HTS

Washington’s Syrian mistake: Empowering HTS, endangering Kurds - opinion

History will record who stood by democratic values at this critical moment and who sacrificed these values for short-term interests.

A member of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) stands guard as Syrian Kurds attend a protest in solidarity with people in Sweida, on July 17, 2025.
 Smoke rises, after Syrian rebels announced that they have ousted Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria, December 8, 2024.

On This Day: One year since Syrian rebels overthrew Assad regime, ending over 50 year rule

Armored personnel carriers stand outside a compound of the Syrian army's new 80th Division in northwest Syria, June 3, 2025.

Syrian army starts training in Turkey, while Ankara gains influence over Damascus gov't - analysis

 Rebel fighters ride a vehicle, after rebels led by HTS have sought to capitalize on their swift takeover of Aleppo in the north and Hama in west-central Syria by pressing onwards to Homs, in Hama, Syria December 6, 2024.

UK removes terrorism designation for HTS, formerly led by Syria's Ahmed Al-Sharaa


Turkey aiming for maritime agreement with Syria, transport minister says

The maritime demarcation agreement would be in line with international law and would allow two countries to determine authorities for oil and hydrocarbon exploration.

 Turkey's Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloglu addresses the audience during a signing ceremony in Istanbul, Turkey, April 29, 2024.

Syrian interim government names rebel commander as defense minister

Senior leader in the Islamist group Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham led military operations in the campaign that ousted the Assad regime.

 Head of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and Syria's de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, sits next to Murhaf Abu Qasra, who according to an official source has been appointed as Defense Minister in Syria's interim government, in Damascus, Syria.

Jordan outreach to new Syria government is turning point - analysis

When the regime began to collapse, the rebels returned to march on Damascus. This could provide Jordan with key influence in Dara’a and other areas in southern Jordan.

 Illustrative image of a Syrian domino falling followed by a Jordanian domino.

Is there hope for a democratic future for Syria? - opinion

Whether Julani sees himself as a more moderate version of Assad or as the political head of a democratically elected, representative government is the question.

 PEOPLE GATHER during a celebration called by HTS at Umayyad Square in Damascus in December.

Bashar al-Assad's wife files for divorce, seeks to move to UK - report

Asma al-Assad moved to Syria in 2000 and married Assad in the same year at the age of 25. 

 Syria's President Bashar al-Assad (C) and his wife Asma al-Assad (L) attend the opening ceremony of the 2022 Asian Games at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium in Hangzhou in China's eastern Zhejiang province on September 23, 2023.

Turkey's foreign minister meets HTS leader in Damascus

Fidan's visit comes amid fighting in northeast Syria between Turkey-backed Syrian fighters and the Kurdish YPG militia.

 Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan meets with Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, in Damascus, Syria, December 22, 2024.

HTS Leader al-Sharaa: 'Syria is tired of wars', wants to be part of Arab world

In an interview with 'Asharq Al-Awsat', Ahmed al-Sharaa said that the revolution in Syria ended with Assad's fall and that he did not want it to destabilize the Arab world.

 Rebel fighters pose as they hold a Syrian opposition flag at the Umayyad Mosque, after rebels seized the capital and ousted Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria December 9, 2024.

Syrian Kurdish groups on the back foot as power balance shifts - analysis

Syria's Kurds are tilted against HTS, and are in 'deep, deep trouble' with Turkey.

Kurds carry banners as they protest, in the northeastern city of Qamishli, against Turkish airstrikes on the headquarters of the Kurdish fighters from the People's Protection Units (YPG) in Mount Karachok on Tuesday, Syria April 26, 2017.

Voices from the Arab press: Syria after Assad: Four urgent challenges

A weekly selection of opinions and analyses from the Arab media around the world.

 A TORN portrait of deposed Syrian president Bashar al-Assad inside the ransacked Presidential Palace in Damascus, December 10, 2024.

US officials had 'good' meeting with Syria's de-facto new ruler, remove $10 billion bounty

The visit comes as Western governments are gradually opening channels to HTS and its leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, and start debating whether or not to remove the terrorist designation on the group.

 The leader of Syria's Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group that headed a lightning rebel offensive snatching Damascus from government control, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, address a crowd at the capital's landmark Umayyad Mosque on December 8, 2024.