the Islamist group HTS announces the dissolution of its armed wing, “in the general interest of the country” – Libération

A little over a week after the seizure of power in Syria from Bashar al-Assad, the military leader of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), announced this Tuesday, December 17 that “the next step” would be the dissolution of armed groups, starting with his own. “In any State, military units must be integrated within” of the regular army, said Mourhaf Abou Qasra, known by his nom de guerre Abu Hassan al-Hamwi. He added that HTS would be “the first to take the initiative” to dissolve, “in the general interest of the country”.

The armed coalition led by HTS, a radical Islamist group, took power on December 8 after a lightning offensive which allowed it to control the capital Damascus and a large part of the country. The military leader of HTS also called for an end to the strikes and «incursions» Israeli attacks which have intensified since the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

He further called on the West to remove HTS and its leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, whose real name is Ahmad al-Chareh, from the list of “terrorist organizations”. HTS remains considered “terrorist” by the UN, the United States and certain European countries. But several foreign delegations have come to Damascus to meet the new Syrian authorities, who are trying to reassure them about their ability to pacify Syria, fragmented and devastated by 13 years of civil war.

The military head of HTS finally affirmed that the new power wanted to extend its authority over the Kurdish areas of northeastern Syria, controlled by a semi-autonomous Kurdish administration. “The Kurdish people are one of the components of the Syrian people […] Syria will not be divided and there will be no federal entities,” he insisted. He added that “the region currently controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) will be integrated into the country’s new administration.” The FDS, of which the Kurds constitute the main component, are supported by the United States.

Proposal for a “demilitarized zone”

Washington also announced this Tuesday evening the extension of the truce, under its aegis, between the forces dominated by the Kurds who control vast regions of northeastern Syria, and the pro-Turkish groups in Manbij, an Arab-majority area. . The truce, which had expired, “is extended until the end of the week and we will seek to ensure that this ceasefire lasts as long as possible”Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the US State Department, told the press. This extension comes as groups supported by Ankara were preparing to launch an assault on the city of Kobane, held by Kurdish-led forces, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (OSDH).

At the same time, Mazloum Abdi, leader of the Syrian Democratic Forces, proposed the creation of a “demilitarized zone” in Kobane, “with the redeployment of security forces under American supervision and presence”, he wrote on truce ended under American mediation.