Category: Jabhat Fataḥ al-Shām

My new 92-page booklet has been published: “The Age of Political Jihadism: A Study of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham”

Posted on by Aaron Y. Zelin

Abstract:

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a group previously linked to the Islamic State of Iraq and to al-Qaeda, has evolved in ways that challenge accepted views of “jihadism.” Now ruling over territory in Syria’s northern Idlib and western Aleppo governorates, it functions more like a government than a nonstate actor, and HTS leader Abu Muhammad al-Jawlani is seeking the group’s removal from the U.S. State Department’s list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations. But HTS is hardly anodyne. The group still espouses extremist beliefs that glamorize terrorism abroad, and its fighters fire rockets into civilian areas controlled by the Assad regime. Moreover, HTS hosts other designated groups in its territory, including Jamaat Ansar al-Islam, Katibat Imam al-Bukhari, and Katibat al-Tawhid wal Jihad.

In this thought-provoking Policy Focus, illustrated with photographs of HTS personalities and personnel, jihadism expert Aaron Y. Zelin digs deep into the group’s past before reckoning with the implications of Jawlani’s request. Whatever the U.S. decision, he suggests, political jihadism is here to stay.

Click here to read the 92-page booklet.

Early Reviews:

A Timeline of Abu Muhammad al-Jawlani’s Appearances

Posted on by Aaron Y. Zelin

January 10, 2025: A delegation from the Syrian community in America meets with the leader of the new Syrian administration, Ahmad al-Shar’a, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Asaad al-Sheibani

Meeting of the leader of the new Syrian administration, Ahmad al-Shar’a, with Dr. Faisal Al-Qassem at the People’s Palace in Damascus

Meeting of the leader of the new Syrian administration, Ahmad al-Shar’a, with a number of Syrian businessmen in the capital, Damascus

Meeting of the leader of the new Syrian administration, Ahmad al-Sharaa, with Sheikh Osama Al-Rifai and his accompanying delegation

Meeting of the leader of the new Syrian administration, Ahmad al-Shar’a, with a number of Syrian industrialists at the People’s Palace in Damascus

Meeting of the leader of the new Syrian administration, Ahmad al-Shar’a, and the Syrian Foreign Minister, Asaad al-Sheibani, with a delegation from the Italian Republic headed by the Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani

January 8, 2025: From the funeral prayers for Sheikh Saria al-Rifai

The leader of the new Syrian administration, Ahmad al-Shar’a, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Asaad al-Shaibani, receive a delegation from the Kingdom of Bahrain, headed by Dr. Abdullatif al-Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, at the People’s Palace

January 7, 2025: The leader of the new Syrian administration, Ahmad al-Shar’a, on an inspection visit to Damascus International Airport on the first day of its opening

January 6, 2025: Meeting of the leader of the new Syrian administration, Ahmad al-Shar’a, with a delegation of the Syrian community in Britain in Damascus

January 5, 2025: Meeting of the leader of the new Syrian administration, Ahmad al-Shar’a, with the Syrian businessman Ayman Asfari in the capital Damascus

Dr. Muhammad Rateb al-Nabulsi and his accompanying delegation congratulate the leader Ahmad al-Shar’a on the occasion of the victory of the Syrian revolution

The leader of the new Syrian administration, Ahmad al-Shar’a, hosts a delegation from the Syrian community in Germany

January 4, 2025: Congratulations from a delegation of leaders of Harakat al-Tahrir wa-l-Bina’ (in the Syrian National Army) to the leader of the new Syrian administration, Ahmad al-Shar’a, on the occasion of the victory of the Syrian revolution

January 3, 2025: Phone call between Commander Ahmed Al-Sharaa and the Lebanese Prime Minister

Meeting of the leader of the new Syrian administration, Ahmad al-Shar’a, and the Syrian Foreign Minister, Asaad al-Sheibani, with the French Foreign Minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, the German Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, and the Chargé d’Affaires of the European Union Mission, Michael Ohnmacht, in the capital, Damascus

December 31, 2024: The leader of the new Syrian administration, Ahmad al-Shar’a, meets with a delegation from the Christian community in Damascus. It included representatives from the following churches: Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Syriac Orthodox, Syriac Catholics, Armenian Catholics, Maronite, National Evangelical, and Latin.

