With several dominant players, Syria’s Idlib people face bitter choices
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – In light of the increasing talk about the possibility of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) to make changes to its extremist system and approach, opinions differ about what type of administration the residents of Idlib prefer, either to be directly controlled by Turkey or by the HTS.
HTS controls the regions of Idlib and the countryside of Hama, Aleppo, and Latakia, from both military and civilian sides, through its civilian wing, the Syrian Salvation Government, which was formed in November 2017.
Large parts of the region, however, are under the Turkish influence, which took over during the previous years.
When it was formed, the Salvation Government consisted of 11 ministries headed by Muhammad al-Sheikh.
However, HTS is accused of human rights violations, in addition to being classified on international terrorism lists.
Scenarios and parties
Omar Al-Ahmad, a pseudonym for a journalist living in Idlib, believes that the civilians in Idlib prefer a civil administration away from military and factional row.
The administration, however, should be responsible enough for planning and implementing in the interest of the population, in light of the deteriorating economic and living conditions, without any attention paid to them by any party in Idlib.
Speaking to North Press, al-Ahmad added that it is not necessary for this government to be sponsored by Turkey, because the experience of north Aleppo has proven to be a failure as well, but if it was “with Turkish sponsorship and competent civil experts, this is what the residents of Idlib most wish for.”
Ali al-Ali, a journalist, said that the civil situation in Idlib is much better than Turkish-held areas in north of Aleppo.
He does believe that if the population have to choose between the two, they will surely choose HTS instead of the Turks.
However, Yasser Jadou’, a civil activist north of Hama, disagreed with the views of his predecessors, saying: “The residents of Idlib do not prefer either HTS or Turkey.”
He added that a large percentage of the population is displaced from all the Syrian governorates, and they do not care about who governs now, as their goal is beyond to be governed by the Turks, the HTS or others.
He said that their goal is to get rid of the Assad regime and then “every dog has its day,” as he put it.
The journalist al-Ahmad said that no political party is stronger than another, because everyone is in a state of “confusion and lost, and they cannot take any political decision.”
“Unfortunately, all the groups, and even the political opposition, do not have this political courage and sophistication that makes it difficult to rule alone due to the fact that they all have no will and affiliated with other parties,” he added.
Meanwhile, the civil activist Jadou’ believes that in times of war, politics retreats back and power goes to those who have the most powerful weapon.”
An ironic change
After the HTS realized its inability to move forward in its extremist form and content in the face of political developments, it is trying to make changes, according to al-Ahmad.
This was clear when Abu Mohammad al-Julani appeared in a uniform with an American journalist, who works in Front Line newspaper, which caused widespread irony on social media.
Some believe that al-Julani is trying to give a different impression to the West than the prevailing impression as a military leader of an extremist group, as he is trying to present himself as a moderate political player.
He declared that his organization “does not pose any security or economic threat to the United States and the Western countries.”
However, al-Ahmad believes that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s controlling of this region requires “a fundamental change in its ideology and policy.”