By Samah Abdul Fattah | 2024-09-15

Tahrir al-Sham, an extremist alliance dominated by al-Qaeda's former Syrian affiliate, is trying to return to Daraa province after quitting the area years ago following reconciliation agreements with the Syrian regime, activists warn.

"A few months ago the city of Daraa and many areas to the east and west began witnessing the emergence of, and noticeable activity by, armed elements affiliated with Tahrir al-Sham," Daraa activist Jumaa al-Masalmeh said.

"This is odd, since the group had previously made the decision to leave Daraa province and all of southern Syria," he told Al-Fassel.

Heightened Tahrir al-Sham activity has included attacks against Syrian regime forces and the rival "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS).

The renewed activity is primarily linked to Tahrir al-Sham elements "who had opted to remain in the area after the decision to leave, and others who returned from areas controlled by the group in northern Syria," al-Masalmeh said.

"But the most important and dangerous among them is a group of new recruits."

These elements have engaged in activities that range from "attacks on Syrian regime positions and soldiers and some smugglers, to a few confrontations with ISIS remnants," he said.

Recruitment of youth

Overseeing the alliance's recruitment operations is "Abu Hafsa," who recruits youth "first by enticing them with money and second by exploiting their hatred for the regime and its security and military apparatuses," al-Masalmeh said.

It is noteworthy that Tahrir al-Sham elements receive support from the 8th Brigade, which is linked to the regime's security apparatus and comprises former opposition elements who joined following the reconciliation agreement, he said.

The 8th Brigade is a subdivision of the Syrian regime's Russia-backed 5th Corps.

"This support includes protection from pursuit by the regime's apparatuses, to the point of alerting Tahrir al-Sham elements of impending regime raids, and moving them to a safe location until the raids are over."

Tahrir al-Sham's return to the Hauran region of southern Syria is a significant development, Syrian lawyer Bashir al-Bassam told Al-Fassel.

"The group's departure from this region took place in two stages, the first was in 2016 after an agreement with the regime, and the second following the reconciliation agreements in 2018," he said.

"Without a doubt, the group is trying to exploit the current situation in southern Syria and the fragility of the grip the regime, Russia and Iran hold over it to re-establish itself as a strong player on the ground," he said.

Al-Bassam said the 8th Brigade's support for Tahrir al-Sham can be attributed to an internal power struggle among regime-affiliated security wings.