Under Mr Assad Syria sank from middle-income status to abject poverty. Women saw branches off trees for heating. Children scavenge in dumpsters for food. Men pull copper wire from buildings and telecoms cables to sell. The government is broke and banks are running out of cash. “The economy is tanking,” says one of Mr Sharaa’s advisers.

Syria's new authorities launched a sweeping security operation Friday after clashes with fighters loyal to former president Bashar al-Assad, the biggest challenge to their rule so far, left at least