Bismillahi Rahmani Raheem

Praise be to Allah and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah and his familyand those associated to him, furthermore:

Al-Manarat al- Bayda' Foundation is pleased to present to you this exclusive interviewwith Sheikh Al-Fateh Abu Mohammed Joulani (May Allah protect him) the leader of Jabhat al Nusrah and will centre around the latest developments in the field of Shaam, as well as suspicions and accusations that have arisen against Jabhat al Nusrah in the recent period. We ask Allah to bless it, and benefit us and the Muslims through it, and we are pleased at the outset with our meeting to welcome Sheikh Fateh, Assalaamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu, our Sheikh,welcome to you as a guest of Manarat al-Baydaa'.

Sheikh Abu Muhammed al Joulani

Wa alaykum salaam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuhu, welcome.

What is the situation in the fields of Shaam at present?

Sheikh Abu Muhammed al Joulani:

Bismillah, and praise be to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah and his family and companions and those associated with him, furthermore:

The field of Sham today, has passed through several challenges.
Firstly, the International Coalition and its allies in the region as well as its allies insideSham. The International alliance has been joined by approximately 60 countries, as well as funded with 500 billion dollars.
This number of states and funds exceeded the international coalition that gathered during the Gulf War in 91, that consisted of approximately 32 countries, and was funded with 100 billion dollars.

If anything, it indicates that this alliance has gathered for something beyond the issue ofJama'h Dawla and Jabhat al Nusrah and what is being said about the militant groups. That is because the international coalition has bigger goals and objectives in the region. The region is one of extreme sensitivity because (of a few factors): its proximity to Israel; the threat that is created from within the vicinity of Sham against the European regions the gathering of a large number of European Muhajireen (immigrants) in the region; as well as the attempt to try to keep the Asad Regime because he is a pawn, which the international regime depends on in the region. In general this refers to the Nusayri group in Shaam.

This, of course, requires substantial efforts in a complex arena such as Sham and would require major capabilities and huge amounts of finance, to impose a situation that would restore the situation to its former condition, before the beginning of the Jihad in Shaam. So the factions which are allied to the international coalition will be supported, as they say, and as they do now.

Some factions have started sending a multitude of people for training and arming.Supplies of arms and ammunition enter every day, to support these factions, so that they may be the hands of the Americans and the West in the lands of Syria.
This will then result in pressure being put on the liberated areas, and the international coalition will then wipe out the Mujahideen in the liberated areas and replace them with the factions allied with them that receive support at this time.

John Allen, a commissioner charged by the United States to lead this coalition, has said in recent days, that (the coalition) will train the 'moderate factions', as they call them, and they are those working for, or allied to them. And this is the most true declaration. They will arm and train them to eliminate Jabhat al Nusrah and Jam'ah Dawlah, which is the stated goal. But of course they will also target all of the Islamic factions as well, or all factions that do not submit to Western policy that will be imposed on the region. So this will be carried out in all liberated territories where armed and Jihadi groups are fighting and have influence and prominence.

As for other areas where armed groups are present but the regime have the upperhand, such as Damascus, Homs, Hama, Latakia, Tartus and Qalamun- the regime will try to regain control
of these areas. And exploit the weakness that is caused in the liberated territories, where Jihadis are prominent.

Then after that, if things sucessfully proceed as such, they will announce a stop or the endof the war, which will be similar the Dayton Agreement that occurred in Bosnia. They will think about creating the same agreement in Syria and end the war. They will then combine the governments – the Regime and the Interim Government – and the Regime will effectively have sovereignity because by their assumption, it is more capable and more competent in controlling the country, having had experience administrating it for more than forty years, especially because of the weak and repeated failures to establish an interim government and its inability to carry out some of its functions and duties in this region.

So the area is in the midst of these challenges, and faces internal conflict as well. There is the challenge of opposing ideologies between some of the Sunni groups and the groups that have adopted an extremist methodology and between the groups that adopt one of complacency. In a general view, the region of Shaam is facing these dangerous threats, and perhaps they will evolve.

I should not forget to mention, the Regime also has allies that have joined this war, some have a direct involvement and others provide logistical support, as well as supplies and ammunition , arms, expertise, or actual participation.
Whoever has joined the Regime in its fight against the Sunnis in Syria, are part of thechallenges that must be faced by the people of Sham in addition to what was mentioned previously. 
 

