***

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
      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.

            • PugJesus@lemmy.worldEnglish
              11·
              3 days ago

              He didn’t leave ISIS. He never joined. Al-Baghdadi attempted to ‘soft coup’ and fold the Al-Nusra Front under his command, which did not satisfy the more Al-Qaeda aligned Jolani. Nor did it, for that matter, satisfy Al-Qaeda, which both groups pledged nominal allegiance to at the time.

              Jolani’s atrocities are a different discussion entirely. You can be shitty and Islamist without being part of ISIS. And, for that matter, you can be brutal without being ISIS.

          • geneva_convenience@lemmy.mlOPEnglish
            31·
            3 days ago

            Yes the guy who worked with Al Baghdadi has no relation to ISIS. Put a new sticker on it and it’s good to go!

            ISIS and Al Qaeda are both Saudi Wahabi groups. You clearly have no idea what the deal with Wahabis is and should probably read up on that if you think it implies racism.

            • PugJesus@lemmy.worldEnglish
              11·
              3 days ago

              Yes the guy who worked with Al Baghdadi has no relation to ISIS. Put a new sticker on it and it’s good to go!

              “Wow two Jihadis that fought the US occupation in Iraq worked together at one point, clearly this means that ISIS and Al-Nusra are the same!”

              It’s amazing that people like you claim to be anti-imperialist whilst maintaining a Bush Administration level of understanding of the Middle East. Can’t wait 'til you advocate an invasion of Ba’athist Iraq to defeat Al-Qaeda.

              ISIS and Al Qaeda are both Saudi Wahabi groups. You clearly have no idea what the deal with Wahabis is and should probably read up on that if you think it implies racism.

              That you think him being born in Saudi Arabia has anything to do with ISIS, or that Wahhabis are exclusively Saudi instead of a religious movement which has been spread across MENA since the 18th goddamn century, when it started, with only a brief suppression with the popularity of secular Ba’athist ideology in the Cold War, is immensely racist.

              Sorry that you can’t see why quoting where someone is born as proof of their ISIS credentials is immensely fucking racist.

              • geneva_convenience@lemmy.mlOPEnglish
                31·
                3 days ago

                That you think him being born in Saudi Arabia has anything to do with ISIS, or that Wahhabis are exclusively Saudi instead of a religious movement which has been spread across MENA since the 18th goddamn century, when it started, with only a brief suppression with the popularity of secular Ba’athist ideology in the Cold War, is immensely racist.

                So funny how all of them come from Saudi then isn’t it? Wahabism is the Saudi state idology and exclusively spread by the Saudis. You can stop opening Google and digging yourself in a hole.

                • PugJesus@lemmy.worldEnglish
                  12·
                  3 days ago

                  So funny how all of them come from Saudi then isn’t it?

                  Jesus fucking Christ. “I’m not racist, I’m just asking questions about why all these ISIS are BORN IN SAUDI ARABIA”

                  10/10.

                  Wahabism is the Saudi state idology

                  Yes.

                  and exclusively spread by the Saudis.

                  No. But considering your position dehumanizing all oppressed peoples as helpless puppets that need a Campist Savior™ like you to guide them, it’s unsurprising that you think as much.

                  You can stop opening Google and digging yourself in a hole.

                  Sorry that I’m relatively well-read on the matter. I understand that your games of internet telephone with your fellow ‘anti-imperialist’ friends who can’t tell the difference between Islamist groups and switch sides as often as is needed to oppose ‘bad camp’ are much more entertaining than actual history.

                  • geneva_convenience@lemmy.mlOPEnglish
                    21·
                    3 days ago

                    Yes yes I understand why Jolani needs to work with a genocidal state which openly says it wants to annex Syria and is doing it now. Very smart!

                    Luckily you can’t see a relation between anything at all! No relation between Israel, Saudi and the Brits to be found. no sir!

                    This is like listening to an Orientalism crash-course .