A series of political appointments announced this week by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader Ahmad al-Shara’a (otherwise known by his nom de guerre Abu Muhammad al-Jolani) are stirring unease across different sectors of Syrian society. Governor positions in Latakia and Rural Damascus have been handed to commanders from allied radical Islamist militia Ahrar al-Sham, a move that is being interpreted by some observers as an attempt to award key posts to militant commanders in exchange for their loyalty. The latest appointments follow a series of crucial positions going to other HTS insiders earlier in the week, suggesting that al-Jolani might prioritize factional loyalty over competence in governance in his interim administration moving forward, as opposed to working towards an inclusive, representative and civilian-led process.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) continue to face threats to their control over much of the north-east, with defections, assassinations and difficulties in paying salaries compounding external threats on multiple fronts from Türkiye and the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA). SDF/SNA clashes have also continued around the Tishreen Dam in rural Manbij.
Evidence is mounting of the unimaginable scale of regime atrocities within detention centers over the past 14 years. A recently discovered mass grave in Al-Qutayfah, 40 kilometers north of Damascus, is thought to contain over 100,000 bodies, while other sites are currently being unearthed near Adra, Al-Husseiniyeh, Sayeda Zeinab and along the Damascus Airport Road.
Interim Administration
After Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) unveiled a series of key political appointments over the past week, its initial governance steps have elicited anger and apprehension among different sectors of Syrian society who view the picks as undermining moves towards an inclusive, competent civilian-led administration. Many of the new appointments have elicited accusations of cronyism and patronage, after positions were doled out to members of allied armed groups likely in a bid to secure loyalty towards HTS leader al-Jolani. Of particular concern are the granting of governor roles to allied radical militia leaders from Ahrar al-Sham, including Amer Sheikh as governor of Rural Damascus and Hassan Soufan as governor of Latakia. Both are close political associates of HTS and al-Jolani.
Another troubling recent appointment was that of Maher al-Shara’a, the brother of al-Jolani, as minister of health. Although al-Shara’a, a gynecologist by trade, held a similar position in the HTS-controlled Syrian Salvation Government (SSG) in Idlib, the optics of the appointment have attracted some comparisons with the recently ousted Assad regime, in which a tight inner circle of relatives and insiders maintained an iron grip over key cabinet and security postings.
North-East Syria
The Turkish-backed SNA’s Fajr al-Hurriyeh operations room has continued to make gains into SDF territory over the past week, with clashes with the SDF intensifying around the Tishreen Dam in rural Manbij and in Karakozak near Kobani. Meanwhile, the SDF are struggling to contain defections from among their ranks in Hasakeh and Raqqa, developments that could weaken the group’s ability to defend frontlines in western and southern areas of the north-east. Kurdish forces are also facing a rising number of political assassinations targeting SDF commanders, while leadership is also under pressure to hasten reunification talks with the new authorities in Damascus.
Central Syria
With attention focused elsewhere, ISIS cells have started increasing their activities in the northern Palmyra countryside. Attacks against oil workers and local tribes also increased, with at least six killed and others injured in a string of recent attacks.
Within the 55km zone, some families from Rukban returned to their villages in recent days. Efforts are underway to arrange transports for families choosing to return, and local authorities are coordinating with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) to facilitate the process.
North-West Syria
Protests have continued in the city of Idlib as family members and other supporters of individuals detained by HTS gathered in public squares to demand their release. HTS has a long history in north-west Syria of detaining individuals for criticism of the group and its leadership, with dozens of arrests in recent months targeting media figures, political activists and local dignitaries.
North-west Syria has also begun to see increased aid flows and a pivot towards preliminary reconstruction in heavily damaged districts. Seventy trucks carrying UN-supplied humanitarian aid entered through the Bab al-Hawa crossing for distribution across the country, while groups cleared rubble from entrances to Ma’arat al-Numan, distributed free bread and encouraged displaced families to return.
Security Developments
The general state of law and order continues to pose a significant challenge to interim authorities, with police stations still severely understaffed and factional fighters spread thin, as HTS struggles to manage the enormous new territory under its effective control. Government services and utilities are gradually resuming, with hopeful signs of a return to administrative normalcy in some areas. The first airplane landed at Aleppo International Airport from Damascus, carrying journalists, media personnel and officials, while Aleppo’s Passports and Immigration Department resumed issuing of pre-prepared passports. Several police stations across Damascus have also been reactivated.
Former Regime Violations
While public celebrations celebrating the Assad regime’s collapse have continued, shocking evidence of regime atrocities is emerging on an almost daily basis. In Al-Qutayfah, 40 kilometers north of the capital, civil defense teams uncovered mass graves holding at least 100,000 bodies of victims previously held in Sednaya and security branches, who were buried between 2012 and 2018. Other mass graves were discovered near Adra, Al-Husseiniyeh, Sayeda Zeinab and along the Damascus Airport Road—all in Rural Damascus. Families of missing individuals have headed calls for answers regarding the fates of missing loved ones, posting advertisements and organizing search efforts across the country.
