Today's Day of Infamy: Syria Elevated

 Nadene Goldfoot                                              

Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa (born 29 October 1982), also known by his former  Abu Mohammad al-Julani is a Syrian politician and former rebel commander who has served as the president of Syria since 2025. 

Today on August 25, 2026, the United States officially removed Syria from its list of State Sponsors of Terrorism after 47 years. This is an oy vey day!!!The president of Syria is the former well-known terrorist, Julani, hated by the citizens of Syria as much as they were hating Assad, their former President-an optometrist, no less.  Yes, Bashar al-Assad was trained as an ophthalmologist (an eye doctor) rather than an optometrist.  Jolani was a terrorist from the get go!!!Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, now known as Ahmed al-Sharaa, spent decades in radical militant networks and was officially designated a global terrorist by the United States in 2013. His background aligns with a well-documented history in extremist organizations.  

2003: Jolani traveled to Iraq to fight against the U.S. invasion shortly after it began.
2006–2011: U.S. forces arrested him in Iraq. He spent more than five years in detention, including time at Camp Bucca. 

2011: Jolani returned to Syria as the civil war started.
The Group: He founded Jabhat al-Nusra, which operated as an official affiliate of Al-Qaeda.
2013: Terrorist Status: The U.S. State Department designated him a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in 2013 and placed a $10 million reward for his capture. Investigations by programs like FRONTLINE detailed his roadmap through these militant groups. 

2016: Jolani publicly announced a split from Al-Qaeda to focus operations inside Syria.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham: He led the Islamist faction known as HTS, which governed the Idlib region.
December 2024: HTS led the rebel offensive that successfully toppled the government of Bashar al-Assad.
Name Change: Following Assad's fall, he largely stopped using the name al-Jolani, reverted to his birth name Ahmed al-Sharaa, and assumed a central role in Syria's interim leadership.
You will never find an honest Syrian agreeing with Donald Trump, but as a naive American, he admired Jolani, "Donald Trump first praised Syria's leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (formerly known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani) on May 14, 2025.   While speaking with reporters on Air Force One during a Middle East tour, Trump described al-Sharaa as a "young, attractive, tough guy" with a "very strong past" and stated that he "has got a real shot at pulling it together"
Six months ago, he was on the FBI's terror list. Today, he's shaking hands with Donald Trump. Meet Muhammad al-Jolani — ex-Al-Qaeda commander, ...
President Donald Trump’s administration has shifted U.S. policy to engage with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda-linked militant who took power after the fall of Bashar al-Assad. 
Past Ties: Al-Sharaa previously fought for al-Qaeda in Iraq and led the Nusra Front, an al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria.
White House Visit: President Trump hosted al-Sharaa for historic talks at the White House, marking the first time a Syrian leader visited the U.S. presidential mansion.
Delisting: The U.S. government removed both HTS and al-Sharaa from its lists of designated terrorists. 
Terrorism Sponsor Removal: The U.S. formally removed Syria's designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, a move covered by The Hill and Reuters, to lift major obstacles to foreign investment and aid. 
Support: Proponents argue that normalization and sanctions relief will help rebuild war-torn Syria, bring economic stability, and stop the spread of ISIS. 
Concerns: Critics and some U.S. lawmakers have questioned al-Sharaa's past, citing worries about sectarian violence and human rights under his new government.  Yes, their concern might even go as far as asking the Syrians on the streets how they feel about embracing a terrorist they have to listen to for fear of the prison so many have wound up in.  
I believe Trump admires a person who controls many; and he admires this terrorist in disguise of his old self, al-Sharaa.  This means that Trump might feel he can control Jolani to answer to his beck and call.  Syrians know that nothing will change for them with al-Sharaa/Jolani sitting in the Presidential chair.  
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmed_al-Sharaa
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American Women In Syria, Outside USA, Beware

Nadene Goldfoot                                                

Figure 1: Fighters from HTS train in Idlib Province, Syria. 

