Fazal Masood Malik and Farhan Khokhar, Canada
The reconquest of Syria earlier on Sunday morning marks the end of the brutal 53-year-long Assad regime. In a seismic moment for the Middle East, Syrian opposition forces ousted President Bashar al-Assad after seizing control of Damascus on Sunday, forcing him to flee the country. (“What happened in Syria?”, www.aljazeera.com)
The recent conquest of Damascus, an impossibility just a week ago, was spearheaded by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and marks a dramatic shift in the Syrian conflict that few could have predicted. (“How the Syrian Opposition Shocked the Assad Regime”, www.newyorker.com, 3 December 2024)
The Holy Quran establishes three fundamental principles for successful governance: absolute justice, kindness, and kinship (Surah An-Nahl, Ch 16:V.91), and instructs: “O ye who believe! Be steadfast in the cause of Allah, bearing witness in equity; and let not a people’s enmity incite you to act otherwise than with justice. Be [always] just, that is nearer to righteousness.” (Surah Al-Ma’idah, Ch.5: V.9)
These principles must transcend sectarian divisions if Syria is to find lasting peace. As the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa said, “The best of your leaders are those whom you love and who love you, who pray for you and you pray for them.” (Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-imarah, Bab khiyari l-a’immati wa shirarihim, Hadith 1855a)
The path ahead demands adherence to fundamental principles of justice and governance. Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih Vaa emphasizes that “all people must display absolute justice and bear witness in the name of Allah, even if they are forced to give evidence against themselves, their parents or their loved ones.” (“The Critical State of World Peace”, www.alislam.org)
This profound insight is particularly relevant to Syria’s current situation, where the temptation to seek revenge rather than justice could derail any progress toward lasting peace.
The timing is hardly coincidental. With Russia distracted by Ukraine and Iran’s regional network showing signs of strain, the opposition has seized its moment. Yet, the roots of this offensive run deeper than mere opportunism.
In the predominantly Sunni regions of Aleppo and Idlib, resistance to Assad rule has simmered since the 1980s, erupting forcefully during the 2011 Arab Spring. (“Syrian Civil War”, www.britannica.com) The regime’s subsequent reliance on foreign fighters – Hezbollah, Iranian-backed militias, and Russian air power – only point to a weakened grip on these areas.
What makes this offensive particularly noteworthy is the evolution of HTS itself. Once dismissed as merely another militant group, it has undertaken the complex task of institution-building in areas under its control. (“Foreign Terrorist Organizations”, www.dni.gov)
This transformation echoes historical precedents, though with crucial differences. Unlike the Chinese Communist Party’s evolution during its civil war (Hsu, Wilbur W. The Chinese Red Army and the Jinggang Mountains. Chapter 3 in Red Army Survival Through Adaptation, Art of War Papers, US Army Command and General Staff College, 2012, pp. 33-68), HTS faces the additional challenge of shedding its terrorist image while maintaining operational effectiveness. (“HTS rebel group sweeping Syria tries to shed its jihadist image”, www.france24.com, 5 December 2024)
The challenge for HTS will be to demonstrate whether its governance model can transcend its militant origins and truly serve the Syrian people’s aspirations for justice and dignity. HTS commander Al-Golani has declared that “the future is ours”. Ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad has fled the country and is in Moscow, according to Russian media. (“Syria civil war LIVE”, www.hindustantimes.com)
Yet, history suggests caution. Revolutionary movements often struggle with the transition from fighting force to governing authority — Castro’s Cuba devolved into authoritarianism (“The Che Guevara Diary.” Special Report, Weekly Review, 15 December 1967, www.cia.gov), while Vietnam’s revolutionary victory led to a one-party state. (“One-party rule best for Vietnam, says leader”, www.theguardian.com)
As 2024 draws to a close, Syria stands at a crossroads. As opposition flags flutter above embassies worldwide, the fall of the Assad regime has ushered in a period of both promise and uncertainty. The immediate challenge facing the HTS is a formidable one. How can they transform military victory into legitimate governance?
Success will require more than mere administrative competence – it demands a fundamental reimagining of Syria’s political architecture. After 53 years of autocratic rule and a devastating civil war, the country needs independent courts, equal protection under the law, and mechanisms to address historical grievances. Yet the most crucial test will be the new government’s ability to govern inclusively across the multitude of sects and creeds that make up Syria. As this new chapter in Syria’s history unfolds, we pray this transformation leads to lasting peace for a nation that has endured too much suffering for far too long.