“Idlibization” of the Economy: HTS’s Economic Model Expands Nationwide

Since assuming power in December last year, the Syrian authorities – whose core leadership and administrative apparatus are largely composed of figures from Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) – have been accused of reshaping Syria’s economy, mirroring the governance patterns previously seen in the north-west. This process, described by critics as the “Idlibization” of the Syrian economy, has involved the centralisation of economic decision-making, the privatisation of several public assets, and the apparent concentration of wealth and influence in the hands of individuals and entities tied to the now-dissolved HTS. This article outlines the opaque manoeuvring of figures close to the new authorities in three sectors: energy, transportation, and finance.