Meeting of the leader of the new Syrian administration, Ahmad al-Shar’a, with Mr. Abdullah Al-Dardari, Assistant Secretary-General and Regional Director of the United Nations Development Program

Congratulations from the leaders of the Syrian National Army’s Joint Force to the leader of the new Syrian administration, Ahmad al-Shar’a, on the occasion of the victory of the Syrian revolution

December 30, 2024: Meeting of the head of the new Syrian administration, Ahmad al-Shar’a, the Syrian Foreign Minister, Asaad al-Shaybani, and the head of the Syrian Intelligence Service, Anas Khattab, with the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister, Abdullah Ali al-Yahya, and the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Jassim Mohammed al-Badawi

Meeting of the head of the new Syrian administration, Ahmad al-Shar’a, the Syrian Foreign Minister, Asaad al-Shaybani, and the head of the Syrian Intelligence Service, Anas Khattab, with the official Ukrainian delegation headed by Andrii Sybiha the Minister of Foreign Affairs

December 29, 2024: Congratulations from the Syrian Civil Defense to the Commander Ahmad al-Shar’a on the occasion of the victory of the Syrian revolution

A meeting took place in Damascus between Syrian National Army leaders and the General Commander of the new Syrian Administration Ahmad al-Shar’a

Ahmad al-Shar’a (Abu Muhammad al-Jawlani) interview with al-Hadath

December 28, 2024: Meeting of the leader of the new Syrian administration, Ahmad al-Shar’a and the caretaker Minister of Economy, with businessmen and industrialists from the cities of Aleppo and Idlib

Meeting of the leader of the new Syrian administration, Ahmad al-Shar’a, with a high-level Libyan delegation headed by Walid Ammar al-Lafi, Minister of State for Communication and Political Affairs

Meeting of the leader of the new Syrian administration, Ahmad al-Shar’a, with a high-level Bahraini delegation headed by the head of the Strategic Security Agency, Shaykh Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al Khalifa

December 27, 2024: New Syrian administration leader Ahmad al-Shar’a and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Sheibani host a delegation from the Syrian community in America

December 26, 2024: Meeting of the leader of the new Syrian administration, Ahmad al-Shar’a, with a delegation of notables from the eastern region

A meeting between the leader of the new Syrian administration, Ahmad al-Shar’a, the Syrian Foreign Minister, Asaad al-Shaibani, and the head of the Syrian intelligence service, Anas Khattab, with Hamid al-Shatri, the head of the Iraqi intelligence service, the envoy of the Iraqi Prime Minister

December 24, 2024: Meeting of the leader of the new Syrian administration, Ahmad al-Shar’a with a delegation of Arab tribes and clans in Syria

Meeting of the leaders of the revolutionary factions with the leader of the new Syrian administration Ahmad al-Shar’a, results in an agreement to dissolve all factions and merge them under the umbrella of the Ministry of Defense. SNA commanders present: ‘Azzam Gharib (al-Jabhah al-Shamiyah, new Aleppo governor), al-Mu’tasim ‘Abbas (Furqat al-Mu’tasim), and Issam Buwaydani (Jaysh al-Islam).

