India, Feb. 26 -- The collapse of the near 25-year long reign of now former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad was welcomed emphatically by western powers. However, unlike the demanded change via the Arab Spring across West Asia years ago, led by a people's revolution, the unfolding of power in Damascus happened at the hands of Ahmed al-Sharaa and the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an anti-Assad militia with roots in both Al Qaeda and the Islamic State (ISIS).

Al-Sharaa, who previously went by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, wasted no time in cementing his authority as the Assads fled to Russia. Following this change of power, western officials flocked to Damascus, as al-Sharaa gave up his now former jihadist credentials for a new ...