Abu Mohammed al-Julani

No one wishes failure for the new Syria or strives to bring it about. Our region has grown weary of wars and conflict. These newcomers from extreme terrorist groups must now prove themselves.

Conditions include a new regime stopping Hezbollah smuggling and do not rely solely on UNDOF.

He stressed that Syria must prioritize a process of transitional justice, warning against retaliation.

Such a system, no matter how moderate it claims to be, could give Turkey’s Islamists new chances to keep ruling after Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s time ends.

All signs point to HTS’s commitment to executing its publicly stated goal of ending suffering and forging a new path to peace and security, which the Syrian people desperately long for.

Abu Mohammed al-Julani has yet to articulate any policy positions that alarm regional or international stakeholders or Syrian ethnic and sectarian constituencies.

Both countries agreed to fix smuggling and border issues as well as Syrian deposits in Lebanese banks.

Perhaps Abu Mohammed al-Julani will defy the grim precedent, maybe he will break away from Salafi jihadism and break the cycle that has consumed countless others.

The US, European, and Arab Gulf states are engaging with the new administration to try to push it towards an inclusive political transition and seek cooperation on counter-terrorism.

Targeted measures under discussion include easing financial transactions, improving air transport, and reducing sanctions on the energy sector to address Syria’s severe power shortages.