Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, a new government is taking shape, sparking questions about its Islamist stance and potential similarities to the Taliban in Afghanistan.
The U.S.-designated terrorist group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) previously ruled the Idlib Governate in northwest Syria, establishing the Syrian Salvation Government to focus on local governance. Despite attempts to shed global jihadist aims, HTS ruled with an iron fist, overseeing public services and public safety for approximately 2 million people in Idlib Province.
