>>21711416There are two factions of rebels.
One is the SNA+FSA.
They've had direct embedding of Turkish officers, most soldiers speak Turkish, and hate Kurds more than they hate Assad (who they hate for protecting Kurds).
They throw up wolf hand signs and make Kurdish POWs praise Pasha or Ataturk, based on their opinion on Islam (secularists made to praise Pasha, sunni Kurds to praise ataturk). They were the ones to rush to fly turkish flags in Aleppo citadel.
They are neo ottomanists, who see Arab identity as imposed on them by french or Brits.
Other is the HTS which is relatively independent.
They make a nice face with turkey but hate them deep down due to Arab nationalism.
Jolani used to be a high ranking military intelligence officer in Assad's army and helped sell Saddam's oil for Iraq.
He has always been a baathist at heart, just hates Bashar.
Remember the Turkish flag in the Aleppo citadel? Jolani rushed in, tore it down and added green Syrian and Palestinian flags.
The HTS and SNA shortly had clashes.
For the last 4 years, HTS has been purging their own more than fighting Assad...purging first if isis sympathizers in the first couple months and then for rest of the years, turk sympathizers.
Jolani currently has a non aggression treaty with the Kurds/SDF, something he will try to develop further because Kurds are a key to one of his main goals, which is winning hearts and minds among western policymakers. Also an ally to balance out Turkish influence helps.
Jolani sought peace with Aleppo Syriac christians,GreekChristians,ismaili shias alawites.
Jolani under HTS also reached out to Russia b4 fall of Aleppo and they started getting bombed with the proposal that, if HTS wins and Russia ceases hostilities against them, Jolani will continue hosting Russian bases and alliance as if Assad never left.
This is an offer Jolani has made atleast a second time and it is one Russia is considering because they're tired of Assad
