"Be Patient Mujahid". The video statement of HTS leader Abu Muhammad al-Julani.

On 17 March 2023, the official media of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Organisation for the Liberation of the Levant, released a 4:24-minute video message by its leader Abu Muhammad al-Julani entitled: “Speech on the occasion of the 12th anniversary of the Syrian revolution”.

This is the second political video in which the leader of HTS appears, the previous one was in January to reject any possible reconciliation with the government of Bashar al-Assad (You can read about it here: We will not reconcile!!! The speech of HTS leader Abu Muhammad al-Julani).

There are two key elements of his speech to the Syrian people, fierce criticism of the government of Bashar al-Assad and its Russian and Iranian allies, and praise of HTS and its Syrian Salvation Government.

The video is entirely recorded in an enclosed environment and exclusively shows al-Julani's statement about the anniversary of the 12th year of the beginning of the Syrian Revolution, in which HTS has taken part since January 2012 under the name Jabhat al-Nusra (also known as the al-Nusra Front or Jabhat Fatah al-Sham), which after several clashes and mergers became Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham in January 2017.

The video statement by al-Julani is addressed to the entire Syrian people and is largely a scathing criticism against the government of Bashar al-Assad and its allies:

“Honourable Syrian people, our country is today witnessing a critical phase in its history. The criminal regime has run out of necessities in the areas it governs and plundered its wealth with long-term contracts for the benefit of Russian and Iranian occupations. It has brought destruction and devastation, turning Syria from a beacon of science, knowledge, leadership and sovereignty into a market for drug trafficking”.

After these initial accusations, the HTS leader instead begins to praise, without ever mentioning HTS and the Syrian Salvation Government, referring to them as “the revolution”:

“I communicate the good news to our people that the revolution has evolved to a state of regularity and strategic thinking in all its fields: military, security, economic, educational [...] those who walk within its borders [the areas under HTS control] can be proud”.

His video message goes on to praise what al-Julani refers to as the “liberated areas” and the struggle waged by them:

“On the anniversary of the blessed revolution, the Syrian people have once again demonstrated in the liberated areas [...] their ability to continue their march towards the overthrow of the criminal regime and rebuild Syria and its society once again. The revolution possesses incomparable strength and rigorous determination. We are neither weak nor cowards. Rather, we live with honour”.

Later, the HTS leader returned to criticising the present government in Damascus and its allies:

“With the beginning of the blessed Syrian revolution and the people's demand to change the ruler, the ruling regime sacrificed the people and their abilities and preferred to rule even on the destroyed ruins, killing hundreds of thousands of people, displacing millions and demolishing the world's greatest civilisation, its cities and countries, and sought help from the Russians and Iranians. The criminal regime has turned this great country into a country of human, economic and social crises under its rule. And for the sake of the Assad family’s interests, the persistence of the oppression of the people was an indication of the stability of their government”.

Then al-Julani directly addresses the Syrian people using very strong words to probably create a reaction in them, stating:

“A fearful and submissive nation that makes no effort to defend its security and wealth is a nation that lives humiliated and gloomy”.

Then al-Julani changes tack and finally goes on to list his future goals directly and indirectly:

“We will strike the enemy, and Allah will help us, [...] we will build a new civilised era befitting the Levant and its people. Throughout its honourable history, Syria has always been an important platform for civilisation, science and knowledge. Under Islam, Damascus ruled two-thirds of the world from east to west. Its heritage is great, its legacy is precious. [...] These people deserve to live a life of justice and dignity, a life in keeping with its history and past and commensurate with its origin and good character”.

Daniele Garofalo is a researcher and analyst on Jihadist terrorism and an expert in monitoring Jihadist media channels.

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