After years of war, Syria’s new leader is walking a tightrope—can he control the jihadis and win over the West?
Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa is under intense scrutiny from Western powers just weeks into his rule. The West demands he crack down on jihadis, prevent further massacres, and form an inclusive government. But with a weak military and reliance on extremist factions, his grip on power is shaky.
Western Warnings
On March 11, European envoys delivered a blunt message to Syria’s foreign minister: rein in the jihadis or lose international support. France and the U.S. have stressed accountability for recent killings, warning there’s “no blank check” for the new regime.
Sharaa’s own force, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has only 20,000 fighters. To stay in power, he depends on hardline jihadist groups—the same ones the West wants him to dismantle. Moving against them could spark another civil war.
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A Country in Chaos
Dissolving Syria’s army and firing public sector workers have left thousands jobless, fueling instability. Analysts compare this to the U.S. disbanding Iraq’s army after Saddam—a move that led to chaos.
Syria remains a battleground for global powers. Turkey controls the north, U.S.-backed Kurds hold the east, and Israel has expanded its buffer zone. Meanwhile, Iran and Russia still wield influence, complicating Sharaa’s efforts.
Sharaa’s new constitution grants him sweeping powers and enshrines Islamic law, raising fears of another dictatorship. Critics say it replaces Assad’s autocracy with Islamist rule, alienating minorities.
Will History Repeat Itself?
Analysts warn that if Sharaa follows Assad’s repressive playbook, Syria could face another uprising. The Arab Spring showed that exclusionary regimes rarely last.
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