HTS is currently pledged to Syrian Salvation Government, which is basically the opposition government in exile (operating from Istanbul), governing NW Syria (4 mil pop) from the back seat for the last 10 years. HTS is just acting as its main but not only militia organization, and Jolani said HTS will oversee the Syrian state’s transition to SSG.

We’ll hear the names of Mohammed al-Bashir and Mustafa al-Mousa in the coming days.

HTS mostly consists of militants splintered off from Al Qaeda and ISIS, and waged war against them. Apparently they gave up “Salafist” terrorism to turn into a Syrian Nationalist movement instead. Jolani sounded more secular than I was expecting, so let’s hope the new western backed puppet state brings some peace to Syrians after all.