Aslı Aydıntaşbaş
European Council on Foreign Relations, Feb. 6, 2025
“The question of moderation and tolerance in Syria is tied to whether the country’s new rulers are still jihadists at heart.”
Unnoticed by the outside world, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan in October hinted at “good news” soon to come from Syria. Within a few weeks, a coalition of Syrian rebels led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and backed by Turkey had toppled the long and brutal reign of Bashar al-Assad.
The lightning offensive that led to the downfall of the regime was not organised by Turkey, but it also couldn’t have happened without Ankara’s approval and tacit support. This gives Turkish leaders a say in Syria’s future direction. Their intentions in Syria will also serve European interests—provided the parties arrive at a peaceful formula to find a place for the Kurds in the country.
Turkey’s sway
HTS is not one of Turkey’s direct proxies inside the rebel camp. But the group had long cultivated a close working relationship with Ankara because the rebels controlled Idlib, a province on the Turkish border in northern Syria. The three million Syrians living in Idlib have depended on Turkey for international aid and security.
In time, Turkish officials developed a relationship with the enigmatic leader of HTS and now Syria’s transitional president, Ahmed al-Sharaa. This gives Ankara substantial leverage over the group. …SOURCE