Part 3/9:
At the heart of the current upheaval is a coalition of rebel groups, notably the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which has emerged as a formidable force in the region. Born from the remnants of al-Qaeda, HTS has rebranded itself as a more pragmatic entity, claiming to prioritize the overthrow of the Assad regime over international jihadism. Despite their previous designation as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the UN, there are indications that the U.S. has begun dialogues with HTS, which complicates the existing narrative regarding who the U.S. might support in the ongoing conflict.