Abu Muhammad al-Julani, the leader of "Hayat Tahrir al-Sham," announced that there are demands made by protesters that "the time does not allow for" at the moment, indicating that "there are red lines that no one should cross." He called for stopping those who seek "destruction," otherwise the organization will intervene to protect the areas it controls in Syria. Al-Julani's statements came during a seminar held in the presence of hundreds of military personnel and residents of Idlib on Tuesday, where he discussed the protests demanding his resignation following the "security cell" crisis. He summarized the crisis by offering some solutions in exchange for halting the protests in his areas of influence.
Activists rejected al-Julani's threats, which were clear during the seminar, where he hinted at the use of force against protesters. Al-Julani stated that "there is no disagreement over authority in Idlib," calling for agreeing on a 60 or 70 percent alternative to himself, while emphasizing his determination to "use force to protect what has been achieved over the past years." He urged the protesters not to "return to square one," indicating that after this seminar, he hopes the issue will have been resolved and that "going back is a red line for the organization."
Activists considered al-Julani's statements and his veiled threats during the seminar as a "green light for his security apparatus to use violence" if the chants calling for his resignation are repeated in the upcoming Friday demonstrations. Activists on social media called for participation in the protests being prepared for the anniversary of the Syrian events in 2011.
In this context, rural areas of Idlib and western Aleppo have witnessed daily protests for over two weeks following the "security cell" scandal, which led to the arrest of hundreds of members of "Hayat Tahrir al-Sham" by al-Julani's security apparatus under the pretext of their communication with foreign entities. The protesters demanded the ousting of al-Julani and the dissolution of his security apparatus due to the arrests and forced disappearances of thousands, as well as the imposition of more taxes on all aspects of life, which resulted in tightening the noose on civilians and depriving them of daily necessities.
On Tuesday, former leader within "Hayat Tahrir al-Sham," Jihad Issa al-Sheikh (Abu Ahmad Zakour), revealed in a series of posts on the social media platform "X" the connections between Abu Muhammad al-Julani, the head of the organization, and the security apparatus with the American alliance.
