Syrian stakeholders woo tribes to influence country's future
After the defeat of IS in Raqqa, the still-warring Syrian regime and opposition forces as well as outside interested parties are trying to win over Syrian tribes to their sides to guarantee their roles in determining Syria's direction.
In the aftermath of the Islamic State (IS) siege on Syria and as the civil war continues to linger, attention is now turning to the tribal forces that could wield significant influence over the country's future.
IS considered Raqqa to be its headquarters in Syria until it was driven out in October by US-backed militias, including the predominantly Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). In December, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the defeat of IS on both banks of the Euphrates River in Syria.
