Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) is an extremist group that emerged from al-Qaeda and other Islamic factions during the Syrian civil war. Recognized as a terrorist organization by the United Nations and the United States, HTS has engaged in violent resistance against the Assad regime and aims to expel Iranian militias supporting the government. Led by Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, HTS’s goal is to overthrow President Assad. The organization’s name translates to ‘Organization for the Liberation of the Levant,’ referring to the region encompassing Syria and neighboring countries.