Council on Foreign Relations

The swift collapse of Syria’s regime brings a humiliating end to Russia’s and Iran’s sway and opens the door for greater Turkish influence. But the Islamist movement that seized power has yet to show its full intentions.

Jolani’s record from Syria’s Idlib Governorate, which was under HTS (with Turkish patronage) control, is mixed. He seems to have learned the lessons of the Islamic State and eschewed the most severe forms of political control, but HTS still ruled with an iron fist. Even as HTS fighters liberated Assad’s prisons, Jolani’s opponents were bearing witness to the abuses of his own jails.

For Washington, Assad’s demise was certainly an unexpected development after more than a year of stunning events in the Middle East. There will be an urge within the American policy community to want to help Syrians build a more just and democratic order.  It is a laudable goal and noble impulse, but Washington should resist them. Both President Biden and President-Elect Trump have so far set the proper tone, indicating that the United States must stay on the sidelines. To get involved in the revolution unfolding in Syria is unlikely to help Syrians or advance American interests. Syria is for the Syrians.