Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) from an insurgent group to a local authority emergence, development, and social support base

In today's world, more violent armed conflicts occur within state borders. Since 1945, more than 75 per cent of armed conflicts have been civil conflicts in which NSAGs played significant roles. In 2011, the Middle East entered a new era of turmoil. Some countries witnessed violence perpetrated by NSAGs; some of these groups managed to control geographical areas and posed security challenges to national security of these countries or their neighbours. Some of these armed actors also succeeded in establishing local governance, limited in space or time. Now, ten years after the Arab uprisings, the emergence of many NSAGs has been observed, some of which developed and dominated while others faded and disappeared. The Syrian Context has been the scene of the evolution of many violent actors. HTS is one of the prominent violent organisations that developed its relations, discourse, approach to competition and control, and established local government. Many researchers have studied the HTS; however, a complete understanding of the factors that enabled the HTS to develop capabilities and mobilise resources to control the local community still needs further research. This descriptive study aims to analyse and understand the factors that helped the HTS become one of the main NSAGs in areas outside the control of the Assad Regime and establish a local government. This study used a qualitative research methodology using two data sources, primary, fieldwork through semi-structured interviews with informants and experts, and secondary, analysing data sources. The study concluded by summarising the factors that contributed to the HTS control, studied the relationship with the local community, and discussed the factors that helped it support the establishment of a local government, the Syrian Salvation Government (SSG). The study found that the decisive military factor and the HTS' ability to build an interestbased relationship with a specific segment of the local elites and its ability to impose order and security and provide public services to civilians were critical in imposing hegemony and laying the foundation for local governance. Finally, the researcher studied the role of the HTS in the Syrian conflict to extrapolate its future and its connection with the local government. Keywords: Non-State Armed Group, local government, Syria, Idleb, HTS.