Rebel groups participated in a major offensive in Syria reclaim the country’s second city, Aleppo – and demonstrated the growing importance of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in the 13-year civil war.
The surprise march was led by members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, fighting alongside Turkish-backed groups against President Bashar al-Assad’s rule.
While the offensive – a very powerful fight in recent years – stands out as the first time many individuals outside Syria have heard of the Islamist group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s status has grown in popularity and opportunity through the years. as expert on the behavior of Islamist militant groups in the region, I actually have seen Hayat Tahrir al-Sham evolve from an offshoot of al-Qaeda in Syria into a powerful player in the continued conflict. This got here after a significant shift in the group’s strategic operations, which saw it lose interest in global jihad and focus more on gaining power in Syria.
Origin and beliefs
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has its roots early in the Syrian civil war, which began in 2011 as a popular rebellion against Assad’s autocratic government.
A group was formed as an offshoot of the Nusra Front, al-Qaeda’s official branch in Syria. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham was initially recognized for its combat effectiveness and commitment to the ideology of world jihad, the establishment of strict Islamic rule throughout the Muslim world.
During a key transition that took place in 2016 under the leadership of Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani, the Nusra Front publicly severed ties with al-Qaeda and adopted the brand new name Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, which suggests “Front of the Conquest of the Levant”.
The following yr, it merged with several other factions involved in the Syrian war to form Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or “Organization for the Liberation of the Levant.”
The goal of this rebranding was to maneuver away from al-Qaeda’s global jihadist agenda, which has limited the group’s appeal in Syria. This allowed Hayat Tahrir al-Sham deal with the issues specific to Syrians, equivalent to local governance, economic issues and humanitarian aid.
Despite these changes, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s core ideology stays rooted in jihadism, with the first goal of overthrowing the Assad government and establishing Islamic rule in Syria.
This strategic change was partly born of pragmatism. To maintain power over the territories they control, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham leaders concluded that the group needed to attenuate international opposition and integrate effectively into the broader Syrian revolutionary movement.
In other words, it needed to balance its radical Islamist background with the demands of local governance and political engagement.
Strategic changes and up to date activities
Since 2017, this function has been performed by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham dominant power in Idlibthe last significant rebel stronghold in Syria.
Over the years, the group has strengthened its control in the region, including: functions as a quasi-governmental entityproviding civil services and supervising local affairs, despite reports human rights violations.
In recent years, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s propaganda he emphasized protecting Syrian territory and its people from the Assad government.
This helped the group strengthen your position amongst local communities and other rebel groups.
In a bid to further enhance its image, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has intensified its public relations efforts, each at home and abroad. For example, it has cooperates with international media and humanitarian organizations to barter – and film – aid deliveries to areas under its control.
These initiatives show a commitment to the well-being of civilians and distance the group from the violence typically related to jihadist movements.
Back on the offensive
The recent military offensive, during which rebels led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham quickly occupied much of Aleppo and advanced towards the town of Hama, represents one other significant strategic turn. It signals a revival of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s military goals and his ability to adapt to changing circumstances.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s excited about launching the attack was likely influenced by a combination of regional and native dynamics. Recently, the growing vulnerability of the Assad government has turn out to be apparent, marked by, amongst other things, deterioration of the economic situation and corruption.
Many areas in Syria remain only nominally under state control, while the central government already is heavily dependent with the support of allies equivalent to Russia and Iran.
However, these allies they were busy through conflicts with Ukraine and Israel, potentially weakening their support for Syria.
Assad’s additional weakness is his diminishing opportunities Hezbollah AND Iranian forces. Both played key roles in supporting Assad through the civil war. However, Israeli attacks in Lebanon, Syria and Iran have potentially weakened Hezbollah and Iran’s ability to support Syria. And this reduction in support could have tipped the military scales in the civil war towards opposition groups.
Moreover, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and other rebel groups are facing the Syrian army affected by low moralehigh desertion rate and insufficient military equipment. Disorder between government forces made it difficult for Assad to reply effectively to the renewed attack by opposition forces.
In contrast, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham strengthened its military capabilities. After surviving various military campaigns, the group consolidated its power and professionalized its forces. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham established a military academy, reorganized its units into a more conventional military structure, and created specialized forces able to conducting coordinated and strategic attacks – as evidenced by the recent advance in Aleppo.
Moreover, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham did it managed to acquire local support positioning itself as a defender of the interests of Sunni Muslims. The failure to search out a political solution to the Syrian crisis has only fueled local resentment against the Assad government, creating a base of support for any forces that actively oppose the regime.
With growing support on the bottom, a more skilled army and a political wing focused on governance, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has transformed from a jihadist offshoot into a major player in Syria – a development that has enormous implications for the interior dynamics of the war-torn country.