The end of the Assad family's brutal decades-long rule in Syria, following a military operation led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), raises significant questions about the country's future.

HTS leader Abu Muhammad al-Jolani has vowed to unify Syria, but it remains uncertain whether he can achieve that goal. It will depend above all on the cooperation between all groups in Syria, but also on the balance of interests of the world powers.

Given the rapidly changing situation, it is difficult to predict the future of Syria.

The first scenario would be a United Syria.

At best, that would mean that the group that led the overthrow of the Assad regime, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), would allow other civil political groups to work alongside them to govern responsibly.

The country could foster a post-war environment of national reconciliation, avoiding the vicious cycle of revenge and plunder as seen in neighboring states, which could otherwise lead to renewed conflict.

The leader of this group, Al-Jolani, called for unity and mutual respect between the various Syrian sects, which, more than obviously, have different agendas.

"HTS has positioned itself as open to a sustainable, peaceful transition in Syria, but the situation is extremely unstable," experts say. In the south, tribal militias – which have never recognized the rule of the Assad family – are now unlikely to follow the new government in Damascus either.

In the east, remnants of the so-called Islamic State continue to pose a threat, prompting the US to resume airstrikes.

Kurdish-led groups, which enjoy US support, control parts of the country's northwest.

These factions have also been fighting Turkish-backed rebel groups in Northern Syria for years, and there has recently been renewed fighting in those areas.

There are also many opposition groups and political blocs that emerged after 2011 outside of Syria.

It is not known whether these individuals or groups will return to the country and be part of any political transition process. All this indicates that the possibility of a unified government in Syria is uncertain.

World analysts also noted the contradiction of the statements of HTC's leader, Al Jolani.

Daher, along with other experts, finds this scenario unlikely, pointing to contradictions in Jolani's first public address.

He first announced that the transition would be overseen by the prime minister of the former regime. After that, he nominated the Prime Minister of the Government of National Salvation (Muhammad al-Bashir) – the government in Idlib under the rule of the HTS.

In the beginning, this government only governed Idlib, and now it governs the second and third largest cities of Aleppo, Hama, Homs and Damascus, as well as the capital. That is why there will be a need for the division of power in that area.

This is where the second scenario for the future of Syria emerges. Authoritarian and unilateral control of HTS, following the example of the Taliban rule in Afghanistan. HTS to consolidate power through authoritarian measures, similar to the Assad regime.

Jolani had already established himself in Idlib – once the biggest rebel stronghold in northwestern Syria and home to some four million people, many of whom were displaced from other Syrian provinces – with a Government of National Salvation that performed civilian functions while also leading a Sharia religious council. .

Jolani is trying to show that HTS can manage effectively by prioritizing stability and public services.

But while in control of Idlib, critics say the group has marginalized rival militant factions and stifled any dissent.

Before the HTS-led offensive on November 27, protests erupted in Idlib, with hardline Islamists and Syrian activists accusing HTS of authoritarian behavior.

"HTS has mainly consolidated power through repression, although it has also consolidated power by including all opposition armed groups in Idlib and providing favors to the services." But his rule was also characterized by harsh repression and imprisonment of political opponents," say analysts.

In response to these criticisms, the HTS introduced reforms, such as disbanding controversial security forces accused of human rights abuses and creating a complaints department to receive complaints from citizens.

However, critics argue that the reforms are just a facade to calm the rebellion.

The third and worst case scenario would be open civil war, with Syria descending into chaos, similar to the aftermath of the Arab Spring in other countries.

Muammar el Gaddafi in Libya and Saddam Hussein in Iraq were toppled without a ready replacement, and foreign intervention added to the dire situation in both countries.

Critics say the vacuum left by authoritarian rulers has been filled by waves of looting, revenge, power struggles and civil war.

In this scenario, a power struggle between different Syrian armed groups could lead to widespread violence, destabilizing not only Syria but the entire region.

In the first address, the newly appointed Prime Minister Al-Bashir alarmed many and hinted at the possible direction of the new government, that is to follow the Taliban model, creating an Islamic State governed by Sharia.

Each of these outcomes will also depend on the activities of foreign powers, experts say.

For decades, Assad relied on the support of Iran and Russia.

At the time, Turkey, Western countries and the Persian Gulf countries supported various opposition groups.

In recent days, Israel has targeted Syrian military infrastructure and acknowledged that its troops are operating on Syrian territory outside the demilitarized buffer zone between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

Israel says it has carried out hundreds of airstrikes in Syria since Assad fled the country, destroying "most of Syria's stockpiles of strategic weapons", while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Syrian rebel forces not to allow Iran to "restore influence" in the country.

That led Turkey and other Middle Eastern countries to accuse Israel of taking advantage of Assad's fall.

Analysts believe that Israel's actions could "destabilize Syria by weakening the government or encouraging hard-line currents."

On the other hand, Turkey could take advantage of the power vacuum in Syria and deal with the Syrian Kurds.

Syria has long been under international sanctions and experts agree that international sanctions on Syria should be lifted to support economic recovery and that foreign powers should send humanitarian aid.