The new authorities in Syria announced on Wednesday evening the dissolution of "all armed groups" that had led the offensive against Bashar al-Assad, as well as the dissolution of the army of the former regime, which was overthrown on December 8.
"All armed groups, political and civil bodies claiming to represent the revolution are dissolved and must be integrated into state institutions," according to a statement by military spokesman Colonel Hassan AbdelGhani, cited by the state news agency SANA. The same source also announced "the dissolution of the regime’s army" with the aim of "rebuilding the Syrian army" and the dissolution of the Baath Party, which had ruled Syria for more than 60 years.
Hurras al-Din
The small jihadist group Hurras al-Din, al-Qaeda’s Syrian branch, announced its dissolution in an online statement, explaining that the decision was made following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
The group, which is on the U.S. list of "terrorist organizations," stated that its dissolution was carried out "by decision of al-Qaeda’s general command."
Al-Qaeda has not announced a new leader since its former chief, Ayman al-Zawahiri, was killed in a U.S. strike in 2022.
Hurras al-Din, which for the first time referred to itself as "the al-Qaeda branch in Syria," stated that its dissolution was decided "in light of the developments" in the country.
A rebel coalition led by the radical Islamist group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTC) seized power in Damascus after overthrowing Bashar al-Assad on December 8.
The new Syrian authorities have declared their intention for all armed factions to be dissolved.
Hurras al-Din, which includes foreign jihadists, was based in mountainous areas of northwestern Syria, a rebel stronghold before their takeover of Damascus.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), the group "announced its dissolution to avoid an armed conflict with HTC."
Hurras al-Din was founded in February 2018, according to SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadist activity, nearly two years after the break between the al-Nusra Front, from which HTC emerged, and al-Qaeda.
The group is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, and its leaders are on a U.S. Treasury Department bounty list.
With AFP
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