Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, told the International Crisis Group that Aleppo will be administered by a transitional body, stressing that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham is considering dissolving itself to enable the consolidation of civilian and military structures, indicating to the Crisis Group that “the city of Aleppo will be governed by a transitional body.”
Al-Jolani explained that “fighters, including from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, will be directed to leave civilian areas in the coming weeks, and bureaucrats will be invited to resume their jobs. The city’s distinct social and cultural norms, for Muslims and Christians in all their diversity, will be respected.”
He added: “Hayat Tahrir al-Sham is even considering dissolving itself to enable the full integration of civilian and military structures into new institutions that reflect the breadth of Syrian society.”
For her part, Dareen Khalifa, a senior advisor at the International Crisis Group, said on her official account on the X platform: “While it is too early to know how Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and other factions will deal with the challenges of governance in Aleppo, internal discussions appear to be already underway.”
The International Crisis Group is an independent organization that works to prevent war, shape policies that build a more peaceful world, and build support for good governance and inclusive policies that enable societies to thrive. It engages directly with a range of actors in conflict to seek out and share information, and encourage smart action for peace.
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