After 13 years of civil war, rebel forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its leader Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani have taken control of Syria, leading to the downfall of Bashar al-Assad's regime. This remarkable shift was made possible by the weakened positions of Russia and Iran, which were preoccupied with other conflicts, leaving Assad's military exposed and unsupported. While there are early indications that HTS may adopt a more moderate approach to governance, the future remains unpredictable, with outcomes ranging from a peaceful transition to the possibility of renewed civil war and the rise of extremist groups. Assad's fall significantly reshapes the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East, affecting regional alliances and power dynamics.
