A new statement Thursday from CENTCOM reveals that the US carried out a drone strike against a vehicle in Idlib, Syria, killing two al-Qaeda targets, and potentially two civilians who were also in the vehicle.
The slain were identified as Abu Dhar al-Masri and Abu Yusuf al-Maghrebi. Not much is known about either, but both are noted to be wanted by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which was the most recent Syrian affiliate for al-Qaeda. The US is trying to make a distinction between HTS and al-Qaeda, though it’s not clear where this other al-Qaeda came from.
Reports are that these two were trying to undermine support for HTS, which was the former Nusra Front, which was the actual al-Qaeda, and also that HTS was reportedly providing the US intelligence about Abu Dhar al-Masri the last time he was reported killed by a US drone, in 2019.
Idlib is the main base of operations for HTS, though they’ve lost parts of the province to the Syrian military. The US is not directly involved in fighting in this area but does carry out drone strikes from time to time.
“Reports are that these two were trying to undermine support for HTS, which was the former Nusra Front, which was the actual al-Qaeda, and also that HTS was reportedly providing the US intelligence about Abu Dhar al-Masri the last time he was reported killed by a US drone, in 2019.”
Pretty much says it all. We’re so thorough we kill people twice to make sure we did it right
This is sick. But nothing shocks me.
HTS had initially given itself an aura of Al-Qaeda in order to impress gullible, angry men, in the wake of disintegration of authority in Syria. Jobs and businesses collapsed, while foreigners offered money to join. There was a cornucopia of choices funded by Saudis, Emiratis, Pentagon, CIA, MI5. Saudis and Emirates funded mostly Salafi brand groups, under a garden variety names. Later consolidated them under ISIS brand,
CIA funded Free Syrian Army with the goal of attracting deserters. While Pentagon funded Kurds and some other groups by fancy now forgotten “democratic” labels.
Both CIA and MI5 funded and STILL fund HTS. They tried to shake the label ever since the attempt to reinvent themselves as the brave defenders of Aleppo. Media had to lionize them — thus run from Al-Qaeda fame.
And even though civilians in Aleppo had to hide their boys in ruins to protect them from being recruited by force, they hid their girls as well to protect them from forcible “marriage” to fighters.
They were forced to evacuate, but authorities still managed to catch a number of operatives, both from the West and Arab world. Their names were disclosed in UN SC meeting, and they were repatriated.
HTS is openly funded by their legal funding arm —White Helmets.
But HTS cannot survive without Syrian rebel groups that were moved to Idlib as well.
The problem is — Turkey has bern giving incentives to groups to abandon HTS. Turkey also considers HTS as Al-Qaeda.
The problem has become acute — and HTS running out of cover for their presence.
They are attacking deserters — a few days ago, calling them “ISIS”. And US is helping HTS calling the deserters “Al-Qaeda”.
This is brilliant — as it puts HTS un the light of assisting US in fighting — Al-Qaeda, Reinventing them — again.
What is the point? They are stuck in Idlib. Turkey has blocked Idlib physically and entered all areas from where HTS used to push population to flee to Turkey and cause “international community ” to scream against any attacks on HTS.
They are figuring out that Turkey is preoccupied at present — to try to coerce those in the fence to get back in the fold.
To do that, they target leaders — and foot soldiers are easy pray. But this can also backfire on HTS.
In the end -. US will be sending helicopters to pull out their valuable resource, Foot soldiers will be left to fend for themselves.