Quentin Sommerville has joined the HTS forces as they carry out arrests on the streets of Latakia. Noor is standing in the courtyard, trembling in the chill afternoon light, not because of the cold, but because of fear. She is wearing a thick winter coat as she goes to the men of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the new de-facto rulers of Syria and the new law enforcers in town, to make a complaint. Tears stream down her face as she recounts how armed men arrived at her apartment in an upscale neighborhood of Latakia, forcing her and her family, including her husband who is an army officer, out onto the street in their pajamas. The armed men then took over her home.
Noor, whose real name is not disclosed, belongs to the Alawite minority sect, from which the Assad family hails, and to which many of the former regime’s political and military elite belonged. Alawites, a Shia Islam offshoot, make up around 10% of Syria’s population, which is predominantly Sunni. Latakia, situated on Syria’s north-west Mediterranean coast, is the heartland of the Alawites.
Various rebel groups have rushed in to fill the power vacuum left by Assad’s soldiers, who abandoned their posts. The regime had exploited sectarian divisions to stay in power, but now the Sunni Islamist HTS has promised to respect all religions in Syria. However, the Alawite population in Latakia is filled with fear.
Noor shows CCTV footage from her apartment to Abu Ayoub, the 34-year-old HTS general security commander. The footage depicts a group of bearded fighters, some in baseball caps and others in military attire, at her doorstep. She explains that these fighters, not affiliated with HTS, broke into her home.
HTS, once aligned with al-Qaeda, is now considered a terror organization by most Western countries, though the UK and US claim to have engaged with the group. In a short span of time, HTS has transitioned from being enemies of the state to being the law of the land. Abu Ayoub and his men are adapting to their new roles as law enforcers.
Noor is just one of many complainants who have approached the general security station with grievances. The base, which was once the city’s most feared military intelligence headquarters, is now in disarray. Abu Ayoub assures Noor that they will remove the armed men from her house and return her belongings. With sirens blaring, the HTS convoy heads towards Noor’s apartment.
Latakia is a city that has been liberated, with people from all sects celebrating the downfall of the Assad dynasty. However, the transition from decades of oppressive rule to a new era of governance is challenging. HTS is striving to maintain peace and protect all minorities in Syria, despite facing challenges from various armed groups in the city.
As the HTS convoy speeds through the streets, onlookers cheer and flash peace signs. The new Syrian flag is seen across the city, symbolizing a free Syria. However, in Alawite areas, there is a sense of silence as the convoy passes by. Azam al-Ali, an HTS security officer, acknowledges the need for time and trust to be rebuilt among the people.
At Noor’s apartment, armed HTS men assist in evicting the squatters and confiscating their weapons. Noor, despite feeling terrified initially, acknowledges the kindness of the HTS forces. She expresses that she no longer feels safe in her home and believes that a new nightmare has begun for Alawites in Syria.