The Miracle:

Overthrowing the Assad Criminal Gang and Ending Its Aftermath

On December 8, 2024, Syria witnessed a dramatic shift as opposition forces, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, launched a rapid attack that resulted in the capture of Damascus and the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad's regime. Bashar al-Assad managed to flee shortly before his regime's collapse, with some reports indicating that he sought asylum in Russia, joining his family who had already been in exile.

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The fall of the Assad regime, which had ruled Syria for 61 years since the rise of the Ba'ath Party in 1963, marked a pivotal moment in the country's history. After the regime's overthrow, the opposition declared victory and began forming a transitional government. Initially, the international community responded positively to the changes brought about by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, with the United States issuing a temporary six-month exemption from sanctions to allow humanitarian aid and engagement with Syrian government institutions to support recovery and reconstruction efforts. This exemption was called the "general license," allowing certain energy-related transactions and personal remittances to Syria until July 7, 2025, but it did not lift the sanctions imposed on Syria.

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On the regional level, the new Syrian foreign minister, Asaad al-Shibani, appointed by the group, visited several neighbouring countries like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the UAE to strengthen diplomatic and economic relations to support the reconstruction process. However, these visits made little progress regarding the recognition of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham's legitimacy or providing substantial aid to support the Syrian people or rebuild the country.

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Locally, the atmosphere clearly changed as citizens in Damascus celebrated the regime's fall, with events including revolutionary songs and speeches praising the resilience of the Syrian people and honouring those who lost their lives during the conflict. Despite this optimism, Syria faces numerous major challenges, including:

• Establishing state authority across Syrian territories under the oversight of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.

• Securing qualified personnel to maintain security, manage state affairs, and provide services to the people.

• Developing an effective national reconciliation mechanism to reduce revenge and sectarian conflicts.

• Securing aid or budgetary support to meet the basic needs of the majority of Syrians.

• Providing a clear plan to hold accountable those responsible for the killings of innocent Syrians.

• Creating a practical strategy to recover Syria's looted wealth and invest in monopolized or unused resources to rebuild infrastructure and homes for millions of displaced people inside and outside Syria.

• Finding a balance between implementing a civilian system and the Islamic direction adopted by the group to ensure freedom and justice for all sects and nationalities in Syria.

• Activating practical mechanisms for international engagement to lift sanctions imposed on Syria.

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Who are the Liberators - Hayat Tahrir al-Sham?

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham is an armed group that emerged in Syria, formed in January 2017 by the merger of several factions, most notably Jabhat al-Nusra (formerly al-Qaeda's Syrian branch), along with other movements like the Nur al-Din al-Zenki Movement and Ahrar al-Sham.

The group's goal is to overthrow Bashar al-Assad's regime and establish a government based on Islamic law.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham is based in Idlib province and parts of northwest Syria, where it has become the dominant force. Many countries, including the United States, Turkey, and Russia, classify the group as a terrorist organization due to its past links with al-Qaeda. However, in recent years, the group has attempted to improve its international image by focusing on governance in the areas it controls and presenting itself as a political and military entity independent of global jihadist agendas.

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The group's leader is Abu Mohammad al-Julani, whose real name is Ahmad Hussein al-Shara, born in Damascus in 1982. Al-Julani initially rose to prominence as the leader of Jabhat al-Nusra, before announcing in 2016 that the group would sever its ties with al-Qaeda and change its name to Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, which later evolved into Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in 2017.

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Following al-Julani's decisive military victory on December 8, 2024, he announced the formation of a transitional government to lead Syria during a three-month transition period, after which democratic elections would be held to choose a new president and government. Under this government, the group implemented several measures derived from Islamic law, including:

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• Appointing individuals close to al-Julani to senior positions.

• Modifying school curricula to align with its views.

• Enforcing gender segregation in public transportation and university lecture halls.

• Banning interaction between men and women in parks and public places, except for married couples or those with a permissible family relationship.

• Banning alcohol and closing down two distilleries producing alcoholic beverages.

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These decisions sparked widespread local and international controversy, with some viewing them as a reformation of society according to the group's vision, while others saw them as a restriction on personal freedoms.

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Where is Syria Now (as of January 20, 2025)?

If we were to describe Syria's current situation after al-Julani assumed power, we would see a significant contradiction between the goals of al-Julani's revolution and the realities on the ground. The conditions and results so far do not suggest any positive developments for liberation and rebuilding Syria, with many indicators pointing to challenges:

• Chaos and lack of security control remain evident in most Syrian cities.

• No effective mechanisms for caring for the many poor and displaced left behind by the previous regime.

• There is no clear plan or statement from the group regarding the activation of transitional justice.

• Lack of a clear vision for the state's constitutional agenda and the election of a permanent government and president.

• No plans or systems for compensating the hundreds of thousands of victims.

• Hayat Tahrir al-Sham leadership has granted citizenship to some foreigners and mercenaries without a legal system protecting Syria from the risks and negatives posed by foreign nationals who did not contribute to Syria’s construction or prosperity.

• There is no clear vision for building and attracting skilled personnel to rebuild the army to protect Syria's sovereignty and strengthen its security.

• Recently, high military ranks were given to civilians and foreign fighters, which contradicts loyalty to the homeland and the lack of assigning sensitive state positions to qualified and experienced individuals.

• Arbitrary layoffs in government service institutions have led to accumulated service delays and violations, also negatively impacting the livelihood and future of many employees and their families.

• Changes in educational curricula and behaviors, which may foster extremism and restrict personal freedoms.

• No objective policy to settle conflicts and secure international support.

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