Following the Assad regime's collapse and the rebel forces' takeover, Syria is now governed by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group designated as a terrorist organization by the UN Security Council. This presents a complex foreign policy challenge for former President Trump, who advocated for non-intervention in Syria's affairs. The rise of HTS, with its ties to Al Qaeda and ISIS, raises concerns about Syria becoming a terrorist haven, similar to Afghanistan. Despite HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani's attempts to rebrand himself as a moderate, his past actions and the group's extremist ideology raise doubts about his intentions. Reports of restrictions on freedoms, such as the removal of Christmas decorations and mandatory veiling for women, further fuel these concerns.

The situation puts Trump in a difficult position. Inaction could lead to the establishment of a terrorist state in the Middle East, while military intervention would contradict his non-interventionist stance. He might consider pressuring Turkey's President Erdogan, a key supporter of HTS, but Turkey's growing regional ambitions and complex relationships with other powers could complicate this approach. Regardless of the chosen course of action, the consequences of the Syrian conflict and the rise of HTS will likely be attributed to Trump, even though the situation developed during the Biden administration.

Donald Trump (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images/File)

Abu Mohamed al-Jolani (OMAR HAJ KADOUR/AFP via Getty Images)

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (Al-Furqan Media/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

ISIS flag (Pictures from History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Rebel forces in Aleppo countryside (Rami Alsayed/NurPhoto via Getty Images)