Al-Julani Declares Control of Hama and Urges Iraq Not to Intervene in the Conflict
December 5, 2024, 3:24 pm

Al-Julani Declares Control of Hama and Urges Iraq Not to Intervene in the Conflict

الجولاني

Following the armed factions' advance towards the city center of Hama and entering some of its neighborhoods, the leader of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, Abu Mohammed al-Julani, announced the control of his forces over the city, making it the fourth largest city in Syria under their control.

In a video published through the organization's social media accounts, al-Julani addressed Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, urging him to keep his distance and refrain from intervening in the conflict. He also encouraged not allowing the Popular Mobilization Forces to intervene in Syria, asserting that "the ongoing confrontations in northern Syria will not extend to Iraqi territories."

Al-Julani, whose real name is Ahmad Hussein al-Shar'ee, described the operation in Hama as a " فتح لا ثأر فيه" (a conquest without revenge). He called on the people of Homs, Daraa, and Deir Ezzor to prepare, indicating the factions' intention to "liberate" them and confront the Syrian army.

These statements came as the Syrian army announced it had repositioned its forces outside the city of Hama, less than a week after the fall of Aleppo, Syria's second-largest city, into the hands of the armed factions. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights recently reported that more than 200 fighters from Iraqi armed factions had entered Syrian territory to support the Syrian army.

Despite Iraqi authorities confirming that the Iraqi-Syrian border is secure and denying any infiltration of fighters, including from the Popular Mobilization Forces, the Popular Mobilization Forces also officially denied any involvement in the ongoing confrontations.

Meanwhile, Iran has continuously provided support over the past years, sending thousands of fighters, including armed Shia militias like Hezbollah, to Syria. This support, along with Russian cooperation in the airspace, has contributed to enabling Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to regain control of most territories lost by his forces, including those previously held against ISIS.

In a related context, the Iranian Foreign Ministry reiterated its discussion of the "Resistance Axis" and its support for the Syrian army, indicating that its military advisors remain in Syria at the request of the Syrian government.

It is worth noting that Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham and its allied armed factions launched a surprise attack on the city of Aleppo last week, successfully taking complete control of the city before advancing deep into Hama, which is considered a strategic point located about 200 kilometers from Damascus, approximately two and a half hours from the capital.

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