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Hayat Tahrir al-Sham Discharges One of its Senior Commanders in Syria

Fighters from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in the countryside of Idlib province (AFP)
Fighters from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in the countryside of Idlib province (AFP)
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Hayat Tahrir al-Sham Discharges One of its Senior Commanders in Syria

Fighters from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in the countryside of Idlib province (AFP)
Fighters from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in the countryside of Idlib province (AFP)

The Syrian group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra, announced on Thursday that it had suspended one of its leading commanders, Abu Maria Al-Qahtani, over alleged improper use of external communications.

The announcement came amid reports saying the group has launched an arrest campaign against members suspected of dealing with the US-led international coalition, Russia or the Syrian regime.

An HTS statement on Thursday only confirmed that it suspended the duties of Abu Maria, whose real name is Muyassar ibn Ali al-Juburi, after “his name was mentioned in investigations” it recently conducted.

It stated that a special committee assigned by the HTS General Command, which is active in northwestern Syria, questioned Abu Maria and found that the man committed a mistake when “engaging in uncalculated communications, disregarding his sensitive position and without permission."

Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said HTS commanders leaked information about communications between Abu Maria and members working for the international coalition, who were later arrested and held in Bab Al-Hawa prison.

It added that HTS leader Abu Mohammad al-Julani had earlier warned the group’s security and military commanders from circulating any information about Abu Maria's case or leaking any details to media outlets or any other bodies, under penalty.

SOHR said disagreements erupted between al-Julani and a group of HTS top commanders, before the two sides took the decision of suspending the duties of Abu Maria in their controlled areas.

Abu Maria is a member of HTS’ Shura Council and one of the first-line leaders in the group.

The US had classified Tahrir al-Sham as a terrorist faction, bearing in mind that under its former name, Jabhat al-Nusra, it was a branch of al-Qaeda in Syria.

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Bushnaf: The Success of UN Initiative in Libya Depends on Int’l Support

Libyan National Security Adviser Ibrahim Bushnaf (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Libyan National Security Adviser Ibrahim Bushnaf (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Bushnaf: The Success of UN Initiative in Libya Depends on Int’l Support

Libyan National Security Adviser Ibrahim Bushnaf (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Libyan National Security Adviser Ibrahim Bushnaf (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Libyan National Security Adviser Ibrahim Bushnaf has linked the success of the advisory committee, formed under the UN initiative to resolve the country’s political crisis and pave the way for long-delayed elections, to the level of international support it receives in countering resistance from certain local factions.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Bushnaf said the committee’s effectiveness depends on various regional developments, emphasizing the influence of recent events.
He praised the 20 committee members selected by the UN mission to propose solutions to disputes over electoral laws, describing them as independent of the conflict’s rival factions and highlighting their academic and professional backgrounds.
Bushnaf also discussed several key issues, including irregular migration, fears of resettlement, and the international community’s stance on Libya. He argued that global powers are still “managing the crisis rather than fully engaging in a solution.”
Citing the United States as an example, he described Washington’s involvement in addressing Libya’s political deadlock as "limited, perhaps entirely left to its special envoy and acting ambassador."
He added that the international community, which intervened to help overthrow the previous regime and allowed marginal states to gain significant influence in Libya’s affairs, must now make a concerted effort to end the ongoing conflict.
Libya remains divided between two rival governments: the Tripoli-based interim Government of National Unity, led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, and a parliament-appointed administration headed by Osama Hammad, which controls the east and parts of the south.
As part of efforts to monitor the impact of regional developments on Libya’s security, Bushnaf dismissed reports of Russian weapons being transferred from Syria to Libya as “mere speculation.”
He pointed to Moscow’s official statement that it had begun talks with Syria’s new leadership on renewing agreements for its military bases there.
Bushnaf also addressed a proposal by Libyan Presidential Council member Moussa Al-Koni to revert to a three-region system as a way to break the political deadlock and end the country’s division.
He noted that while government positions are already distributed based on regional quotas, “this remains an individual viewpoint that has not gained widespread public support.”
Reaffirming the National Security Council’s stance, Bushnaf stressed that Libya “has always been and will remain a unified state,” emphasizing the need for a lasting political solution rather than temporary stabilization efforts.