Here is who is vying for power in Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad

The fall of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad has left a power vacuum in the war-torn nation, with various factions vying for control. The U.S. has been targeting ISIS strongholds in central Syria to prevent the resurgence of the terrorist group. Meanwhile, Turkey has been attacking U.S.-backed Kurdish forces in northern Syria, as both countries work with different proxy groups to further their own interests.

One of the key factions in control of the capital city of Damascus is Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an Islamist militant group that has a history of being designated as a terrorist organization by the U.N., U.S., and Turkey. HTS was instrumental in the fall of Damascus and the fleeing of Assad, but their ultimate goal is to establish fundamentalist Islamic rule in Syria rather than a global caliphate. Despite their terrorist designation, HTS has been working to soften their image by providing government services in Idlib and promising to protect religious and cultural sites in Aleppo.

Syria’s government forces, backed by Iran, Russia, and Hezbollah, have been fighting off rebel factions since 2011. However, in a surprising turn of events, rebel forces swiftly overpowered government troops and seized control of Aleppo, Hama, Homs, and Damascus. HTS has even granted Assad’s forces a general amnesty, signaling a shift in power dynamics in the region.

The Syrian National Army (SNA), a coalition of Turkish-backed forces, has been primarily focused on fighting Kurdish forces in Syria. The SNA coalition believes that U.S.-backed Kurdish forces are linked to the PKK, a militant group that has been launching attacks in Turkey. On the other hand, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a coalition of U.S.-backed Kurdish forces, has been instrumental in fighting ISIS in Syria and fending off attacks from Turkish-backed fighters.

Turkey, which has long sought to topple Assad, has been at odds with the U.S. in Syria, despite being NATO allies. Israel, on the other hand, has played a strategic role in weakening Hezbollah and disrupting Iran’s supply channels to the terrorist group. After Assad’s fall, Israel captured control of a buffer zone in the Golan Heights and launched strikes against Assad’s chemical weapons facilities to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands.

The U.S. has maintained a presence in Syria to ensure stability and prevent ISIS from exploiting the power vacuum to rebuild. President Biden has emphasized the importance of supporting Syria’s neighbors and preventing any threats from arising during the transition period. The fall of Assad presents a historic opportunity for the people of Syria to build a new future based on democracy and justice.