Tahrir al-Sham

Not to be confused with Sham Liberation Army.

Hayʼat Tahrir ash-Sham
(Organization for the Liberation of the Levant)
هيئة تحرير الشام
Leaders
Dates of operation28 January 2017 – present
Merger of
Allegiance Syrian Salvation Government[6][7][8]
HeadquartersIdlib Governorate, Syria
Active regionsSyria
Lebanon (until August 2017)
Ideology
StatusActive
Size~31,000 (est. 2017)[12]
15,000–30,000 (est. 2018)[13][14]
12,000–15,000 (est. 2020)[15]
15,000 (est. 2022)[16]
Part ofUnified Military Council (Idlib)
Al-Fateh al-Mubin
Allies

Non-state allies:

OpponentsState opponents

Non-state opponents

Battles and warsSyrian Civil War
Designated as a terrorist group bySee section

Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS; Arabic: هيئة تحرير الشام, romanized: Hayʼat Taḥrīr aš-Šām[46], lit. ''Organization for the Liberation of the Levant' or 'Levant Liberation Committee''),[43] commonly referred to as Tahrir al-Sham, is a Sunni Islamist[47][48] political and armed organisation involved in the Syrian Civil War. It was formed on 28 January 2017 as a merger between Jaysh al-Ahrar (an Ahrar al-Sham faction), Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (JFS), Ansar al-Din Front, Jaysh al-Sunna, Liwa al-Haqq, and Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement.[3][49] The unification process was held under the initiative of Abu Jaber Shaykh, an Islamist commander who had been the second Emir of Ahrar al-Sham.[3]

Proclaiming the nascent organisation as "a new stage in the life of the blessed revolution", Abu Jaber urged all factions of the Syrian opposition to unite under its Islamic leadership and wage a "popular Jihad" to achieve the objectives of the Syrian revolution, which he characterised as the ouster of the Ba'athist regime and Hezbollah militants from Syrian territories, and the formation of an Islamic government.[50] After the announcement, additional groups and individuals joined. The merged group has been primarily led by Jabhat Fatah al-Sham and former Ahrar al-Sham leaders, although the High Command also has representation from other groups.[51] The Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement[5] split from Tahrir al-Sham in July 2017, and the Ansar al-Din Front in 2018.[52]

The formation of HTS 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 Idlib. HTS 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.[49] Tahrir al-Sham's strategy is based on expanding its territorial control in Syria, establishing governance and mobilising popular support. In 2017, HTS permitted Turkish troops to patrol North-West Syria as part of a ceasefire brokered through the Astana negotiations. Its policies have brought it into conflict with Hurras al-Deen, Al-Qaeda's Syrian wing.[53] HTS had an estimated 6,000-15,000 members in 2022.[16]

Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham gives allegiance to the Syrian Salvation Government, which is an alternative government of the Syrian opposition in the Idlib Governorate.[54][55] While the organisation officially adheres to the Salafi school; the High Council of Fatwa of the Syrian Salvation Government - to which it is religiously beholden - consists of ulema from Ash'arite and Sufi traditions as well. In its legal system and educational curriculum, HTS implements Shafi'ite thought and teaches the importance of the four classical Sunni madhahib (schools of law) in Islamic jurisprudence.[56] As of 2021, HTS is considered the most powerful military faction within the Syrian opposition.[57]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference jaber was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b "Julani is a temporary leader of the "Liberation of the Sham" .. This is the fate of its former leader". HuffPost. 2 October 2017. Archived from the original on 2 October 2017. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  3. ^ a b c Joscelyn, Thomas (28 January 2017). "Al Qaeda and allies announce 'new entity' in Syria". Long War Journal. Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Archived from the original on 29 May 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  4. ^ A prominent Tahrir al-Sham commander killed in southern Idlib Archived 7 October 2021 at the Wayback Machine, Islamic World News
  5. ^ a b "Nour e-Din a-Zinki defects from HTS, citing unwillingness to end rebel infighting". Syria Direct. 20 July 2017. Archived from the original on 25 July 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  6. ^ Aymen Jawad al-Tamimi (2018). "From Jabhat al-Nusra to Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham: Evolution, Approach and Future" (PDF). Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung and Al-Nahrain Center for Strategic Studies. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  7. ^ Enab Baladi (9 November 2017). "Who Will Lead Idleb's New 'Salvation Government?'". Syrian Observer. Archived from the original on 21 August 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  8. ^ Studies, 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. "Cloning Chaos Why National Salvation Governments Fail in the Arab Region". مركز المستقبل.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ "Affiliation with Tahrir Al-Sham; Reasons and Motives II". MENA. 8 July 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  10. ^ Pierre, Boussel. "The new age of armed groups in the Middle East". Foundation for Strategic Research. Retrieved 13 December 2022. Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) is part of the neo-Islamist lineage which, without compromising on the Salafist exegesis, bases its action on the general interest (al-masa'il al-mursala).
  11. ^ a b Tammy, Lynn Palacios. "Hayat Tahrir al-Sham's Top-Down Disassociation from al-Qaeda in Syria". Jamestown. The Jamestown Foundation. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  12. ^ Rida, Nazeer (30 January 2017). "Syria: Surfacing of 'Hai'at Tahrir al-Sham' Threatens Truce". Asharq Al-Awsat. Archived from the original on 15 February 2017.
  13. ^ Reality Check team (22 June 2019). "Syria: Who's in control of Idlib?". BBC News. Archived from the original on 27 July 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  14. ^ Joe Macaron (17 October 2018). "A confrontation in Idlib remains inevitable". Al-Jazeera. Archived from the original on 27 October 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  15. ^ Zulfiqar Ali (18 February 2020). "Syria: Who's in control of Idlib?". BBC News. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  16. ^ a b "Ods Home Page" (PDF).
  17. ^ Fraihat, Alijla, Ibrahim, Abdalhadi; Grant-Brook, William (2023). "The State in Idlib: Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham and Complexity Amid the Syrian Civil War". Rebel Governance in the Middle East. palgrave macmillan. p. 76. doi:10.1007/978-981-99-1335-0. ISBN 978-981-99-1334-3. S2CID 264040574. HTS's most important foreign relationship at present is with Ankara. HTS has a close relationship with its northern neighbour, allowing Turkish soldiers' presence in Idlib to uphold an unstable stalemate with Assad's forces.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ Hamming, Tore (2022). Jihadi Politics: The Global Jihadi Civil War, 2014–2019. London, UK: Hurst publishers. pp. 48, 396. ISBN 9781787387027. Ahrar al-Sham (and later HTS) established close relations with Turkey. ... In Syria, Turkey managed to establish close relations first with Ahrar al-Sham and subsequently with HTS.
  19. ^ Iddon, Paul (5 April 2021). "Are Turkey and the Islamist HTS group in Syria's Idlib allies?". Archived from the original on 18 February 2023.
  20. ^ "Containing Transnational Jihadists in Syria's North West". International Crisis Group. 7 March 2023. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. ..HTS declared that only it or al-Fatah al-Mubin, which it leads together with Turkish-backed factions (though it is the dominant force), could conduct military operations in Idlib.
  21. ^ "SNA factions, HTS clash over crossing in Syria's Jarabulus". 4 April 2024.
  22. ^ "Tahrir al-Sham tests Turkey over a strategic crossing; Ankara halts HTS greed". 4 April 2024.
  23. ^ Sosnowski, Marika (2023). Redefining Ceasefires: Wartime Order and Statebuilding in Syria. Cambridge CB2 8EA, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. p. 153. ISBN 978-1-009-34722-8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  24. ^ Nawaf Obaid (15 August 2018). "Trump Will Regret Changing His Mind About Qatar". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  25. ^ Drevon, Haenni, Jerome, Patrick (2021). How Global Jihad Relocalises and Where it Leads: The Case of HTS, the Former AQ Franchise in Syria. I – 50014 San Domenico di Fiesole (FI), Italy: European University Institute. pp. 18, 29–31. ISSN 1028-3625.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  26. ^ Y. Zelin, Aaron (2022). "2: The Development of Political Jihadism". The Age of Political Jihadism: A Study of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. 1111 19th Street NW, Suite 500, Washington DC 20036, USA: The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. p. 11. ISBN 979-8-9854474-4-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  27. ^ "Tarkhan's Jamaat (Katiba İbad ar-Rahman) Fighting In Hama Alongside Muslim Shishani". Chechens in Syria. 29 January 2018. