“He's [Ahmad al-Awda] an opportunist or an intelligent and pragmatic player, depending on your perspective. In effect, [Awda] achieved a low level of autonomy. He became a local warlord. I'm sure the U.A.E. and [Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah] Sisi would aid an insurgency if one gets going in Syria. It depends on how effectively and quickly the new Syrian administration can establish order and authority. But if things in general degenerate, then [Awda] could be one warlord who might take foreign funds.”

Expert on Syria and the co-author of 'Burning Country: Syrians in Revolution and in War'

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