Ann Arbor Times

University of Michigan experts are prepared to provide insights on the recent toppling of the Syrian government, marking the end of the Assad family's five-decade rule.

Javed Ali, an associate professor at the Ford School of Public Policy and former senior U.S. government counterterrorism official, commented on these developments. "The stunning developments of the fall of the brutal regime of Bashar Assad in Syria has come to an end, with major questions and concerns about what comes next for Syria and the region," Ali stated. He highlighted concerns regarding Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a key element in the rebel coalition, noting its historical ties with al-Qaida and its shift towards a more localized focus on governance under Sharia law.

Ali also questioned HTS's future direction: "Whether HTS now chooses a path that resembles something like the Taliban in Afghanistan following their return to power in the summer of 2021 or something else that threatens the West is an open question but deserves serious attention from the United States and the international community."

Megan Stewart, another associate professor at the Ford School, provided her perspective. She noted that Bashar Assad's regime fell after years marked by violence and war crimes. Stewart remarked on HTS's strategic shift: "Once linked to both the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Qaida, HTS charted a separate course that foregrounded its governance institutions, using them to strategically demonstrate a more pragmatic approach than its predecessors and cultivate a degree of international acceptance."

Both experts are available for further commentary on this significant geopolitical development.