Check out my new ‘Policy Watch’ for the Washington Institute: “Rhetoric Meets Reality in Jawlani’s Push for Self-Sufficiency”

On July 10, a United Nations vote will decide the future of the cross-border aid mechanism for northwest Syria, an area run by the jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The mechanism—which facilitates aid to northwest Syria via Turkey without having to go through Damascus—faces the prospect of nonrenewal for the first time since it was created in 2014, as a consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. A failure to renew the mechanism would exacerbate an already daunting humanitarian situation in northwest Syria, where some three-fourths of the population consists of internally displaced persons (IDPs). While aid will likely continue on a far more limited basis if Russia vetoes the mechanism, from a U.S. perspective a more self-reliant HTS-run territory requiring less international assistance would actually be far preferable to a situation in which aid renewal remains subject to periodic dramas.

Over the past roughly six years, HTS has transformed itself from an al-Qaeda branch into something resembling a typical regional state governing body, with the group engaging in human rights violations and embracing inflammatory rhetoric. To begin with, it has focused increasingly on developing local institutions and the economy. The group’s strides in governance have been facilitated, in part, by the March 2020 Turkey-Russia ceasefire agreement, which more or less froze the conflict line. Since then, HTS leader Abu Muhammad al-Jawlani has reiterated the value he places on self-sufficiency and constructing a new polity and society that does not rely on outside help. If HTS and its civilian-led Syrian Salvation Government (SSG) actually followed through on Jawlani’s ideas, locals could find other avenues to support themselves. Yet one must acknowledge at this point that HTS has not matched its lofty rhetoric with efforts to develop indigenous capabilities. Instead, it has worked hard to monopolize economic power.

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New statement from Hay’at Taḥrīr al-Shām’s Taqī al-Dīn ‘Umar: “In Response To Allegations By Russian News Agencies That Members of the Group Were Arrested in Russia”

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– إن ادعاء وكالات أنباء روسية على لسان ما يسمى “الأمن الفيدرالي” اعتقال 10 عناصر من هيئة تحرير الشام في روسيا، ادعاء مجاني ومغرض سبقته عشرات الادعاءات. – الكل يعلم أن “هيئة تحرير_الشام” كيان عسكري موجود في سوريا ويقف على جبهات القتال للدفاع عن المناطق المحررة ولا تواجد له خارج المنطقة. – ترويج المحتل لهذه الادعاءات بين الفينة والأخرى يراد منه تبرير التدخل السافر ومواصلة القصف والعدوان واستهداف المنشآت الطبية والتجمعات السكنية، ونهيب بالجميع تحري الحقيقة وعدم الانسياق وراء الأكاذيب.  المكتب الإعلامي لهيئة تحرير الشام

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Source: Telegram

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New statement from Katībat al-Tawḥīd wa-l-Jihād: “Statement Regarding the Designation By the U.S. State Department”

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Click the following link for a safe PDF copy: Katībat al-Tawḥīd wa-l-Jihād — Statement Regarding the Designation By the U.S. State Department

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Source: Telegram

To inquire about a translation for this statement for a fee email: [email protected]

New statement from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan: “Regarding the Soviet invasion On the 6th of Jaddi”

Forty two years ago on the 6th of Jaddi 1358 (Hijri Solar), former Soviet armies launched an invasion against Afghanistan.

The Afghan Muslim and Liberation loving Nation could not tolerate any occupation or aggression by any invader, so our brave and Mujahid nation started a great and comprehensive jihad against the Soviet invaders and defeated the then Soviet Union in ten years and forced the occupying forces out of our country.

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, on behalf of its people, condemns the invasion of the former Soviet Union and commends jihad and struggle of the brave Afghan people against them.

Afghanistan does not interfere in internal affairs of any country and does not allow anyone to violate our rights and interfere in our internal affairs. Afghans as peace loving nation is willing to establish good and strong relations within the framework of international and Islamic principles, in which no one is likely to be harmed and the right of nations to freedom is protected.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan hopes that all countries of the region and world, will play a positive role in building and maintaining good and strong relations in order to take steps towards peace and prosperity in the region and the world. So that inconvenience, destruction and mistrust of the previous wars can be eradicated.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

22/05/1443 Hijri Lunar

06/10/1400 Hijri Solar 27/12/2021 Gregorian

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Source:

New release from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s Mawlāwī ‘Abd al-Salām Ḥanafī: “Address By the Deputy Prime Minister at the Moscow Summit Meeting”

Click the following link for a safe PDF copy: Mawlāwī ‘Abd al-Salām Ḥanafī — Address By the Deputy Prime Minister at the Moscow Summit Meeting

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To inquire about a translation for this statement for a fee email: [email protected]