Tahrir Al-Sham Ringleader Assassinated In Northern Syria

On July 12, local sources announced that Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, the ringleader of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra), was assassinated the night before for the second time in recent weeks. This time he was assassinated in a hospital in the city of Sarmada in Idlib Governorate.

A nurse reportedly planned to inject an unknown drug into the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham ringleader, but was immediately arrested by forces from al-Jolani’s security team.

Following the incident, a number of patients and medical staff were detained inside the hospital by security forces affiliated with the terrorist group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham.

It is worth noting that in June 2024, reports were published confirming that al-Jolani was poisoned. Sometime later, the security forces affiliated with Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham concluded that al-Jolani had been assassinated after drinking a poisoned drink.  

In April, protests emerged in towns of Armanaz and Kafar Takharim in the countryside of Idlib Governorate, which are under the control of the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham. Protesters demanded the overthrow of the ringleader of the terrorist organization.

Demonstrators called for the disbanding of the “General Security” apparatus that the Hay’at Tahrir al-Sha had established under the directives of al-Jolani.

Furthermore, protesters pointed to the increase in taxes imposed on residents and their deprivation from essential goods as motives behind their rallies.

It is worth noting that, the prominent official of the terrorist group named Abu Maria al-Qahtani was killed in the city of Sarmada in early April. Al-Qahtani was killed when an explosive device planted in his residence was exploded, also killing other individuals accompanying the terrorist.