ALEPPO, Syria — Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which controls Idlib province in northwestern Syria, reached a safety settlement settlement with the Jundallah group, which HTS calls Abu Fatima al-Turki.
In keeping with the settlement that was introduced Nov. 7 by way of Telegram, Jundallah’s operatives should hand over their private weapons to HTS and endure a Sharia coaching course underneath the supervision of the Turkistan Islamic Occasion (TIP). They are going to be allowed to stay as civilians in HTS-controlled areas.
An official near HTS who spoke on situation of anonymity informed Al-Monitor, “HTS management determined to shut the chapter on Jundallah by imposing a brand new settlement, forcing its operatives handy over all their weapons and endure obligatory Sharia programs to appropriate their Sharia notion in a number of issues, and level out the breaches they dedicated.”
“The group’s members who fought HTS throughout its assault on their strongholds in Jabal al-Turkman space had been granted amnesty and the general public litigation in opposition to them was dropped. Those that face private expenses by civilians had been referred to the Sharia judiciary to look into the totally different instances,” he added.
The supply mentioned, “The phrases of the brand new settlement are already being applied. Jundallah’s operatives surrendered all their weapons, and the Sharia programs have already been organized for them and can final for a number of weeks. Upon completion of the programs, the group’s members could have two decisions: both be a part of the ranks of combating factions corresponding to HTS or lead their lives as civilians.”
HTS had beforehand launched a military campaign in opposition to Jundallah in Jabal al-Turkman space within the northern countryside of Latakia on the finish of October, which drove the group out of the realm after having concluded an settlement with HTS underneath the TIP auspices.
The first agreement on Oct. 29 between the 2 sides included the cessation of battles and Jundallah fighters’ evacuation from the Jabal al-Turkman space by way of closed trucks. They had been allowed to carry on to their mild private weapons corresponding to rifles, whereas their heavy arms had been handed over to HTS.
The settlement additionally included the discharge of detainees on each side, and the questioning and investigation of accused Jundallah members, inserting them underneath home arrest at TIP army barracks till a complete settlement is reached.
HTS seems to have managed to efficiently remove Jundallah. The implementation of the final settlement settlement’s phrases means dissolving the group and forcing its members to desert their extremist concepts in accordance with HTS view, which categorized the group as takfiri.
HTS, for its half, is taken into account a terrorist group by the USA, Turkey and Russia.
Even after ending the Sharia programs, Jundallah members will stay underneath HTS safety management in a bid to forestall any makes an attempt on their half to hunt revenge by becoming a member of the Islamic State (IS) ranks, which perform bombings and assassinations now and again in Idlib.
A former member of Jundallah who relies in Idlib informed Al-Monitor on situation of anonymity, “The group’s members agreed to withdraw from their final pocket within the Jabal al-Turkman space and later to a settlement with HTS to remain alive. There are solely about 50 members left. An enormous variety of them had been killed in HTS’ main army marketing campaign in opposition to them on the finish of October.”
“HTS appeared severe in wanting to complete Jundallah, and it sought to take action via the massive army buildup and an organized media marketing campaign, accusing its members of being bandits and takfiris which might be no totally different from IS fighters. This prompted many Jundallah members to understand that they lose their battle within the face of HTS,” he added.
“HTS insists on implementing the settlement settlement’s phrases, particularly in relation to the Sharia programs underneath TIP supervision, which is seen as near HTS. However I don’t suppose that Jundallah’s members will quit the armed motion and stay as regular civilians. I believe they may principally be a part of different factions, whether or not TIP or Answar al-Tawhid, each near HTS,” the supply mentioned.
