Joulani Reaches Deal with Syria’s Militant Factions to Dissolve, Join Defense Ministry

Head of Hayaat Tahrir Al-Sham and the de facto leader of Syria Abu Mohammad Al-Joulani reached an agreement on Tuesday with former rebel faction chiefs to dissolve all groups and consolidate them under the defense ministry.
Reuters news agency cited a statement from the new administration in Syria that says that the militant factions have agreed to dissolve their groups and work under the umbrella of the defense ministry.
Meanwhile, a senior commander with the so-called “Syrian National Army”, a militant group that is backed by Turkey, that some factions met Joulani, who is now referred to as Ahmad Al-Sharaa.
The commander told The National, on condition of anonymity, that the militant factions confirmed to Al-Joulani that they are ready to work within the Ministry of Defense.
“The National Army has not held an official meeting with Ahmad Al Sharaa yet, and those who met [with him] do not represent everyone. But the majority of the factions met with him and there is fear among the rest because the formation of the Ministry of Defense and Chief of Staff has not relied on officers, and not all the defected officers were assigned any mission, but rather [the process] relied on those close to Al Sharaa,” the commander said.

Source: Reuters and The National (edited by Al-Manar English Website