Iran supports the Regime, it is armed by Russia, China provides logistical support and theRawaafidh militias – that are called the Shia'- have also assembled around it (the regime). But this has decreased somewhat after the recent events that took place in Iraq and the victories that have been made there, because the most malicious of them was notHezbollah but the Rawaafidh militia which had been present in the region. The most henious of killings committed, were at the hands of these people, and Hezbollah is no lessthan them,but may be regarded as second-class in front of those other militias that are heading (the fight) and is a danger that has to be faced, and the people of Shaam should prepare to face all these challenges mentioned.

In short, we see that the world has been split into two halves and most countries of the world agree that the Jihad in Shaam should be stopped, despite the differences between them, they all shall agree on a specific aspect. Not forgetting as well, there is a sensitivity that reached its peak with the arrival of the Mujahideen to the border between them andIsrael. This no doubt, incites fear within Isreal, which is a state that all contending parties are seeking to protect. It also places fear within those who have created alliances in the fight to take control of the entire region. (If we say America and Russia)

We are able to say regarding the area of Shaam; the black and white have gathered against it, various nations of Kufr (disbelief) have gathered against it.

More than three years has passed since the establishment of Jabhat al Nusrah. Through all the challenges faced in these three years that you have mentioned, what standing has Jabhat al Nusra taken today in the area of Shaam, both on the military level and on the level of management of liberated areas?

Firstly when discussing the military aspect and what role Jabhat al Nusra has played in the region, there is no doubt that it is a prominent one against the Regime. Because the basis of the battle was between the Sunnis and the ruling regime of Bashar al-Assad. During the three years Jabhat al Nusrah has had a significant impact in weakening the Regime's strength, as well as liberating a lot of areas and cities, which was controlled by the Assad regime.

If we begin gradually, I will discuss the recent months and not the past. The past is fillled (with incidences) and the time is insufficient to mention everything that Jabhat al Nusrah has carried out. But in recent months, Praise be to Allah, with regards to the South, such as Dera', Jabhat al Nusra had a prominent impact and was accompanied by many of the factions as well, in liberating Reef Quneitra almost completely which began in Tulool al Humr and ending in Tal al Haarah, as well as the breaking of the siege of the city of Nawa and other cities that were besieged because of the presence of the Regime in these areas, and some of the roads that were used to send missiles and bombs (of the regime) were cut off.
 

Then if we turn to Damascus, Praise be to Allah, Jabhat al Nusrah is present in EasternGhouta as well as in Southern Damascus both of which are beseiged. Jabhat al Nusra has had a prominent imapct in Eastern Ghouta during the recent operation that took placethere, including lifting the siege on the Mujahideen trapped in the town of Maliha and operationsthat took place in the vicinity of the Air Force Intelligence in Harasta also recently.

In Qalamoon it is well known that Hezbollah attacked our people in Syria and the battle had to be taken into Lebanon as well as the areas in the south and surrounding areas where it has a presence.

We targeted their sensitive sites and took the battle to where Hezbollah resides in Lebanon, so it may know the seriousness of its intervention in Syrian affairs, and of its standing as an ally to the regime of Bashar against the Sunnis in Syria.

This has achieved very significant positive results. Jabhat al Nusrah, By the Praise of Allah, is in the forefront of the defense of the Sunnis inside Qalamun as well as other areas of Lebanon. And it is not hidden from anyone that Sheikh Abu Malik Shaami is the one leading Jabhat al Nusrah there, May Allah reward him with goodness. Many great positive outcomes resulted from the recent events that took place, when Hezbollah was pressured through the capture of Lebanese soldiers during operations, that resulted in greater positive outcomes.

Simple movements carried out by our brotheres there, revealed the falsity of the Lebanese army and showed that it is a tool used in the hands of Hezbollah, and exposed the extent of the deep hatred of Hezbollah,especially in its assault against the Sunnis in Lebanon,inTripoli, or even in the camps. The camps that compelled people to come to Lebanon, where the poor, elderly, children and patients came to take refuge in, and after having reached these camps, they were then burnt (by Hezbollah). And he (Hasan Nasrallah) has tasted the bitterness of what he has done in these camps through the blessed operation in Brital.

And our brothers in Qalamoon are hiding a lot of suprises up their sleeves, and the true battle in Lebanon has not yet begun, and the coming (battles) by the Permission of Allah will be more disastrous and bitter for Hezbollah. Perhaps Hassan Nasrallah will bite hisfingers out of regret for what he has done to the Sunnis in Syria in the coming days, Inshallah.
 

In the Beloved Homs, Homs of the martyrs, that has sacrificed what it has in the the face of the Regime, the recent tactical retreat that took place recently is not hidden, as well as the recent massacres carried out by the Assad Regime in El Waer and their besiegement on our people there. Jabhat al Nusrah carried out a number of operations targeting the Shabihah on their own ground in Al Zahraa and other areas. And we ask Allah to assist us in breaking the seiges in Homs, Ghouta, Southern Damascus and all other besieged areas in the coming months by the Permission of Allah.

In Hama, Praise be to Allah, Jabhat al Nusrah had the greatest impact alongside some factions in the liberation of the city of Khan Shaykhun and 'Hajiz al Khazanaat', which is a number of large barricades and vast areas of land that are being controlled by the Regime.And also have stopped the advance of the Regime in Morek in recent months.
 

In Aleppo, Praise be to Allah, Jabhat al Nusrah is found on several fronts,and have alsocarried out heroic operations recently, with the participation of some of the factions of Mujahideen, in order to repel the offensive of the Regime in Handarat and its surrounds. 

And also we are in Ribaat (stationed) on numerous fronts whether it be Ramouseh or Khan Tuman.

In Latakia, it is no secret to anyone that Jabhat al Nusrah is controlling a number of thelines of Ribaat on the Doreen front and others, also repelling any possible attack through which the Regime can advance.

In the East, there is no doubt and it is not hidden, after the war that took place between Jabhat al Nusrah and Jamaa'h Dawla, Jabhat al Nusrah began moving into other areas a few months ago.

In Idlib, Praise be to Allah, the last operation carried out was inside the city of Idlib, which was the storming of the Government buliding of the Air defence force which was carried out by heroes from the Inghamasiyeen (martyrdom seekers) that stormed into the city of Idlib, and were able to cut off the road between Latakia and Idlib, specifically 'Tal Al-Mastumah' that had been difficult to take over. Praise be to Allah the brothers in Jabhat al Nusrah began liberating it while the brothers carried out the attack inside the city of Idlib. But some things held back the brothers from completeing their mission in the city of Idlib,because of problems that arose between us and some factions in other parts of Idlib like Jabl Zawiyah for example.

What happened in Jabal Zawiyah? We heard of an outbreak of heavy fighting between you and several factions alongside you against Jamal Ma'rouf and his group, what was the cause of this fighting that happened?

In short, what happened is, Jamal Ma'rouf transgressed against our people there, in the cities of Bara and Kansafarah, he has a large number of thieves and highway robbers (amongst him).

They transgressed against our people there, as well as against our men in Jabhat al Nusrah, and has tasted a share of his enmity toward us after repeated attacks of this manand his group on our people in Idlib, and against Jabhat al Nusrah and some otherfactions,

of course, the fighting as rumored, was not only between Jabhat al Nusra and the Syria Revolutionaries Front, but there were two brigades of Suqoor al Sham and two brigades ofAhraar al Shaam and Jund al-Aqsa and also ordinary people from Jabl Zawiyah present as well. Which shows that it was like a revolution by the people against the leader of this gang. These factions saw repeated transgressions from this gang against our people in Idlib, and we took a decision that Syria Revolutionaries Front (SRF) should be anulled, specifically in the northern regions, because most of the trasngressions were carried out by them in these regions. They changed from being a faction opposing the regime into a gang transgressing against this one and that one. Removing them became necessary.

We do not deny that there are among the SRF in the north, some factions, affiliates, brigades and battalions that are desirous to fight the Regime and do not abandon their fronts against the Regime. And they are of course not included, nor held accountable for crimes commmited by Jamal Ma'rouf and those with him.

I add to this that most of the factions in the north, have been asking us to prohibit the presence of Jamaal Ma'rouf and his gang. This request was not from those who are hostile towards him (Jamaal Ma'rouf) but from his allies. In fact even from some of the factions that issued statements of denouncement and condemnation (of fighting) and who called for reconciliation, and for the matter to be taken to an Islamic Court and so on. This was in the media, but on the ground, were demanding that we end its existence and continue in this campaign to end it fully.

And some of them said that we are compelled to take this position in the media because ofAmerican pressure, Subhanallah!

Of course, it is no secret that some of the existing factions here met in Turkey, and they are those that the West term as 'the moderate opposition', and they (The West) throw arms and ammunition at them, and ready them to be their hands in the region. And the most prominent of such factions is Jamal Ma'rouf, who naturally tried to scare some of the factions (into believing) that Jabhat al Nusrah will carry on in their campaign until they wipe out everyone. We do not want to turn the field into another internal conflict which then benefits the Regime or the International Coallition, which is the intent of many of the parties that do not want good for the region. But we have the right to stand in the face ofall those who bring evil to the people of Shaam or transgress against our followers or Jabhat al Nusrah. This is considered Baghy (transgression) that is Waajib (compulsory) on us to defend ourselves as well as our people against.