Cairo: Hani Kamal El-Din
he militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a pivotal force in the Syrian opposition’s military campaign, has declared its political ambitions, signaling a significant shift in its objectives. HTS leader Abu Mohammad al-Julani, in a recent interview, outlined the group’s plan to dismantle Syria’s central government, which has been the target of military pressure since late November. The group’s forces have made substantial advances in recent weeks, capturing the city of Hama and now setting their sights on the Homs province. At the same time, Turkish officials have openly expressed their hope that the militants could reach Damascus.
The interview with al-Julani, published by CNN on December 6, came just a day after the coalition of Islamist groups made significant strides into Hama’s administrative center. The HTS leader explained that the ongoing offensive in northwestern Syria, which began on November 27, aims to overthrow the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
Al-Julani further emphasized that HTS is working within the occupied territories to build trust among Syria’s ethnic and religious minorities, aiming to find a suitable formula for governance. “We are talking about a larger project — the construction of Syria,” he noted, adding that the group could reorganize itself to fit the evolving political landscape.
It is clear that HTS is attempting a “rebranding” to appear less radical in the eyes of the international community as it continues its offensive in northwest Syria. However, human rights organizations have long reported on the group’s repressive methods in areas under its control, with any dissent being suppressed ruthlessly.
Following their successful advance into Aleppo, Syrian militants made significant progress in Hama on December 5, and by the end of the week, their focus had shifted to Homs, where they have redirected their forces. Homs Governor Numeir Mahlouf assured local residents that authorities had taken “all necessary measures to maintain security” and urged the population not to panic.
The capture of Homs could mark a pivotal moment in the changing balance of power on the ground. Should the militants gain control of the province, they will effectively cut off key transportation routes connecting Syria’s capital to the Mediterranean coastline. Russia’s embassy in Syria has already advised its citizens to leave the country via commercial flights due to the escalating conflict.
While Turkey has publicly denied any direct involvement in the escalation of hostilities, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed in a statement on Friday that Idlib, Hama, Homs, and, ultimately, Damascus, remain the primary targets of the opposition. “This march of the opposition continues, and we hope it goes smoothly,” he said, underscoring Turkey’s ongoing support for the opposition groups.
Erdoğan also revealed that Turkey had previously engaged in direct talks with Damascus to discuss Syria’s future, but the responses from the Syrian government were unsatisfactory, according to his statement.
Additionally, other armed groups operating in southern Syria, including those that received amnesty from the Syrian government in 2018 as part of a broader reconciliation process, have also declared their intent to march towards Damascus.
The Syrian crisis also took center stage at the Doha Forum, a global gathering of political leaders and experts, where Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attended. On the sidelines of the forum, a meeting on Syria was planned under the “Astana format,” which involves Russia, Iran, and Turkey — all key players in the Syrian conflict — discussing the future of Syria.
Meanwhile, the activation of militant forces has raised alarm among officials in Iraq. During a three-way meeting in Baghdad, the foreign ministers of Syria, Iran, and Iraq discussed concerns over the potential spillover of the conflict into neighboring Iraq, fearing the security of the western border could be compromised.
The rapid collapse of the Syrian Arab Army’s defensive lines has also drawn attention in the region. Sources from Axios reported that Israel’s Defense Forces (IDF) have held several urgent consultations regarding the situation in Syria. While they do not believe the Assad regime is in immediate danger, the situation poses the most significant challenge to it in the last decade. Israeli sources noted that Syrian forces are “not fighting effectively,” which has contributed to the ongoing military dynamics in the region.
Furthermore, the military portal Defense One has assessed that HTS has significantly strengthened its position over the past few years by consolidating its power in areas it controls and investing in the training of its fighters. The group has transformed into a more traditional military structure, even establishing a special forces unit capable of executing coordinated and strategically significant attacks, altering the course of the Syrian conflict.
