The Guardians of Religion Organization (Huras al-Din), a branch of al-Qaeda in Syria, has announced its dissolution due to recent developments in Syria following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, which had been the pretext for al-Qaeda and several other jihadist factions to enter Syria and participate in battles against Assad’s security and military forces.

Al-Qaeda did not enter Syria as an organization after the Syrian revolution, but rather as individuals for the sake of “supporting the people of the Levant,” as it expressed, following the Assad regime’s suppression of peaceful protests, the invasion of cities, and the perpetration of massacres against civilians.

Al-Qaeda’s first official appearance as a military formation was after the conflict between al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State of Iraq. Al-Nusra Front announced its allegiance to al-Qaeda in April 2013, which is considered the mother organization of both al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State.

In a statement issued by its leadership council on Tuesday, January 28, Guardians of Religion said, “In light of these developments on the Levantine scene, and by an emiri decision from the General Command of al-Qaeda, we announce to our Muslim nation and to the Sunnis in the Levant the dissolution of the organization of Guardians of Religion, a branch of al-Qaeda in Syria.”

The organization attributed its dissolution to the recent developments in Syria following the fall of Assad’s regime on December 8, 2024, as a result of the “Deterrence of Aggression” operation launched by the Military Operations Administration on November 27, 2024.

The statement dissolving Guardians of Religion included “advice” and promises rooted in the organization’s literature derived from the mother organization “al-Qaeda,” particularly regarding future battles.

It “advised the notables of the Levant” and those leading the current scene to “establish religion and enforce Sharia,” and to keep weapons in the hands of “Sunnis in the Levant, so that the nation remains armed and is not enslaved by a tyrant, nor coveted by an occupier.”

The organization stated, “We advise Sunnis in the Levant not to relinquish their weapons and to prepare themselves for the upcoming stages that our Prophet Muhammad foretold. The Levant is the land of great battles, a graveyard for tyrants and colonizers, and a camp for Muslims in their struggle against the Jews and their allies among the enemies of the faith.”

The organization confirmed that it remains ready “for any call for support and assistance in any part of the Muslim lands (…) and we will maintain our religious constants without change, alteration, or dilution; establishing religion, supporting the oppressed, and preserving the blood of Muslims are among our foremost constants that we owe to Allah.”

Guardians of Religion Organization

Al-Nusra Front remained loyal to al-Qaeda until July 2016, when it announced its disassociation from al-Qaeda and changed its name to Jabhat Fatah al-Sham after several local factions joined it.

The foreign jihadist fighters, especially non-Syrians, played a significant role in leading al-Nusra, and among the most notable figures currently forming the leadership council of Guardians of Religion are Farouk the Syrian and Sami al-Aridi, alongside leaders who were killed by the International Coalition like Abu al-Qassam the Jordanian, Abu Abd al-Rahman the Meccan, and Abu al-Khayr the Egyptian, as well as Abu Muhammad the Sudanese.

Sami al-Aridi is considered the religious leader and the head of the Sharia body in the Guardians of Religion Organization, and the second man in the faction after Farouk the Syrian.

The separation of al-Nusra from al-Qaeda was one of the main reasons for the departure of several leaders from its ranks, along with other factors, including the accusation that Fatah al-Sham (which became Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in January 2017) was implementing international directives.

The emergence of Guardians of Religion as a branch of al-Qaeda in Syria dates back to February 2018, and the general leadership of al-Qaeda issued a statement in January 2018, affirming the presence of its elements in Syria for the first time since al-Nusra Front disassociated itself from it.

Guardians of Religion consists of several groups, including Jaysh al-Malahim Coastal Army, Desert Army, Coastal Units, Kabul Unit, Soldiers of Sharia, remnants of Soldiers of al-Aqsa, in addition to several smaller factions that have a history of ideological and leadership relations with al-Qaeda.

Many European foreign fighters joined the ranks of the faction since its establishment.

Gradual decline

Guardians of Religion did not possess a specific territory in Syria, and largely utilized light weapons such as AK-47 rifles, mortars, and rocket artillery in its assaults on Syrian regime positions.

The organization’s influence waned due to the pressure exerted by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) on its leaders and members, especially after the Moscow Agreement on March 5, 2020, which prohibited Tahrir al-Sham from carrying out any military operations except within the Fath al-Mubin Operations Room (which includes several factions alongside Tahrir al-Sham).

Tahrir al-Sham thwarted attempts by Guardians of Religion in June 2020 to organize itself alongside other jihadist factions within the Stand Firm Operations Room.

Another pressure faced by the organization came from the International Coalition, which monitored its leaders’ movements and conducted several airstrikes that eliminated several commanders.

Among the prominent leaders killed in airstrikes were Abu al-Qassam the Jordanian, Abu Abd al-Rahman the Meccan, and Abu Muhammad the Sudanese. Additionally, several al-Qaeda leaders were killed in Coalition strikes, including Abu Firas the Syrian in 2016 and Abu al-Khayr the Egyptian in 2017.

During the “Deterrence of Aggression” battles that resulted in the regime’s fall, there were no indications of the organization’s participation in the fighting.

Statement from the Guardians of Religion announcing its dissolution – January 28, 2025

Statement from the Guardians of Religion announcing its dissolution – January 28, 2025