With Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) consolidating its grip on Syria after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad, many Syrians remain concerned about the influence of extremist factions within the group, the Voice of America (VOA) news website reported on Tuesday.

HTS, designated as a terrorist group by the United States, emerged as Syria's de facto ruling authority following al-Assad’s ouster on December 8.

Previously known as the al-Nusra Front, HTS served as al-Qaida’s main affiliate in Syria until 2017, when it formally cut ties with the global terror network.

Since taking control of Damascus, HTS leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, has adopted a more "moderate stance", pledging to establish a state characterized by tolerance and coexistence among Syria’s diverse ethnic and religious groups, the news website noted.

Despite these assurances, skepticism persists among Syrians regarding the new leadership’s ability to contain the group’s radical elements.  

Al-Masri, a Damascus resident who provided only his last name, acknowledged that the new authorities have largely maintained order in Damascus and elsewhere. However, he voiced concerns that this stability might be short-lived. 

“We know that Hay'at Tahir al-Sham is trying to change, and we welcome that," he told VOA.

"But there are two things that people in my circle are really concerned about. One is how genuine al-Sharaa is, and the other is how much control he really has over the more radical people in his group," al-Masri indicated.

'If extremists dominate, Syrians will rise against them'

A similar sentiment was expressed by another Damascus resident who spoke to VOA on condition of anonymity, saying, "Syrians in general, including the conservative ones, are not inclined to extremism."

"If al-Jolani keeps his promises and controls his men, then Syrians will support him. But if extremists dominate, Syrians will rise against them just as they rose against Bashar al-Assad," the resident added.

Aymenn Jawad al-Tamimi, an expert on Islamist groups in Syria, highlighted a key tension within HTS.

He explained that there is a notable divide between HTS leadership under al-Jolani and the actions of individual members who have been influenced for years by propaganda targeting other religions and sects.

"They may collectively impute guilt to Alawites and others like Christians and engage in attacks and insults," he told VOA.

This tension was underscored on Monday when armed men set fire to a Christmas tree in the Christian-majority town of Suqaylabiya in Hama province. HTS later issued a statement attributing the act to foreign fighters within its ranks and promising accountability.

In the same context, Aaron Zelin, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, observed no visible opposition within HTS’ main ranks to al-Jolani’s "moderate approach".

“Even if there are people on their farther right flank that might be upset with them, it is plausible that if they then act out, the HTS and the caretaker government will arrest them,” he said, as quoted by VOA.

HTS has established a caretaker government, staffed by loyalists, to manage Syria's affairs until March 1, 2025, the deadline it has set to initiate a transitional process.

Caroline Rose, director of the Strategic Blind Spots Portfolio at the New Lines Institute, suggested that al-Sharaa is likely to marginalize HTS' extremist factions within both the caretaker administration and any government formed after March 1.

She told the news website that this approach could succeed if foreign governments use incentives such as normalization, sector-specific sanctions relief, and the possibility of delisting HTS from terrorist group designations to encourage sustained behavioral change.

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