December 23, 2024: Ahmad al-Shar’a meeting with the leader of Jaysh al-Islam Issam Buwaydani

Meeting of the commander Ahmad al-Shar’a with the factions of the Eastern Region, in which the form of the upcoming military institution was discussed

Meeting of the commander Ahmad al-Shar’a and the Syrian Foreign Minister with the Qatari delegation headed by Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, the Qatari Minister of State

A meeting between the commander Ahmad al-Shar’a and the Syrian Foreign Minister with a Jordanian delegation headed by the Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman al-Safadi

December 22, 2024: Ahmad al-Shar’a and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan drank tea and coffee on Mount Qasioun looking over Damascus city

Ahmad al-Shar’a during a joint press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan

A meeting between the commander Ahmad al-Shar’a, the Prime Minister and the Syrian Foreign Minister, and a Turkish delegation headed by the Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan

Ahmad al-Shar’a’s speech during his meeting with Walid Jumblatt

Meeting of the leader Ahmad al-Shar’a with a delegation from the Progressive Socialist Party headed by Walid Jumblatt accompanied by a number of representatives and sheikhs of the Druze community in Lebanon

Commander Ahmad Al-Sharaa met with the Lebanese delegation, including Walid Jumblatt, at the presidential palace in Damascus

December 21, 2024: A meeting between the commander Ahmad al-Shar’a and the military factions where they discussed the form of the new military institutions in a new Syria

December 19, 2024: Ahmed al-Shar’a during the interview with Asharq Alwsat’s Bissan al-Sheikh in Damascus

The leadership of the National Liberation Front congratulates the commander Ahmad al-Shar’a on the victory of the Syrian revolution

December 18, 2024: BBC News: “Interview With Ahmad al-Shar’a (Abu Muhammad al-Jawlani)”

Ahmed al-Shar’a (Jolani), the commander of the forces that ended the Baath regime, answered the questions of writer Yasin Aktay in his study in the Prime Ministry Building in Damascus

A meeting between the commander Ahmad al-Shar’a and businessmen in Damascus

Congratulations from the shaykhs and scholars of Damascus to the leader Ahmad al-Shar’a on the occasion of the victory of the Syrian revolution

The commander Ahmad al-Shar’a, visited his childhood school in the Mezze neighborhood

New release from al-Fursān Media: "Journey of Patience and Persistence Series- From Khurāsān to al-Shām #1"

Posted on by Aaron Y. Zelin


Click the following link for a safe PDF copy: al-Fursān Media — Journey of Patience and Persistence Series- From Khurāsān to al-Shām #1
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To inquire about a translation for this release for a fee email: [email protected]

New release from Fursān al-Shām Media: "Story Of A Mujāhid Who Threatened To Quit His Unit Before His Martyrdom"

Posted on by Aaron Y. Zelin

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Meet our brother Sayfullah Jab’ar Al Turki who emigrated from Turkey to carry out Jihad in the cause of Allah in Syria. I don’t know too much about him but I will narrate what I saw and heard from Sayfullah within the time that I had spent with him. Before coming to Syria , he had told me about the Jahil life he lived before he got guidance from Allah SWT. He used to be involved in gang fights and other evil things while chasing the Dunya. Alhamduli’Llah he started practising the Deen and mended his ways.

Sayfullah started to realise the commandment of his Deen which he had to fulfil which is Jihad and to come to the defence of his brothers and sisters in Syria. I got the opportunity to meet Sayfullah when he joined my brigade within JFS, upon meeting him I recognised he had an injury to his head with some part of his skull missing, later he told me he sustained the injury in a previous battle he participated in.

After getting to know Sayfullah I found him to be someone determined to participate in battle even so in the Inghimashi role (front line stormers). When he was not taking part in battles I would find him occupying himself in the remembrance of Allah and increasing his knowledge by reading books. One thing that amazed me of Sayfullah was his long night prayers he would engage in every night, he would also advise other Mujahideen to engage in this worship and would say to them that: “this is your key to steadfastness on the battlefield.”

Just after Russia intervened in the Syria conflict, the Shia mercenaries also began a large scaled offensive from South Aleppo in an attempt to reach Kafarya & Fua, our unit was sent back to repel the attacks and launch counter attacks to regain the areas which we had lost. It was in the upcoming battles that Sayfullah would be martyred. The first counter attack we launched was a success and gained a few areas with few casualties Alhamdulilah, Sayfullah was not pleased as he was not chosen for the Inghimashi role he very much desired as he was put in a secondary position.

