Representation of the Syrian Revolution in the Turkish Print Media

In the 14th year of the Syrian civil war, the rapid fall of the Assad regime following a sudden military offensive by opposition forces led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) attracted international attention. Contrary to expectations of a prolonged conflict, HTS-led forces captured Damascus in just ten days, forcing Assad to flee the country on 8 December 2024. This study examines how Turkish print media ideologically framed and positioned HTS during this critical turning point. The research is theoretically grounded in framing theory and methodologically combines critical discourse analysis and qualitative content analysis. The headlines, language, terminology, and visual elements of 15 ideologically diverse newspapers were analyzed. The findings reveal that conservative media framed HTS as a “resistance movement,” whereas secular and leftist outlets described it as a “terrorist organization.” Centrist newspapers generally adopted a neutral or cautious tone. These results demonstrate that media discourses not only convey information but also reproduce ideological positions, particularly in the representation of controversial non-state actors in conflict zones.