Hayat Tahrir Al Sham commander reveals years of planning behind rapid overthrow of Assad

Abu Hassan Al Hamwi, close ally of militant group’s leader, vows to surrender arms to a newly established army

An HTS rebel fighter at the landmark Umayyad Mosque in Damascus. AFP

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A senior military rebel leader has provided insight into how insurgent groups co-ordinated a years-long campaign to overthrow Bashar Al Assad's 24-year brutal rule through a rapid offensive from the north and south.

In his first interview with foreign media since Mr Al Assad's ousting on Sunday, Abu Hassan Al Hamwi, the military commander of Hayat Tahrir Al Sham (HTS) – the most powerful rebel group – described the extensive preparations that preceded the blitz offensive. These preparations included training, new tactics, and the deployment of advanced weaponry, such as a secret drone unit.

“We had been in a preparation phase for nearly four years leading up to 2024,” said Mr Al Hamwi, who was an agricultural engineer before the Syrian civil war, and is now the main commander of rebels in Latakia and Tartous.

HTS mainly consists of groups from the extremist organisation Jabhat Al Nusra, which was linked to Al Qaeda. In 2016, after a purge undertaken by the group's leader, Ahmad Al Shara – formerly known by the nom de guerre Abu Mohammed Al Jawlani – the group broke its ties with Al Qaeda and rebranded itself as Hayat Tahrir Al Sham.

Mr Al Hamwi, a veteran of HTS and close ally of its leader, said the timing of the offensive was influenced by “regional miscalculations”. He cited signs of Arab countries moving towards normalisation with the Syrian government, intensifying bombardments over the past year, and “distracted” allies of the regime. None of Mr Al Assad's traditional patrons – Iran and its proxy Hezbollah, considerably weakened by 13 months of conflict with Israel, or Russia, bogged down in Ukraine – were in a position to rescue the regime.

“Seeing these dynamics, we determined it was an opportune moment,” Mr Al Hamwi affirmed.

Advance towards Damascus

The military commander explained that rebels in the north began co-ordinating with the southern front about a year ago, aiming to encircle Damascus from both directions. Syria's opposition had long been split into two main fronts: a weakened southern front near Jordan and Israel, which had suffered setbacks in recent years, and a stronger northern front near the Turkish border, dominated by HTS.

A commander from the southern front confirmed in a separate interview with The National that various groups had co-ordinated throughout the year to overthrow Al Assad's regime.

“Our capacity for direct co-ordination with the southern front was limited due to distance, so we focused on broader strategic planning,” explained Mr Al Hamwi.

The plan began with HTS capturing Aleppo, Syria's second-largest city, before advancing southward. “The strength of the Syrian revolution was concentrated in the north, and we believed that once Aleppo was liberated, we could advance towards Damascus.” Aleppo fell with little resistance on November 29, two days after the offensive began. “We knew that taking Aleppo would secure our rear and open the path forward,” he said.

Once the Aleppo operation started, the military command room signalled southern fighters to mobilise and advance towards Damascus. Rebel forces in the south moved quickly, capturing Deraa – the birthplace of the 2011 Syrian revolution – and reaching Damascus shortly before northern troops arrived.

Drone units

The operation's success hinged on several factors, including the local development of new weaponry. These innovations included armoured vehicles, artillery shells, and drones, which played a crucial role in the offensive's success. Mr Al Hamwi said he devised the “Shahin” drone, named after the Arabic word for falcon.

“I chose the name because the falcon symbolises precision and power. We unified their knowledge and set clear objectives: we needed reconnaissance drones, attack drones, and suicide drones, with a focus on range and endurance.”

HTS had kept the existence of these drones a secret until the latest operation, although their development began around five years ago. “These drones were part of a classified project,” he explained. “The idea emerged when we realised we needed a more cost-effective alternative, as we lacked the heavy armoured equipment possessed by the regime.”

The drones were locally developed by mechanics, electronics, electricity and chemistry experts, according to the commander, who refuted rumours of international assistance, including alleged support from Ukraine. “People now see the results but don't see the challenges, the exhaustive work behind the scenes, and the countless trials and errors required to build and refine these drones.”

While he acknowledged the possibility that the regime had intelligence on their operations, he said the rebels also had significant insights. “The enemy might know around 50 per cent of our plans, and we also had knowledge of 50 per cent to 60 per cent of their strategies,” he said.

According to the commander, there were various models of drones with different payloads, such as suicide drones and those designed to return.

“Additionally, we strengthened our reconnaissance systems and significantly advanced our night combat capabilities, which allowed us to fight effectively both day and night,” said Mr Al Hamwi.

Transitional government

With the battle over, Syria has entered a transitional phase, and the primary goal now is to rebuild after 13 years of civil war, Mr Al Hamwi said. “We've entered a new phase, the phase of rebuilding Syria,” he stressed. “During this phase, we aim to guide everyone towards establishing institutional systems.”

HTS has quickly asserted its authority over the new Syrian state, appointing Mohammed Al Bashir, the former head of HTS's administration in north-west Syria, as transitional government leader until March.

Mr Al Hamwi confirmed that armed rebels, who have been patrolling Syrian cities amid the collapse of the security apparatus, will eventually surrender their weapons to a newly established army. “All military units will naturally transition to the Ministry of Defence, forming a unified army tasked with protecting the nation on behalf of all Syrians,” he said.

The commander also vowed to protect minorities, notably Alawites – Mr Al Assad's sect – who fear collective punishment. He clarified that he had met Alawite community leaders in Latakia to reassure them. “We told them that our issue was never with them, but with the Al Assad regime and those who supported it in fighting the opposition.

“Syria has a rich social fabric,” he added. “Unfortunately, the Al Assad regime has severely damaged the cohesion between these communities.”