Syria's New Leaders Must Earn the World's Trust

Another serious problem involves foreign fighters inside Syria's military. About 5,000 extreme fighters from other countries helped HTS take down Assad's government. Many of these fighters have been accused of violent acts against minority groups living in Syria. Countries nearby, like Israel and Lebanon, are worried about having these fighters so close to their borders.

The United States actually made removing those foreign fighters one of its main conditions for lifting sanctions on Syria. The U.S. gave Syria major benefits, including ending tough economic penalties. Even so, Syria's government has made very little progress in removing those fighters. This is likely because those fighters are among the most loyal supporters keeping the new government in power.

Some American policy experts say the U.S. is taking a big risk. The main idea behind the current approach is that staying engaged with Syria will slowly push the government toward more moderate — or less extreme — policies. But experts warn that it is very hard to moderate a government that depends on extreme fighters and radical ideas to stay in control.

This does not mean the U.S. should stop talking to Syria altogether. A stable Syria that protects its people and fights terrorism would be good for peace in the Middle East. However, experts argue that the U.S. should set clear, firm goals that Syria must meet before receiving more support.

The United States still has powerful tools it can use. These include offering or withholding money, military cooperation, and diplomatic support. Experts say these tools should come with real requirements — like removing foreign fighters, protecting minority groups, and changing extreme school lessons. Until Syria meets these conditions, the U.S. should move much more carefully in building this new relationship.