Tahrir al-Sham struck by defections again
A group of armed factions in the Syrian governorate of Idlib
and a number of defectors from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) announced on Friday,
June 12 the formation of a new joint military operations room under the name “So
Be Steadfast”, in a new provocation to HTS, which is trying to extend its
influence over sections of northern Syria.
The new formation includes five terrorist factions: Tansiqiyat
al-Jihad (Jihad Coordination), al-Muqatileen al-Ansar Brigade, Jamaat Ansar
al-Islam, Jabhat Ansar al-Din, and Hurras al-Din (Guardians of the Religion).
Differences
This foreshadows disputes between various factions and HTS,
especially since there have recently been many crises between HTS and Hurras
al-Din that have erupted into bloody battles between them.
Syrian political activist Rayyan Maarouf told the Reference
that all the factions that founded that new operations room were originally
elements and leaders of HTS who recently defected because of the policies of
HTS leader Abu Mohammad al-Julani. In addition, HTS has made many concessions
to Turkey in the areas it controls in Idlib, in exchange for Turkish President
Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s regime to pump more money to HTS. This was rejected by a
large number of the terrorist organization’s leaders, which led to their
defection.
Another issue that will spark more problems is that one of
those supporting the new operations room is Abu al-Abdul Shadeed, one of the
oldest and most prominent leaders in HTS who defected over major differences that
occurred between him and Julani because of the latter's policy with the Turks.
The third issue is that Muqatileen al-Ansar Brigade leader
is Abu Malik al-Tali, who was one of the most prominent HTS leaders and a
member of the group’s Shura Council, but he then defected due to Julani’s
policies.
Is HTS collapsing?
Dr. Abd al-Khubeir Atallah, a professor of political
science, told the Reference that the HTS is largely collapsing, because most of
the factions that split from it and established a military operations room are
among the largest factions in northern Syria.
Atallah said that Julani’s time is coming to an end as
Turkish support decreases and cases of defection increase.
