Ahrar al-Sham Commanders Join Haya’t Tahrir Al-Sham

(Zaman al-Wasl) Commanders from Ahrar al-Sham Movement joined the Haya’t Tahrir al-Sham (Sham Liberation Committee) established on 28 January. The Ahrar commanders announced their resignation from the Ahrar al-Sham Movement before joining Tahrir al-Sham. 

Ahrar al-Sham’s former General Commander Abu Hashim al-Sheikh is one of the most prominent commanders to leave the Movement. He has become a commander with Haya’t Tahrir al-Sham. Abu Yusef al-Muhajir, Ahrar al-Sham military spokesman, confirmed his resignation from the Movement and membership in Tahrir al-Sham. 

In the same context, several commentators on Syrian affairs circulated news via social media that the former Ahrar al-Sham Military Commander Abu Saleh Tahan joined the new formation. In addition to the Ahrar’s former general judge Abu Mohammad al-Sadeq. Both men resigned from the Movement’s ranks to accede to the new formation. 

Speaking to Zaman al-Wasl, Ahmad Kara Ali, the official spokesperson for Ahrar al-Sham Movement, commented about these secessions, “None of our military formations have entered under Haya’t Tahrir al-Sham formation, and the resignation of Hashem al-Sheikh and Abu Yusef al-Muhajir was personal, and their membership previously had been suspended.” He did not comment on al-Sadeq and Tahan’s resignations. 

Five factions announced the formation of Haya’t Tahrir al-Sham on Saturday, and they are, “Fateh al-Sham, al-Zinki group, Jaish al-Sunna, Liwa al-Haqq, Jabhat Ansar al-Din.” These groups merged their forces in the new formation. 

Exclusive sources revealed to Zaman al-Wasl, that the commanders of Fateh al-Sham would not lead the new entity in any form, not militarily, or politically, or judicial. The formation will name a new commander from the younger elements of the factions that joined the formation. 

Sources close to Ahrar al-Sham Movement saw that the resignation of prominent commanders in the Movement and their joining Haya’t Tahrir al-Sham eliminates the extremist current in the Movement led by al-Sheikh and Tahan after they had deep disputes with most of the Movement’s Consultative Council. The conflict resulted in the Muslim Brotherhood taking control of the Movement, and Ali al-Omar, the Movement’s new commander, is part of the Muslim Brotherhood. 

The same sources suggested that some Ahrar al-Sham Movement brigades will join the new formation especially those loyal to Tahan and al-Sheikh. 

Haya’t Tahrir al-Sham released a statement following the announcement of its formation saying the formation is an attempt to mend the divisions among resistance groups and strengthen opposition to the al-Assad regime. 

In a related context, Fateh al-Sham launched attacks this week against more moderate resistance groups in areas west of Aleppo and in the rebel held Idlib province. Fateh al-Sham managed to take control of one village in Idlib province. 

Some groups joined forces earlier in the week under the Ahar al-Sham Movement to counter Fateh al-Sham’s offensive. 

The two alliances formed of different rebel groups, while noting that some groups remain outside either camp, marks a sharp split within the jihadist section of the resistance fighting the al-Assad regime and the more moderate, foreign-backed groups.