Photo: OMAR HAJ KADOUR/AFP/Getty Images,  Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS or the “Organization for the Liberation of the Levant”) traces its beginnings to the outset of the Syrian civil war and has remained a dangerous opposition force throughout the duration of the conflict. In May 2018, the group was added to the State Department’s existing designation of its predecessor, the al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO)

On this 4th of July I received a message from my Syrian friend of this:                                            

  Recent reports and viral videos from the city of Homs, Syria, highlight a severe incident involving an American tourist who was assaulted following a traffic collision . The footage documented the confrontation, with evidence showing a motor impact after her vehicle was hit . 

Likewise,  

An American female tourist was assaulted in the city of Homs, Syria, by a supporter of the Al-Julani terrorist regime in Damascus. This came from "Marwan A.E. a Druze from Sweida, the city whose people were subjected to sectarian massacres while defending themselves against jihadists | Dignity | Future | Pro Israel. "

I checked out New York City and found out this has happened many times there as well. The only thing is that when anything happens to a woman outside of her own habitat, it is hard on her medical needs; getting to a hospital, speaking the language, etc, problems you wouldn't have if it (G-d forbid) happens at home.

Syrian President Abu Mohammed al-Jolani's real name is Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa (often spelled Ahmad al-Sharaa) . He used "Jolani" as a nom de guerre during his time leading the militant group Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham.  Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) is the Sunni Islamist armed organization and political group that led the December 2024 uprising to topple the Assad regime, ending five decades of family rule . Formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra, the group formally cut ties with al-Qaeda to rebrand itself as a localized, pragmatic governing force. " It's not working by taking his real name.  He's still a terrorist at heart and is treating people with terrorist applications.  

Julani is the terrorist name of their present President in Syria. Syria is made up of 4 different groups of people, the Druze being one of them. (Trump favors Julani because he's a winner over the others-he took the position-supposedly temporarily. Ever try to get a terrorist out of power? )

The incident has sparked a wide state of interaction across regional media and online networks . For official updates or to view local coverage of the ongoing police and public response to the situation, you can check the regional breaking news available via Instagram. 

Historically, Homs has been at the center of severe humanitarian crises, including widespread reports of gender-based violence during the country's civil conflict and the 2012 artillery attack that claimed the life of American journalist Marie Colvin .                       

 Marie Catherine Colvin (January 12, 1956 – February 22, 2012) was an American journalist who worked as a foreign affairs correspondent^[ for the British newspaper The Sunday Times from 1985 until her death. She was one of the most prominent war correspondents of her generation, widely recognized for her extensive coverage on the frontlines of various conflicts across the globe. On February 22, 2012, while she was covering the siege of Homs alongside the French photojournalist Rémi Ochlik; the pair were killed in a targeted attack by Syrian government forces.

Homs, The current population of the Homs, Syria metropolitan area is estimated at approximately 1,632,000 people . For the city proper, modern demographic estimates range between 989,000 and 1.39 million residents.  Homs was known in pre-Islamic times as Emesa, is a city in western Syria and the capital of the Homs Governorate. It is 501 m above sea level and is located 162 km north of Damascus. Located on the Orontes River, Homs is also the central link between the interior cities and the Mediterranean coast.

We do not think about how our news comes to us and the dangers that some journalists have had to live through.  On this 4th of July we can thank them for helping out our government that way by collecting possible pertinent information for them.  

Update: 10:55am:  a powerful explosive device was detonated at a crowded cafe in central Damascus on July 2, 2026, killing at least nine people and injuring 20 others. The blast occurred in the Hejaz district, about 100 meters from the Palace of Justice . No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which occurred in a highly secure area of the capital. 

The U.S. government maintains a strict "Level 4: Do not travel" advisory for Syria, warning of the extreme dangers of armed conflict, terrorism, and hostage-taking. 

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https://www.csis.org/programs/former-programs/warfare-irregular-threats-and-terrorism-program-archives/terrorism-backgrounders/hayat-tahrir

The Foreign Terrorist Organization of Syria, Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) And What They Have Done

 Nadene Goldfooet                                          

Fighters from HTS train in Idlib Province, Syria.Photo: OMAR HAJ KADOUR/AFP/Getty Images

Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) is a Salafi-jihadist militant group active in Syria. It emerged from the al-Qaeda terrorist affiliate, Jabhat al-Nusra, during the Syrian civil war. HTS is now the de facto governing body in northwestern Syria, particularly in the Idlib province, and has publicly distanced itself from al-Qaeda. The group has been designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) by the US State Department. 

It was formed on 28 January 2017 as a merger of several armed groups: Jaysh al-Ahrar, Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, Ansar al-Din Front, Jaysh al-Sunna, Liwa al-Haqq and the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement.  That's 6 different movements with 6 possible vying leaderships wanting to go  in 6 different ways. Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS or the “Organization for the Liberation of the Levant”) traces its beginnings to the outset of the Syrian civil war and has remained a dangerous opposition force throughout the duration of the conflict.

• Formation and Evolution:

  HTS was formed in 2017 as a merger of several Islamist militias, including Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra). Jabhat al-Nusra, in turn, was an al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria. 
Shifting Focus:
While retaining a Salafi-jihadist ideology, HTS has publicly shifted its focus from global jihad to a more localized Syrian context. They've engaged in a public relations campaign to present themselves as a legitimate governing authority in Idlib. 
Governance in Idlib:
HTS has established itself as the dominant force in Idlib, controlling territory and providing some governance functions. 
Contradictory Actions:
Despite attempts to rebrand, HTS faces accusations of human rights abuses and continued violence against civilians. 


Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS or the “Organization for the Liberation of the Levant”) traces its beginnings to the outset of the Syrian civil war and has remained a dangerous opposition force throughout the duration of the conflict.

     Abu Mohammed al-Jolani spoke to supporters at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus hours after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad.  Now Jolani is the President of Syria.  


 In May 2018, the group was added to the State Department’s existing designation of its predecessor, the al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). Today, HTS can be thought of as a relatively localized Syrian terrorist organization, which retains a Salafi-jihadist ideology despite its public split from al-Qaeda in 2017. This backgrounder provides an overview of the history, leadership, and current strategic goals of HTS.
 Jabhat al-Nusra: HTS’s precursor organization, was formed in Syria in 2011 as al-Qaeda’s affiliate within the opposition to the Assad regime. Nusra’s leader, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, quickly established a capable organization, which secured its own donors in the Persian Gulf, collected revenue from taxation and asset seizures in the territories under its control, became adept at conducting insurgent attacks, and attracted a growing number of fighters.
Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), effectively took over Syria following a rapid rebel offensive that culminated in the toppling of the Bashar al-Assad regime on December 8, 2024, according to PBS and ABC News. This offensive began in late November and involved a series of swift victories in key cities, including the capture of Damascus. Following the regime's collapse, HTS-appointed figures, including al-Jolani, assumed leadership roles in the newly formed interim government. 
Update:9:30am Thursday 7/24/25
Hamas and the Assad regime in Syria have had a complex and at times strained relationship. Hamas sided with the Syrian opposition during the early years of the Syrian Civil War, leading to a rupture in relations and Hamas leadership leaving Damascus in 2012. After a period of estrangement, Iran and Hezbollah facilitated the reconciliation between Hamas and the Syrian government, with ties formally resuming in 2022. 


Resource:
https://jewishbubba.blogspot.com/2025/07/goldfoot-benjamin-gantz-hebrew-9-june.html
https://www.csis.org/programs/former-programs/warfare-irregular-threats-and-terrorism-program-archives/terrorism-backgrounders/hayat-tahrir