Syrian authorities launch army operation targeting foreign jihadists
(MENAFN) Syrian authorities have reportedly launched a major operation against remaining foreign jihadist groups in the northwestern province of Idlib, with a particular focus on militants from France, according to reports. The government has labeled these groups—previously allied in the fall of Bashar Assad—as a significant security threat.
Clashes erupted overnight as Syrian forces stormed a so-called “French camp” in Harem, western Idlib. Both sides reportedly suffered casualties, though exact numbers remain unclear, and at least two jihadists were detained. Authorities identified the camp as being led by Omar Omsen, a French national of Senegalese origin, who commands a contingent of foreign fighters.
The Syrian General Security Service stated that its operation aimed to capture Omsen and restore stability to the area. A jihadist-affiliated Telegram channel released a statement from Omsen claiming the government was working alongside the US and an “international coalition” to eliminate foreign militants in Syria, while warning Damascus of retaliation with support from other militant groups.
Reports indicate that the interim government of President Ahmed al-Sharaa, which came to power in November 2024, is now facing threats from forces that had previously aided its rise.
French nationals, including fighters and their families, reportedly moved to Idlib after the collapse of the Islamic State in 2019, forming what have been described as “diehard French jihadist” communities.
Past attacks by similar hard-line Sunni groups targeted Alawite communities along the Syrian coast, leaving more than 1,300 dead, and they have shown hostility toward al-Sharaa following his engagement with US officials, which included the lifting of sanctions on Syria. These moves reportedly led radicals to view the interim president as an “infidel.”
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