Hayʼat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) is an armed Islamist rebel group in Syria. They have been waging an armed conflict against the regime of Bashar Assad as well as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
‘The organization should not be viewed in isolation from federalist tendencies and Netanyahu’s pro-Druze remarks,’ says Syria and Lebanon expert, Dr. Moran Levanoni
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said recently that Israel would maintain the buffer zone as long as necessary.
They must implement their international obligations in line with the extensive goodwill they have received from both regional partners and the global community.
A one-day dialogue in Damascus could signal a new chapter for Syria – but will HTS’s influence stifle real change?
The visit is the new interim leader's third foreign trip along with Saudi Arabia and Turkey since he came to power after leading a decisive rebel offensive which ousted Iran-backed Bashar al Assad.
"We demand full demilitarization of southern Syria, in the provinces of Quneitra, Daraa, and Sweida," Netanyahu said at a military graduation ceremony.
Al-sharaa's visit to Turkey marks the highest-level meeting since 2009, signaling a potential shift in Syrian-Turkish relations.
Turkey’s deepening ties with Syria could shift regional power dynamics, impacting Israel, Iran, and NATO while strengthening Hamas' backers.
Julani was born in Saudi Arabia, later lived in Damascus, and joined al-Qaeda before becoming the head of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Syria.
Syrian Kurdish leader Ilham Ahmed says Israel must be part of the solution for Middle East security as tensions rise between the SDF and Islamist rulers in Damascus.
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