After working to overthrow the government of Bashar al-Assad, the US is now worried that the incoming government is targeting minority groups. Assad was deposed and replaced with Abu Mohammad al-Julani, the founder of al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria.
Axios reports that US officials said, “The US expressed concern to the new foreign minister of the transitional administration in Syria, Asaad Hassan al-Shaybani, about reports of violent attacks by militant groups around the country in recent days.”
Several videos have emerged purporting to show jihadist militants affiliated with Julani conducting attacks, including executions, of minority groups in Syria. “Social media is flooded with videos of HTS [Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham] death squads torturing and executing Alawites,” journalist Max Blumenthal wrote on X.
According to Axios, State Department envoy Daniel Rubinstein was dispatched to Damascus to meet with Shaybani. The US official told the outlet that Washington believes Julani is trying to get the situation under control.
This is the second reported meeting between Julani’s government and the Joe Biden administration. Previously, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barabra Leaf met with Julani. That meeting was described as productive, and Washington removed a $10 million bounty on Julani, who was wanted for his role in leading al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria.
In recent years, Julani has attempted to rebrand himself and HTS from its al-Qaeda roots. He has sat down in interviews with Western journalists, appearing in a suit with a trimmed beard.
Statements from US officials suggest that Washington is buying into Julani’s new message. “We believe HTS should respect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Syrians,” a State Department official told Axios. “[This includes] members of minority groups and women. We will be continuing to watch and see that actions match words.”
However, Julani has made several moves suggesting that he has not really deviated from his jihadist ideology. His new government is filled with members of HTS, including some foreign jihadists. A spokesman for his government said that Syria is now under Sharia Law, and that it can be enforced with violence if education proves insufficient to ensure compliance.
Additionally, Julani said that he will not allow Syrians to vote in elections for at least four years.
The US expressing concern over the jihadists in Syria follows Israel condemning the new government in Damascus. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said as far as Israel is concerned, they’re a “gang – not a legitimate government” and attacked them for their “extreme ideologies.”
