Watch CutTheClutter: What Syria’s fall to al-Jawlani says about HTS & de-globalisation of jihadism

In Episode 1569 of Cut the Clutter, Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta traces al-Jawlani's past & how the takeover of Syria signals a decline in the idea of global jihad.

New Delhi: Syria has fallen under the control of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), led by Abu Muhammad al-Jawlani, signalling the end of the Assad regime.

The takeover, which unfolded with minimal resistance, has weakened the influence of foreign powers like Russia and Iran. HTS now controls a strategically significant area located between Turkey, the eastern Mediterranean, and Israel. This marks a significant shift in the balance of power in the Middle East.

Al-Jawlani has a history rooted in Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI). Following the death of AQI’s leader, al-Jawlani became a central figure in HTS, which distanced itself from Al-Qaeda to focus on local governance in Syria.

The rise of HTS, with its emphasis on regional control rather than global jihad, marks a departure from the broader ambitions of groups like Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS).

It suggests that such groups are adapting to the realities of opposition from international actors, opting instead to solidify influence in fragile states instead of aiming for wider control.

HTS’s takeover of Syria mirrors the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, with both instances involving weakened state institutions and little resistance to militant groups taking control. Like the Taliban, HTS claims a localised agenda, prioritising control of Syria over pursuing global jihad.

In Episode 1569 of Cut the Clutter, Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta traces al-Jawlani’s past, including his link to Golan Heights, and how the takeover signals a decline in the idea of global jihad that paved the way for local groups gaining ground in name of fundamentalism.