Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a designated terrorist organization, seized control of Damascus, marking an unexpected end to the Assad regime’s five-decade rule. This seismic shift sent shockwaves through the global policy community, raising critical questions about the fate of the Assad regime’s extensive business networks and assets, the enforcement of international sanctions, and the emergence of new financial structures now under HTS’s control.

In this Quick Take, Kharon discusses these developments and their implications for financial crime and policy professionals navigating these unchartered waters. Our expert panel analyzes the implications of this power transition on sanctions enforcement, HTS’s potential exploitation of financial systems, and what lies ahead for Syria’s political and economic landscape.