ALEPPO, 05/12/2024 – Following a swift takeover of Syria’s second-largest city, Aleppo, Islamist rebel group Hayat al-Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) is working to showcase its governance capabilities as a viable alternative to President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. This marks a significant shift in the war, with the group, a former Al-Qaeda affiliate, seeking to present itself as a stabilizing force in areas it controls.
Despite the challenges, Aleppo has slowly returned to normalcy. The night-time curfew has been lifted, traffic has resumed, and vital services like bakeries and internet access have been restored, thanks to HTS’ civil administration, which has expanded its telecommunications network. HTS, which previously governed Idlib province through its Salvation Government, now aims to establish a similar model in Aleppo. The group is also working to reassure the city’s diverse communities, including Christians and other minorities, that their safety and freedoms will be preserved under rebel rule.
The city’s transformation, however, is not without its struggles. While essential services have resumed, the Syrian pound has devalued, and there are concerns over the availability of water and heating fuel as winter sets in. Despite these issues, residents have expressed cautious optimism, noting that the situation is better than initially feared.
HTS has also made significant moves to avoid further violence, including opening centers to encourage defecting government forces to join their ranks, offering them temporary protection from retribution. In a bid for international legitimacy, HTS has allowed the use of both the Syrian pound and U.S. dollars in Aleppo, marking a departure from its previous stance in Idlib, where only Turkish lira was accepted.
While the group is hoping to gain international acceptance through its governance of civilian affairs, the U.S. has maintained its designation of HTS as a terrorist organization. HTS’ leader, Abu Mohammed al-Golani, has stated that the group does not intend to govern Aleppo through the Salvation Government but will instead establish a transitional body, a decision aimed at easing access to international aid.
As HTS expands its control into Hama, the group faces the significant task of managing a much larger and more diverse region, raising questions about its ability to maintain order and represent the various ethnic and religious groups within its newly expanded territories.