One main nation is finest positioned to work with the brand new Syrian authorities after rebels toppled the nation’s brutal regime in a sensational lightning assault this week, in keeping with an knowledgeable.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) have been capturing main cities within the nation since its offensive started in November, combating alongside different opposition teams, together with the Syrian Nationwide Military (SNA), which is backed by Turkey.

After capturing strongholds in Syria’s Aleppo and Idlib provinces, the insurgent forces captured the capital Damascus in early December, ending the oppressive 54-year rule of the Assad dynasty.

For the previous 13 years, a civil warfare has ravaged the nation, although analysts say it was really a proxy warfare pushed by world and regional powers together with Russia, the US, Iran, and Saudi Arabia.

Varied states have an curiosity within the strategically essential nation, which borders Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Israel and Lebanon.

However Center East knowledgeable Dr Nader Hashemi believes one energy is finest positioned to work with the brand new authorities, in no matter type it takes.

He advised Categorical.co.uk “I feel their largest regional backer can be Turkey.Whereas Turkey has formally listed the HTS as a terrorist organisation, that’s extra formal than substantive.

“HTS has been working the northern province of Idlib for a number of years beneath Turkish safety. Turkey has shut relationships with the HTS, and Turkey is basically hoping to, I feel, exploit this transformation of presidency in Syria to develop its affect within the new Syria that’s rising.

The knowledgeable added: “There’s large enterprise alternatives, financial alternatives, within the context of rebuilding a damaged Syria that has been devastated by 15 years of warfare.

“Turkey additionally has an curiosity in returning the roughly 4 million Syrian refugees which can be dwelling in Turkey. Syria needs to have these folks return.”

For these causes, Dr Hashemi believes Anakara is within the strongest place to help the HTS “each geographically and politically – and likewise ideologically”.

The tutorial, who’s an Affiliate Professor of Center East and Islamic Politics at Georgetown and director of the American college’s Alwaleed Middle for Muslim-Christian Understanding, is “very sceptical” concerning the prospects of the brand new Syrian authorities working with Russia and permitting them to retain their bases within the nation over Moscow’s backing of Assad.

He stated: “Russia is considered as a authorities that was deeply complicit within the oppression of the Syrian folks beneath the outdated regime.

“What Russia did to save lots of the Assad regime in 2015, and its bombing campaigns towards Syrian insurgent forces and the Syrian folks. won’t be quickly forgotten.

“The truth that Russia has now given secure haven to Bashar al-Assad simply deepens this sense of betrayal and anger.”

Russia has two key army bases within the nation and had been a stanch ally of Barshar al-Assad, intervening within the civil warfare to guard his regime.

Assad fled Damascus to Moscow as his authorities fell, and the Kremlin has since confirmed that he has been given secure haven there.

Dr Hashemi stated one potential – however uncertain – state of affairs is that Russia provides up Assad in trade for retaining their bases there, although he famous it is not a powerful chance as “I feel the temper in Syria now could be very a lot a temper the place Syrian folks need to set up sovereignty over their territory, they usually don’t need overseas intervention and overseas army bases.

“That applies each to Russia and the US, and Turkey, and Israel, all of whom management completely different components of Syria at this time, so I don’t suppose that’s an possibility on the desk.”

The US is eager to ascertain relations with the brand new Syrian administration, however has made clear its place of desirous to help a transition to democracy, while making certain human rights of minorities are protected, inclusive governance, and a authorities that distances itself from terrorism.

Dr Hashemi stated: “That’s the sticking level. As a result of the present chief of the HTS, Jolani, is on the US terrorism checklist. And the time period ‘terrorism’ is just not an goal class. It’s utilized by the US and its allies to principally goal any group that’s opposing US pursuits within the area.

“So I think that that’s going to be some extent of rivalry between the US and this new authorities that’s rising.

“It’s going to be a significant sticking level as a result of Syria must be rebuilt. It must have financial sanctions lifted, and it’s the US that has imposed heavy financial sanctions on Syria, revolving round questions of terrorism.”

The opposition forces teams, led by Abu Mohammed al Jolani, have put in a transition authorities to run the nation till March, because it navigates a chaotic post-Assad interval.

Mohammed al Bashir has been named because the performing Prime Minister and it is not but clear what type the subsequent administration will take.

On Sunday, US President Joe Biden stated Assad’s fall is “a second of historic alternative for the long-suffering folks of Syria to construct a greater future for his or her proud nation,” however “additionally a second of threat and uncertainty”.

The incoming Commander-in-Chief Donald Trump, who returns to the Oval Workplace in January, made clear Syria’s subsequent steps weren’t his concern.

In a put up on his Fact Social platform, he wrote: “THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT. LET IT PLAY OUT. DO NOT GET INVOLVED!”