HAYAT TAHRIR AL-SHAM PUSHES ANOTHER RE-BRANDING INITIATIVE, SEEKS TO ABSORB REMAINING MILITANT GROUPS IN IDLIB

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On Friday, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) general commander, Hashem al-Shikh Abu Jaber, said during the Friday prayers speech in Binish village in the eastern Idlib countryside that HTS is ready to dissolve itself if all other armed groups in Idlib governorate do the same.

“They told us you have first to dissolve Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, we said we are ready to dissolve the organization that was built as a tool not as an aim, under the condition that other groups dissolve itself and follow a joint command,” Abu Jaber said.

The suggestion included forming a joint police force in Idlib governorate under the command of the HTS civilian administration. Opposition sources claimed that Turkey was behind the suggestion.

In his speech, Abu Jaber also attacked Russia and the USA, and accused the whole word of working to end “the Syrian revolution”.

HTS took over Idlib city on July 23. Since then HTS has been trying to establish itself as the only legitimate power in Idlib. HTS even founded a “civilian administration” to manipulate the public opinion.

On August 3, US special envoy to Syria, Michael Rantley, issued an official statement in which he blamed HTS and its civilian administration. Rantly even said that US will not stop other powers from launching a military operation in Idlib if HTS sizes the entire governorate.

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