MESOP BACKGROUNDER : REVIREMENTS OF SYRIAN TERRORISM & USA – CHARLES LISTER REPORTING
.@USTreasury designated 2 senior AQ leaders in #Syria yesterday, including the infamous “Abu Julaybib” – https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/sm0011.aspx …
#pt: As an AQ veteran figure, #Assad released Abu Omar al-Filistini from Sednaya prison in his 1st amnesty (for c.260 people) in March ’11.
#pt: I’m very confident that Hasri is in fact “Abu Omar al-Filistini,” another of al-Nusra’s 7 founding members – mentioned here in my book:
#pt: The 2nd designated AQ figure in #Syria was ID’d by @USTreasury as Bassam Ahmad al-Hasri, now HTS #Deraa emir: https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/sm0011.aspx …
#pt: Abu Julaybib is now based in #Idlib & operates as official AQ (outside HTS ops), alongside AQ’s deputy leader Abu al-Khayr al-Masri.
#pt: It’s also worth noting that Abu Julaybib defected from #JFS in Aug ’16 & has no role within new HTS formation.
Charles Lister added,