Foreign terrorist groups in Syria endorse al-Jolani amid HTS mutiny

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
15 Mar 2024 23:27
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The foreign terrorist militants known as "al-Muhajireen" declare their support to "The leaders and princes in northwest Syria."

Protestors against the leader of the HTS terrorist group Abu Mohammad al-Jolani carry a banner that reads "Al-Jolani was honest when he said he did not have prisons .. because in fact, he has butcheries and not prisons" in Idlib on February 25, 2024 (Social media)

Several factions comprising of foreign militants in Syria issued a statement on Friday declaring their support for what they described as the "reforms" announced by the leader of the terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham HTS Abu Mohammad al-Jolani.

The armed groups, known as al-Muhajireen (The migrants), in reference to them being foreigners, warned against any member of their groups to leave before HTS established its full control over northwest Syria.

They also reaffirmed their full support for "the leaders and princes in northwest Syria," and their readiness to provide all forms of support.

In the statement, the factions confirmed they would ban any individual among the foreign fighters who violated the stated commitments.

The relationship between al-Jolani and the al-Muhajireen factions has witnessed significant tensions in the past few years.

The HTS chief had issued since 2022 a series of decisions targeting foreign militias, including expelling them from residence units and vacating them from large areas, for their presence was deemed by him as "undesirable in Idlib."

But a brewing internal rebellion against al-Jolani aiming to oust him from his position prompted the HTS leader to resort to unusual measures, including a security crackdown on former supporters and allied leaders.

Protests erupted in Idlib and other towns under HTS control last month demanding the release of several of the group's militants who were arrested by the organization's "General Security" apparatus and for al-Jolani to step down.

Responding to the deteriorating situation, al-Jolani said on Wednesday that the demands "are not permissible in the time being" for implementation, indicating that there are "red lines that no one should reach."

Al-Jolani made his remarks during a talk he called for in the presence of hundreds of militants and residents of Idlib on Tuesday.

He further warned that HTS will intervene to protect the areas that it controls, demanding that "destabilizing" protests be stopped.

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