***

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa is once again under fire after controversial remarks about a “shared enemy” between Syria and Israel sparked a wave of criticism and speculation across the Arab world about the future of relations between the two countries.

When asked about the future of Syrian-Israeli relations, al-Sharaa said “The era of endless tit-for-tat bombings must end. No nation prospers when its skies are filled with fear. The reality is, we have common enemies – and we can play a major role in regional security.”

His comments struck a chord with some, while fueling controversy and debate throughout the region. A Palestinian social media activist residing in France, Mais al-Qinawie wrote on X that al-Sharaa’s statements can only be understood in the context of “preparing for a war on Lebanon – one in which his [al-Sharaa’s] forces would serve as ground partners to the Israeli army.”

In a separate post, he wrote, “I’ve never heard of a head of state – Muslim or not – speak so warmly and conciliatory about a country that occupies his land, violates his sovereignty, and bombs his infrastructure. It’s not just bizarre; it’s downright repulsive.”

      • PugJesus@lemmy.worldEnglish
        33·
        3 days ago

        It is impressive that some people are willing to defend, allying with a genocidal ethnostate while projecting its crimes at those who oppose it.

        Your lack of knowledge on this subject is only surpassed by your arrogance and racism.

        lmao

        Accusing me of ignorance, arrogance, and racism, as you implore Syrians to side with the people who were literally sending troops to genocide Syrians. Sorry that you didn’t follow the Syrian Civil War at all, maybe you should read up on it before talking Syrian international politics in the immediate aftermath.

          • PugJesus@lemmy.worldEnglish
            21·
            3 days ago

            Jolani is from ISIS and Al Qaeda. Ring any bells?

            “Jolani is from ISIS”

            Imagine being so racist that you confuse al-Sharaa’s longtime enemy with the org he served.

              • PugJesus@lemmy.worldEnglish
                11·
                3 days ago

                Do you know Al Nusra origins?

                Oh, this ought to be good. Please tell me how Al-Nusra spawned from ISIS.

                • geneva_convenience@lemmy.mlOPEnglish
                  31·
                  3 days ago

                  https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0q0w1g8zqvo

                  A 2021 PBS interview with Jolani revealed that he was born in 1982 in Saudi Arabia, where his father worked as an oil engineer until 1989.

                  In that year, the Jolani family returned to Syria, where he grew up and lived in the Mezzeh neighbourhood of Damascus.

                  Jolani’s journey as a jihadist began in Iraq, linked to al-Qaeda through the Islamic State (IS) group’s precursor - al-Qaeda in Iraq and, later, the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI).

                  After the 2003 US-led invasion, he joined other foreign fighters in Iraq and, in 2005, was imprisoned at Camp Bucca, where he enhanced his jihadist affiliations and later on was introduced to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the quiet scholar who would later go on to lead IS.

                  In 2011, Baghdadi sent Jolani to Syria with funding to establish al-Nusra Front, a covert faction tied to ISI. By 2012, Nusra had become a prominent Syrian fighting force, hiding its IS and al-Qaeda ties.

                  Was it good?

                  • PugJesus@lemmy.worldEnglish
                    12·
                    3 days ago

                    A 2021 PBS interview with Jolani revealed that he was born in 1982 in Saudi Arabia, where his father worked as an oil engineer until 1989.

                    Oh no. Born in Saudi Arabia. Clearly this means he is ISIS.

                    Definitely not a racist connection for you to make. /s

                    In that year, the Jolani family returned to Syria, where he grew up and lived in the Mezzeh neighbourhood of Damascus.

                    He LIVED in SYRIA as a child? Holy shit, he’s deep ISIS

                    Jolani’s journey as a jihadist began in Iraq, linked to al-Qaeda through the Islamic State (IS) group’s precursor - al-Qaeda in Iraq and, later, the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI).

                    After the 2003 US-led invasion, he joined other foreign fighters in Iraq and, in 2005, was imprisoned at Camp Bucca, where he enhanced his jihadist affiliations and later on was introduced to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the quiet scholar who would later go on to lead IS.

                    “Jolani fought under Al-Qaeda during the Iraq Occupation” isn’t really all that compelling for your narrative of “He was ISIS” when the whole point here is that you couldn’t tell the difference between ISIS and Al-Qaeda, despite all your posturing about how other people are ignorant and racist.

                    In 2011, Baghdadi sent Jolani to Syria with funding to establish al-Nusra Front, a covert faction tied to ISI. By 2012, Nusra had become a prominent Syrian fighting force, hiding its IS and al-Qaeda ties.

                    From your own source, literally starting the sentence after this, which I will generous assume you just didn’t read instead of disingenuously reading and then disregarding in the hope of quoting a misleading narrative:

                    Tensions arose in 2013 when Baghdadi’s group in Iraq unilaterally declared the merger of the two groups (ISI and Nusra), declaring the creation of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS), and publicly revealing for the first time the links between them.

                    Jolani resisted, as he wanted to distance his group from ISI’s violent tactics, leading to a split.

                    To get out of that sticky situation, Jolani pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda, making Nusra Front its Syrian branch.

                    From the start, he prioritised winning Syrian support, distancing himself from IS’s brutality and emphasising a more pragmatic approach to jihad.