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The war on terror had an unexpected outcome
The rebel group HTS was born as an Islamic State branch but, since pivoting from international jihad, became dominant in Syria’s north-west.
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An aerial view shows a deserted street in Aleppo with smoke rising in the background after HTS and its allies entered the northern Syrian city on Nov 30.
PHOTO: AFP
Hassan Hassan
The stunningly successful offensive by Syrian rebels last week accomplished what years of bloodshed by larger factions could not. Within four days, the rebel group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), captured much of Aleppo
Underlying the success of HTS is a crucial development: It has evolved from being part of one of the most brutal transnational jihadist movements in modern history to positioning itself as a nationalist force – and, for many, a stabilising actor.
