The Inquiry What next for Syria?
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Jan 21, 2025 The fall of the Assad regime has led to a significant shift in Syria, with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham seizing power in Damascus. The podcast explores the complex factors that enabled this change, including international interventions and the aftermath of the Arab Spring. It delves into the challenges posed by rising authoritarianism and the influence of Islamist governance. Geopolitical dynamics involving Iran, Turkey, and the U.S. further complicate Syria's future, as the country grapples with socioeconomic crises and the quest for a stable political framework.
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Syrian Civil War Overview
- Assad's regime clamped down on protesters, escalating the conflict into a brutal war.
- A stalemate emerged, with the regime unable to control the entire country, creating de facto partitions.
Factors Contributing to Assad's Fall
- The Hamas attacks on Israel in 2023 diverted Hezbollah's support from Assad, weakening his forces.
- Russia, preoccupied with the war in Ukraine, was unwilling to provide sufficient support to bolster the regime.
HTS Governance and Revenue
- HTS, despite its past, gained credibility by offering stability and running public services in Idlib.
- Their revenue generation is primarily local, from taxes and trade routes.