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  28. ^ "Борбор азиялык жихадчылар "Аль-Каидага" ант беришти". BBC News (in Kyrgyz). Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  29. ^ Al-Tamimi, Aymenn Jawad. "The Factions of North Latakia". Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi. Archived from the original on 21 September 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  30. ^ "More Detailed Information & Interview With Newly-Formed Tatar Group Junud Al-Makhdi Whose Amir Trained In North Caucasus With Khattab". 3 July 2016. Archived from the original on 6 September 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  31. ^ "Foreign jihadists advertise role in Latakia fighting - The Long War Journal". 11 July 2016. Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  32. ^ "Malhama Tactical, The Fanatics Tactical Guru!". The Firearm Blog. 12 December 2016. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  33. ^ Caleb Weiss (18 January 2018). "New Uighur jihadist group emerges in Syria". Long War Journal. Archived from the original on 19 January 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  34. ^ a b "Syria group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and al-Qaeda legacy". BBC. 22 May 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2024. In July 2017 HTS captured large parts of Idlib Province following battles against rebel groups, including its former ally Ahrar al-Sham.
  35. ^ "Turkey-backed fighters join forces with HTS rebels in Idlib". Al Jazeera. 10 July 2020.
  36. ^ Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS): Israel Purposely Choose Ramadan To Attack Aqsa Mosque To Provoke Muslims, Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS): Israel Purposely Choose Ramadan To Attack Aqsa Mosque To Provoke Muslims (12 May 2021). "Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS): Israel Purposely Choose Ramadan To Attack Aqsa Mosque To Provoke Muslims". Al-Shami Al-Hr. MEMRI TV. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  37. ^ "MİT tırları Türkmenlere mi, el Nusra'ya mı gidiyordu?". Deutsche Welle (in Turkish). 1 June 2021.
  38. ^ "#Syria, Homs – Div Liwa Rijal Allah joins Harakat Tahrir Homs". Yalla Souriya. 9 April 2016. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  39. ^ "The Moderate Rebels: A Growing List of Vetted Groups Fielding BGM-71 TOW Anti-Tank Guided Missiles". Hasan Mustafa. 8 May 2015. Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  40. ^ "Idlib Faces a Fearsome Future: Islamist Rule or Mass Murder". 19 September 2019. Archived from the original on 20 September 2019. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  41. ^ "هجوم مباغت لهيئة تحرير الشام في ريف حلب يسفر عن مقتل 10 عناصر من ميليشيا النجباء العراقية". 12 September 2017. Archived from the original on 10 June 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  42. ^ "Syria war: 'Dozens killed' as jihadists clash in Idlib". BBC News. 14 February 2017. Archived from the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  43. ^ a b Mroue, Bassem (14 February 2017). "Clashes between 2 extremist groups kill scores in Syria". Associated Press. Beirut. Archived from the original on 9 March 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  44. ^ Aron Lund (23 February 2018). "Understanding Eastern Ghouta in Syria". New Humanitarian.
  45. ^ ""Liberation Sham" Tdk sites of the regime north of Homs .. And suffered losses (Photos)". El-Dorar al-Shamia. 17 April 2018.
  46. ^ BBC Monitoring (12 February 2017). "Tahrir al-Sham: Al-Qaeda's latest incarnation in Syria". BBC News. Archived from the original on 25 September 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  47. ^ Drevon, Haenni, Jerome, Patrick (2021). "Abstract". How Global Jihad Relocalises and Where it Leads: The Case of HTS, the Former AQ Franchise in Syria (PDF). I – 50014 San Domenico di Fiesole (FI), Italy: European University Institute. pp. v. ISSN 1028-3625. HTS's domination was followed by a policy of gradual opening and mainstreamisation. The group has had to open up to local communities and make concessions, especially in the religious sphere. HTS is seeking international acceptance with the development of a strategic partnership with Turkey and desires to open dialogue with Western countries. Overall, HTS has transformed from formerly being a salafi jihadi organisation into having a new mainstream approach to political Islam.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  48. ^ Y. Zelin, Aaron (2022). "2: The Development of Political Jihadism". The Age of Political Jihadism: A Study of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. 1111 19th Street NW, Suite 500, Washington DC 20036, USA: The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. pp. 7–12. ISBN 979-8-9854474-4-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  49. ^ a b Mona Alami (6 December 2017). "Syria's Largest Militant Alliance Steps Further Away From Al-Qaeda". Syria Deply. Archived from the original on 15 February 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  50. ^ Joscelyn, Thomas (10 February 2017). "Hay'at Tahrir al Sham leader calls for 'unity' in Syrian insurgency". Long Wars Journal. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017.
  51. ^ "Syria Islamist factions, including former al Qaeda branch, join forces: statement". Reuters. 28 January 2017. Archived from the original on 28 January 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  52. ^ "New component split from "Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham"". Syria Call. 9 February 2018. Archived from the original on 13 February 2018. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  53. ^ Tsurkov, Elizabeth (10 November 2020). "Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (Syria)". ECFR. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020.
  54. ^ "The Syrian General Conference Faces the Interim Government in Idlib". Enab Baladi. 18 September 2017. Archived from the original on 23 November 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  55. ^ Syria news Archived 9 October 2018 at the Wayback Machine Shaam network
  56. ^ Drevon, Haenni, Jerome, Patrick (2021). "II: The Political Deprogramming of the Radical Emirate". How Global Jihad Relocalises and Where it Leads: The Case of HTS, the Former AQ Franchise in Syria. I – 50014 San Domenico di Fiesole (FI), Italy: European University Institute: European University Institute. pp. 12–20. ISSN 1028-3625.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  57. ^ "Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham". Stanford University. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023.