Hayat Tahrir al-Sham
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (Arabic: هيئة تحرير الشام – "The Organization for the Liberation of the Levant" or "The Headquarters for the Liberation of the Levant") is a Syrian jihadi originated rebel organization that was established in 2017 following the merger of several Sunni-Salafi[1] rebel organizations, and is among the main opposition groups taking an active part in the Syrian Civil War. The organization, known in the West by its abbreviation HTS.
Its roots are at the outset of the Syrian civil war and has remained a force of opposition throughout the duration of the conflict.
In May 2018, the group was added to the US State Department’s existing designation of its predecessor, the al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). Today, HTS can be thought of as a relatively localized Syrian terrorist organization, which retains a Salafi-jihadist ideology despite its public split from al-Qaeda in 2017. This backgrounder provides an overview of the history, leadership, and current strategic goals of HTS.[2]
It had expressed support for Hamas Oct 7 onslaught.[3]
Though the group has been very careful not to get involved outside of Syria.[4]
It has been trying to reinvent itself and appearing more moderate.[5] But the US stressed that HTS' ideology is Islamism and is of course against it.
It made global headline in Nov 2024, when it was leading an offensive against Assad regime. "The insurgents, led by the Salafi jihadi group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and including Turkey-backed fighters, launched their shock offensive."[1][5]
Syrian jihadists and their Turkish-backed allies reached the country's second city of Aleppo two days later.[6][5]
Former ambassador James Jeffrey:[4]
What's happening now is, these rebel forces are either directly, in some cases or indirectly in the case of the Al Qaeda offshoot, under Turkish support, launched attacks, after a cease-fire that had been in place, brokered by Turkey and Russian in 2020, broke down.
It's Allegiance is: Syrian Salvation Government.[7]
Though the US has expressed mixed feeling and not crying over dictator Assad beaten. Nevertheless, the West (including US, Israel, Europe), is nervous, if there will be a vacuum and who will fill it in.
The Russians have two bases there, which was the prize Assad has given Putin for his aid in crushing rebels. These are as of now, in jeopardy.
From Al Qaeda to Syrianization
HTS formation was followed by a string of assassinations of its supporters. In response, HTS launched a successful crackdown on Al-Qaeda loyalists, which cemented its power in the city of Idlib. It has since been pursuing a "Syrianization" programme; focused on establishing a stable civilian administration that provides services and connects to humanitarian organizations in addition to maintaining law and order.[8]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1
Sarah El Deeb, After entering Aleppo, Syrian insurgents advance to a nearby province. Assad says he’ll defeat them. AP
December 1, 2024.
A huge embarrassment for Assad The swift and surprise offensive is a huge embarrassment for Syria’s President Bashar Assad and raises questions about his armed forces’ preparedness. The insurgent offensive launched from their stronghold in the country’s northwest appeared to have been planned for years. It also comes at a time when Assad’s allies were preoccupied with their own conflicts...
The insurgents, led by the Salafi jihadi group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and including Turkey-backed fighters, launched their shock offensive on Wednesday. They first staged a two-pronged attack in Aleppo and the Idlib countryside, entering Aleppo two days later and securing a strategic town that lies on the highway that links Syria’s largest city to the capital and the coast. - ↑ Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) TNT Terrorism Backgrounder
- ↑ Who are the rebels battering Syria’s regime, and do they pose a risk to Israel?. Times of Israel. Dec 2, 2024
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 BBC News : BBCNEWS : November 30, 2024 12:00am-12:31am GMT
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Who are the Syrian rebels who have attacked Aleppo and want to head to Damascus? The attack on Aleppo has been carried out by a variety of opponents to the Assad regime, including Islamist factions and moderates, with the offensive rumoured to be receiving support from Turkey. Sky News, 2 December 2024
- ↑ Rebels reach Syria's second city of Aleppo as deadly campaign continues. France 24, Nov 29, 2024.
Syrian jihadists and their Turkish-backed allies reached the country's second city of Aleppo on Friday as they pushed ahead with their lightning advance. The rebels have seized more than 50 towns and villages in northern Syria, according to a monitoring group after launching a major offensive against government troops on Wednesday.
- ↑ "Cloning Chaos Why National Salvation Governments Fail in the Arab Region (Middle East, politics, GCC, Iran, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Nuclear deal, Yemen, Trump, MENA, Turkey, Gulf Crisis, Qatar, Future for Advanced Research and Studies)"
- ↑ Mona Alami (6 December 2017). "Syria's Largest Militant Alliance Steps Further Away From Al-Qaeda". Syria Deply.
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