Ahmad Sharawi

2 weeks ago | longwarjournal.org | Bill Roggio |Ahmad Sharawi

The new Syrian government is integrating a Central Asian terrorist group that is part of Al Qaeda’s network into its military, despite the objections of US President Donald Trump. The head of this terror group, the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP), is based in Afghanistan and issues orders to his followers in Syria.

2 weeks ago | longwarjournal.org | Bill Roggio |Ahmad Sharawi |Thomas Joscelyn

Syrian military integrates Al Qaeda-linked terror group into its ranks | The Turkistan Islamic Party’s branch in Syria, an Al Qaeda ally, is being integrated into the new Syrian military as the 84th Division. The group’s leader, Abdul Haq al Turkistani, sits on Al Qaeda’s central governing council and directs the group’s operations in Syria. Despite this, the Trump administration is poised to lift sanctions on Syria.

2 weeks ago | fdd.org | Zachary Berman |Ahmad Sharawi |Bill Roggio

May 19, 2025 | The John Batchelor Show Trump presses al-Sharaa on foreign fighters as jihadists rise in Syria’s new army

3 weeks ago | longwarjournal.org | Bill Roggio |Ahmad Sharawi |Caleb Weiss |Thomas Joscelyn

President Trump meets with a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, lifts sanctions on Syria | US President Donald Trump met with Syrian interim president Ahmad al Sharaa, a US and UN-designated terrorist and the former leader of Al Qaeda’s branch in Syria, and committed to removing US sanctions on Syria.

3 weeks ago | longwarjournal.org | Bill Roggio |Ahmad Sharawi

President Donald Trump met with Syrian interim president Ahmad al Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammad al Jolani, a US and UN-designated terrorist and the former leader of Hayat Tahrir al Sham, Syria’s Al Qaeda branch, on Wednesday, May 14, in Riyadh. Trump, who lifted sanctions on Syria, met Sharaa alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the latter of whom joined virtually.