The Islamist rebels who ousted Syria’s dictator ran a pragmatic and disciplined administration in the territory they controlled. They also jailed their critics.

Sham, ousted President Bashar al-Assad, ending his family's decades-long rule. The rebels are now leading a fragile transition, facing immense economic challenges and the threat of ISIS. While Russia withdraws its forces,

It is an open question whether these rebels can scale up what they achieved in Idlib, a poor, agrarian region with a relatively small population, throughout most of Syria. The alliance said it would grant an amnesty for lower-level government workers and soldiers,