Eurasia Press & News
Syria’s new leaders insist they are committed to religious tolerance, yet they are employing their preferred variant of Sunni Islamic beliefs to recruit and train the country’s new security forces. The interim government justifies this move as an effort to instill a sense of morality within the military and police after decades of corruption and brutality under the ousted regime of Bashar al-Assad.
This sectarian approach to reforming the security forces appears aligned with a long-term goal of building a state governed by Islamic law, or Sharia, and consolidating power in the hands of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Islamist group that led the final offensive against Assad.
Integrating Only Sunni Groups Into the New Army
Ahmad al-Sharaa, the head of HTS and de facto leader of Syria, has vowed to build a unified national army. Yet almost all the factions with which Sharaa has met to discuss integration are part of the Military Operations Command, a coalition of Sunni armed groups like HTS, the Turkish-backed National Front for Liberation, and Jaysh al-Izza.
While the new Syrian leadership has abolished military conscription, it has reportedly required new recruits to attend Sharia training for 21 days. Meanwhile, Reuters reports that police recruits undergo a 10-day training program focused primarily on weaponry and Sharia. The new chief of police in Aleppo said the training “includes principles of Islamic jurisprudence, the biography of Prophet Mohammad and rules of conduct.” Application forms include a segment addressing “beliefs, orientations, and perspectives.” HTS officials defend this section as a tool to flag candidates requiring additional scrutiny, particularly members of the Alawite group, due to concerns about their possible affiliation with the former Assad regime.
Long-Term Ambitions of Power Consolidation
Although al-Sharaa has announced that the mandate of the new transitional government — mostly composed of HTS-affiliated members — will end in March 2025, his actions suggest that his ambition is to consolidate power by constructing a security force deeply aligned with his ideology.
Al-Sharaa has also appointed key loyalists to top positions in the military. Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and Chief of Staff Ali al-Naasan, both HTS commanders, now hold the top roles. Additionally, Anas Khattab, a trusted ally and al-Sharaa’s right-hand man, has been named intelligence chief. Khattab’s longstanding ties to al-Sharaa date back to their time together as members of al-Qaeda in Iraq. Khattab later played a significant role in leading Jabhat al-Nusra, the predecessor of HTS, also led by Sharaa.
Al-Sharaa has also promoted foreign jihadists from Jordan, Turkey, and China’s Xinjiang province to senior positions within the new army. Journalist Ahmad Maher warned that Sharaa’s army “may come to resemble a cult-like political system where loyalty to the ideology supersedes loyalty to the state or society.”
U.S. Must Remain Cautious in Dealing With New Syrian Leadership
Ahmad al-Sharaa’s promises of moderation and inclusivity increasingly appear to be hollow rhetoric. It is crucial for the United States to approach any engagement with the new Syrian leadership cautiously, focusing on their actions rather than their words. Washington should make clear that additional sanctions relief will depend on Syria rejecting both ethnic and religious extremism.
