The Washington Post reports that U.S. intelligence recently thwarted a planned ISIS attack on a prominent Shiite shrine near Damascus, leveraging its cooperation with Syria’s new leadership led by Hayʼat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). This unexpected collaboration comes amid HTS’s overthrow of the Assad regime and reflects heightened U.S. concerns about a potential resurgence of the Islamic State (ISIS). While the intelligence-sharing arrangement doesn’t signify full support for HTS, which has a history of extremism, U.S. officials express cautious optimism. Ahmed al-Sharaa, HTS leader previously known for his militant alias Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, has made efforts to appear more moderate, pledging to protect Syria’s religious minorities and stabilize the country. However, skepticism remains about HTS’s ability to govern effectively. As U.S. President Donald Trump takes shape under a Biden administration that maintained HTS’s terrorist designation while easing sanctions on Syria for humanitarian aid, the future of American involvement in Syria remains uncertain.
Source: https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/middle-east/artc-u-s-reportedly-shares-intelligence-with-new-syrian-leadership-to-counter-isis-threats