But he remained patient as he knew there would be an upcoming battle shortly within a few days. Preparations were made and everyone knew what role they would take up for this battle. Sayfullah was infuriated as he again found out that he would not be filling the Inghimashi spot once again, this time he couldn’t hold his anger and decided he would approach the commander to either place him in the role or quit and leave the brigade.

Sayfullah approached me to be the mediator between the two, reason was he only spoke Turkish and English and our commander spoke Arabic only. Our commander told me the reason for Sayfullah not being selected for the Inghimashi role. It was that he knew little Arabic and this could effect the squad in battle, it was hard for me to keep Sayfullah calm even though I advised him many times to remain patient and that he would get the opportunity soon. But his determination to be picked was not going to stop him as he told me to translate to the commander that if he wasn’t selected for this battle he would pack his bags and leave.

Seeing his persistence and courage the commander chose to switch him to the Inghimashi role. Sayfullah was delighted and now became impatient for the battle to begin. Me and Sayfullah shared the same room in our base and would spend time together as his poor Arabic and serious attitude character would keep him away from socializing with others. Every night before sleep we would engage in discussion and I once posed a question to him: “what is the thing you desire most in this world?”, he replied to live the rest of his life in Jihad and to go from one battle to the other and finally be martyred in the cause of Allah.

As a few days remained for the upcoming battle during the night Sayfullah and I would speak about the hereafter to raise each others Emaan, unlike other brothers he wouldn’t talk about Jannah or the Hoor Al Ayn but rather he would fear the hell fire and would just yearn to have himself saved from it. Moving on to the battle ,Alhamdulilah, it went well as we captured all the areas we were assigned to capture except one village. The Shia allegedly had an ambush set-up there as one of the commanders was observing things.

We decided to hold the lines we had captured and make Ribaat (Guarding a station). This Ribaat was going to be demanding as enemy artillery were raining down upon us and our positions had no defences. It was on the third day Sayfullah received his martyrdom (May Allah accept him), it happened when the Shia mercenaries made an advancement in an attempt to recapture the areas we gained, as they had advanced from two axes they laid a siege on the brothers. The brave Mujahideen fought to their last breaths and refused to surrender.

Sayfullah was hit by a sniper as so was the case with a few other brothers, injured brothers managed to sneak out crawling while escaping enemy fire, the bodies of the martyrs were left behind as it was impossible to retrieve them. Alhamdulilah, no one was captured alive. Even though we suffered some casualties, this was insignificant compared to what the Shia mercenaries suffered in the previous days and battles. We ask Allah سبحانه وتعالى to accept Sayfullah Jab’ar Al Turki and all the other brothers who fell as martyrs alongside him and to grant quick recovery to the injured ones Amongst them. Ameen.

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New release from Hayy'at Taḥrīr al-Shām: "Formation of Hayy'at Taḥrīr al-Shām"

Posted on by Aaron Y. Zelin

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Click the following link for a safe PDF copy: Hayy’at Taḥrīr al-Shām: “Formation of Hayy’at Taḥrīr al-Shām”
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New release from Jabhat Fataḥ al-Shām’s Dr. Sāmī al ‘Uraydī: "The Duty to Stand Up! In the Face of Thieves Stealing the Fruits of Jihād"

Posted on by Aaron Y. Zelin

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Click the following link for a safe PDF copy: Dr. Sāmī al ‘Uraydī: “The Duty to Stand Up! In the Face of Thieves Stealing the Fruits of Jihād”
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New release from Shaykh Abū Muḥammad al-Maqdisī: "Question and Answer About the Fighting Happening Between the Factions"

Posted on by Aaron Y. Zelin

Click the following link for a safe PDF copy: Shaykh Abū Muḥammad al-Maqdisī: “Question and Answer About the Fighting Happening Between the Factions”
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Source: Telegram
To inquire about a translation for this release for a fee email: [email protected]