Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al-Saadi: There were concerns that Lahham would be placed under administrative detention.
Al-Saadi: The Israeli occupation authorities could not prove any allegations leveled against Nasser Lahham.
Lawyer Oussama al-Saadi: The oppressive Israeli measures of delaying Lahham's release had vengeful motives.
Nasser Lahham's lawyer said the journalist was released without any conditions or restrictions, adding that the conditions in which he was kept were terrible.
The Israeli occupation authorities release Al Mayadeen Palestine bureau chief Nasser al-Lahham.
Local Syrian sources: An Israeli airstrike targeted a tank and artillery battalion in the city of Izraa in the Daraa countryside
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in eastern Lebanon: 12 martyrs and 5 wounded in Israeli raids targeting the outskirts of Wadi Fa'ra in the northern Bekaa Valley
Local Syrian sources: More than 10 Israeli raids targeted Sweida, with information about more than five casualties from the Internal Security Forces
Local Syrian sources: Initial reports indicate that approximately 15 people were killed or wounded at the al-Radwan family's guest house in Sweida following a direct exchange of gunfire
Israeli media, citing Israeli political sources, reported that the Shas movement is expected to withdraw from the government within less than 24 hours

Syrians remain concerned about extremist factions within HTS: VOA

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 25 Dec 2024 15:16
  • 2 Shares
4 Min Read

Since taking control of Damascus, HTS leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, has adopted a more "moderate stance".

Listen
  • x
  • VOA
    A militant stands next to fire as drugs and alcoholic beverages, found at a complex building, that are been destroyed in Damascus, Syria, Wednesday, December 25, 2024 (AP)

With Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) consolidating its grip on Syria after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad, many Syrians remain concerned about the influence of extremist factions within the group, the Voice of America (VOA) news website reported on Tuesday.

HTS, designated as a terrorist group by the United States, emerged as Syria's de facto ruling authority following al-Assad’s ouster on December 8.

Previously known as the al-Nusra Front, HTS served as al-Qaida’s main affiliate in Syria until 2017, when it formally cut ties with the global terror network.

Since taking control of Damascus, HTS leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, has adopted a more "moderate stance", pledging to establish a state characterized by tolerance and coexistence among Syria’s diverse ethnic and religious groups, the news website noted.

Despite these assurances, skepticism persists among Syrians regarding the new leadership’s ability to contain the group’s radical elements.  

Al-Masri, a Damascus resident who provided only his last name, acknowledged that the new authorities have largely maintained order in Damascus and elsewhere. However, he voiced concerns that this stability might be short-lived. 

“We know that Hay'at Tahir al-Sham is trying to change, and we welcome that," he told VOA.

"But there are two things that people in my circle are really concerned about. One is how genuine al-Sharaa is, and the other is how much control he really has over the more radical people in his group," al-Masri indicated.

'If extremists dominate, Syrians will rise against them'

Related News

Gulf-backed negotiations underway in Syria's Sweida to end clashes

Syria condemns deadly Israeli airstrikes on Sweida

A similar sentiment was expressed by another Damascus resident who spoke to VOA on condition of anonymity, saying, "Syrians in general, including the conservative ones, are not inclined to extremism."

"If al-Jolani keeps his promises and controls his men, then Syrians will support him. But if extremists dominate, Syrians will rise against them just as they rose against Bashar al-Assad," the resident added.

Aymenn Jawad al-Tamimi, an expert on Islamist groups in Syria, highlighted a key tension within HTS.

He explained that there is a notable divide between HTS leadership under al-Jolani and the actions of individual members who have been influenced for years by propaganda targeting other religions and sects.

"They may collectively impute guilt to Alawites and others like Christians and engage in attacks and insults," he told VOA.

This tension was underscored on Monday when armed men set fire to a Christmas tree in the Christian-majority town of Suqaylabiya in Hama province. HTS later issued a statement attributing the act to foreign fighters within its ranks and promising accountability.

In the same context, Aaron Zelin, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, observed no visible opposition within HTS’ main ranks to al-Jolani’s "moderate approach".

“Even if there are people on their farther right flank that might be upset with them, it is plausible that if they then act out, the HTS and the caretaker government will arrest them,” he said, as quoted by VOA.

HTS has established a caretaker government, staffed by loyalists, to manage Syria's affairs until March 1, 2025, the deadline it has set to initiate a transitional process.

Caroline Rose, director of the Strategic Blind Spots Portfolio at the New Lines Institute, suggested that al-Sharaa is likely to marginalize HTS' extremist factions within both the caretaker administration and any government formed after March 1.

She told the news website that this approach could succeed if foreign governments use incentives such as normalization, sector-specific sanctions relief, and the possibility of delisting HTS from terrorist group designations to encourage sustained behavioral change.

Read more: Agreement reached to dissolve factions, merge them under Syrian MoD

  • Syria
  • Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham
  • Ahmad al-Sharaa
  • Abu Mohammad al-Jolani
  • HTS

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025
This satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows damage after an Iranian attack at the al Udeid Airbase outside of Doha, Qatar, June 25, 2025 (Planet Labs PBC via AP)

Satellite images show Iran attack damaged US comms dome in Qatari base

  • Politics
  • 11 Jul 2025
An Israeli soldier abandons an excavator during an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades. Arabic text reads "The moment the soldier fled", July, 10, 2025 (Al Qassam Military Media)

Israeli media rue al-Qassam footage, alarmed by fighters among troops

  • Politics
  • 11 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Syrian government forces deploy at the Mazraa village on the outskirts of city of Sweida, where clashes erupted between Bedouin clans and Druze factions, southern Syria, Monday, July 14, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Gulf-backed negotiations underway in Syria's Sweida to end clashes

UN: 798 Palestinians killed while trying to reach aid in Gaza
Palestine

UN: 798 Palestinians killed while trying to reach aid in Gaza

A damaged car is seen at a field that was hit in an Israeli airstrike in Nabi Sheet village, in Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley, Wednesday, August 21, 2024 (AP)
Politics

Hezbollah condemns Israeli Bekaa massacre, urges action from Lebanon

Palestinians walk next to the closed humanitarian aid distribution center of UNRWA, the UN agency helping Palestinian refugees in Jabaliya, Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli regime cuts electricity, water supplies to UNRWA Gaza offices

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS