Who Is the Leader of Syrian Islamist Group HTS, and How Is the Region Reacting to Assad's Downfall?

Dec 8, 2024 | The Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, led by Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, has toppled the regime of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad. The group insists it has renounced its ties to al-Qaeda and that it will respect pluralism and the rights of minorities. Since the downfall of Assad’s regime, the Syrian President has reportedly fled the country and been granted asylum in Russia. Meanwhile Israel has seized a buffer zone in the Syrian-controlled area of the Golan Heights. It says this is a temporary but necessary measure since Syrian soldiers had abandoned their positions. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said their departure means Israel's 1974 ceasefire agreement with Syria has collapsed, and Israeli forces must now take over the territory to protect against any potential threats.