Let's bring in ABC News national security and defense analyst
Mick Mulroy for more.
Mick, what can you tell us about this rebel group
and its goals now that Assad is gone?
So Diane, HTS is AUS designated terrorist organization and has
been since 2018.
Jelani, its leader is a specifically designated terrorist as well.
So yes, they have, they have somewhat separated themselves from
al Qaeda and ISIS, but their origins are that and
many of their fighters are still part of that overhaul
jihadist movement.
It'll be seen whether it is true that they are
moderated, their stance as we go into this transition and
the Syrian people choose a government hopefully that represents all
the Syrian people.
But this is very problematic when it comes to diplomacy,
dealing with a terrorist organization, AUS designated terrorist organization.
So that there'll be a lot of complications with the
US involvement with this as far as diplomacy.
Now, officials say the US hit 75 ISIS targets in
Syria yesterday.
Israeli forces have launched air strikes on Damascus and crossed
into the buffer zone separating the Golan Heights from Syria.
And now Iran's foreign minister says he fears a renewed
civil war.
So what are you watching for now?
When it comes to the US strikes, they were significant,
over 70 strikes.
That was basically sending a message to ISIS that don't
try to take advantage of this situation.
We have 900 troops out there.
We're working a hand in glove with our SDF partners
and the mission is to ensure that ISIS does not
return.
So that is part of that mission.
On the Israeli side, they are very concerned that the
Syrian Army left the positions that would have provided a
buffer between them and this new potential coalition, which does
include in some cases jihadist, which of course are counter
to Israelis interest.
So that is the big concern.
It's just what emerges out of this opposition force.
It is a loose coalition.
The main goal is over to remove Assad.
There is a potential that could turn on one another
and create another civil war.
We should all hope that doesn't happen.
But these groups were aligned in the sense that they
wanted to remove Assad.
They might not be aligned going forward and that is
what everybody's concerned about.
President Biden says the US would support Syria's neighbors, including
Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Israel should any threat arise.
Now, president-elect Trump earlier called the situation in Syria a
mess and urged against the US getting involved in the
conflict.
So what role do you expect the US to play
here going forward?
So I believe incoming president, President-elect Trump was talking specifically
about military involvement and the overthrow of Assad, which wasn't
wasn't necessary.
Obviously, when it comes to the defense of our regional
partners like Israel and Jordan, for example, and Iraq.
I think there is a big concern that they, these
groups could potentially get a hold of the weapon systems
that Assad has, which include chemical weapons, which is one
of the reasons why Israel has been taking strikes on
those facilities.
That I think is the biggest concern right now.
And that's what I think President Biden's referring to.
All right.
ABC News national security and defense analyst Mick Mulroy.
Thank you.