On January 22, 2012, a new post on the Shamukh al-Islam Global Jihadi Internet Forum, which at the time was the epicenter of the global jihadi movement online, teased a big announcement from Syria. It included the below banner:
Urgent: Soon… The Expected Historical Moment – Glad Tidings to the People of al-Sham!!
A day later, on January 23, Jabhat al-Nusrah announced itself via its al-Manarah al-Bayda’ Foundation for Media Production, which included an audio message from the leader of the new group Abu Muhammad al-Jawlani (now known by his real name Ahmad al-Shar’a).
Now… Glad Tidings to the People of al-Sham – al-Manarah al-Bayda’ Foundation for Media Production presents “Declaration of the Support Front (Jabhat al-Nusrah): For the People of Syria from the Mujahidin of Syria in the Fields of Jihad”
A week later, I wrote a short analysis of the video, maybe the first, if not one of the first to look at the group before it became more well-known by the end of 2012. Interesting reading it back now more than a decade later, considering where its successor group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham went and how al-Shar’a is now front and center of the new Syrian caretaker administration compared to the first few years when he would not show his face. Here is the original video release:
Jabhat al-Nusrah’s original logo
Here are notes I took a number of years ago on the content of the video:
Starts with a recitation of Qur’anic verse 4:75: “And what is [the matter] with you that you fight not in the cause of God and [for] the oppressed among men, women, and children who say, ‘Our Lord, take us out of this city of oppressive people and appoint for us from Yourself a protector and appoint for us from Yourself a helper?’”
A nashid plays in the background as clips are shown of “mujahidin” activities in different provinces/regions (Idlib, Dara’a, Ghouta, Deir al-Zour):
Clips are mostly of fighters gathered for photo ops (waving guns and banners and giving speeches) with some clips of marching and other activities
Later on, clips include attacks by the Assad regime on peaceful protestors, gruesome photos of civilian casualties (allegedly caused by the U.S.), and other human rights abuses
In response to these injustices, “we” decided to “return home” at the outset of the revolution, to defend the people against Assad (presumably a reference to Jawlani and others leaving the Islamic State of Iraq to fight in Syria)
To achieve this goal, Jawlani announces the formation of the Jabhat al-Nusrah, in order to “return God’s authority to the Earth and take revenge for the violated chastity and bloodshed, and bring a smile to children and widows.”
“We ask every noble person to have a weapon to protect himself, even by selling his furniture.”
In particular, the United States has been engaged in an anti-Ba’athist campaign, but it would be a mistake to join with the oppressors of Muslims even if they have a common cause in this area.
Jawlani also criticizes Turkey, for its role as an ally of the U.S., and its false pretenses to serving the Muslim community as a whole.
Jawlani then cites a portion of Qur’anic verse 2:120: “The Jews will never be pleased with you, nor will the Christians, unless you follow their faith.”
Returning to the “heritage of Islam” is the only way to ensure that victory leads from “injustice to justice” instead of from one form of oppression to another.
He vows to defend the last group.
He emphasizes the same themes – victory over the tawaghit in defense of the Muslim umma, etc.
Compare the geopolitical aspects of this speech from 2012 with how al-Shar’a and the new Syrian caretaker government has related to or spoke about the United States, Turkey, Arab League, and Israel since the fall of the regime. Of course, there is still enmity toward Iran due to its role in helping the Assad regime remain in power for all those years.
Regarding Turkey, it has become the country most engaged with the new Syrian administration on the future of the country. As of January 22, 2025, Turkey already has had 47 engagements/meetings with the new Syrian caretaker government throughout Syria and in Turkey. The second highest country is Saudi Arabia with only 17 in comparison.
From December 22, 2024: A meeting between Ahmad al-Shar’a and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan
All of this shows that besides Iran, all of the actors called out in al-Shar’a’s original message as al-Jawlani thirteen years ago are now viewed as either partners, potential allies, or at the very least hoping to at least hold a cold peace. As I have been saying for a while now, it is important to continue to scrutinize what the Syrian caretaker government is saying in comparison with what it is actually doing. In part due to its past history. But it’s changed words over the past 8.5 years since its break from al-Qaeda and even more so in the past almost two months since Hayat Tahrir al-Sham started its offensive against the Assad regime has aligned with its subsequent actions. Of course, it could change. But for now, there has not been much discrepancy, which will hopefully continue. Either way, the transformation we have seen over the past thirteen years is unprecedented and neither the Islamic State nor al-Qaeda would talk about or meet with the actors discussed above over the past month due to ideological aversions.
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