there are reports that there's fighting on the outskirts already. The regime has also tried to destroy strategic bridges leading to Homs. We're on the road to Damascus. And if the rebels keep up this momentum, they'll be inching closer to the Syrian government's seat of power. That is NPR's Hadil Alshanti. Hadil, thank you. You're welcome.

Our sites are all on the next big city, Homs, where there are reports that there's fighting on the outskirts already. The regime has also tried to destroy strategic bridges leading to Homs. We're on the road to Damascus. And if the rebels keep up this momentum, they'll be inching closer to the Syrian government's seat of power. That is NPR's Hadil Alshanti. Hadil, thank you. You're welcome.