Assad has been a bloody and violent despot, but his despotism was not based on religious grounds. Abu Mohammed al-Golani comes with former ties to ISIS and radical Islam, will these colour his rollout of a new regime in Syria or will he be a moderate and allow Syrians to live free to choose their own way of life?
Abu Mohammed al-Golani was originally allied with Islamic State jihadists, but he has thrown off that image and broken ties with those groups. He claims to be a moderate interested only in Syrian freedom, and this moderate approach has also won him the support of US forces and resources. As he has fought across Syria he has imposed mergers between Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Jihadist alliance he leads, and local Islamic militias as he has swept across Syria, forming a civilian government in the process. He has to some degree worked with the SDF (the Kurdish autonomous region forces), but the HTS is also allied with the Turkish supported Syrian National Army, who wish to end Kurdish autonomy.
On entering Damascus Golani ordered his forces to leave the public service alone. He seems to be exercising restraint and a wish to smooth the transition of power as much as possible, with continuity of Government. Unlike the forces of ISIS, this is not an army intent on sacking and pillaging. This is a liberation army and not one on a religious crusade, at least on current appearances.
What will the future hold for Syrian people? Will Golani and HTS establish a religious autocracy under the guise of establishing a moral society, or will Golani continue to see sense in pursuing moderate and somewhat secular goals? (He has indicated that Christians for example will be safe in the new government.) Will he be able to unify the various Syrian militias or will they devolve to a scrabble for power? Will the Kurdish Autonomous region be recognised by the new government?
Only time is going to answer these questions.
Via Email