Taliban hails Islamist victory in Syria

The government in Kabul has welcomed the fall of Damascus to opposition forces

The Taliban government in Afghanistan has congratulated the coalition of armed opposition groups that seized Damascus, Syria, toppling President Bashar Assad.

A loose collection of fighters led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) launched a surprise offensive late last month and quickly overran most of the territory held by government forces. The offensive culminated in the capture of the Syrian capital on Sunday. Although HTS is listed as a terrorist organization by the UN and US, the group has promised to protect Syria’s religious minorities, including Christians. 

Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry released a statement on Sunday, congratulating “the leadership of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) movement and the people of Syria on the recent advancements resulting in the removal of the factor of conflict and instability, and the fall of the capital Damascus.” 

“We express hope that the remaining phases of the revolution will be managed in a way that secures a peaceful, unified and stable system,” the statement read.

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The Foreign Ministry further expressed hope for the formation of “a sovereign and service-oriented Islamic government” that would unify the civil war-plagued country “without discrimination and retribution” and would protect Syria’s Shia population.

A civil war erupted in Syria in 2011 when a wave of protests and rebellions known as the Arab Spring swept through the Middle East and North Africa.

While the West, Türkiye, Israel, and some Gulf states backed anti-Assad forces, Russia and Iran provided support to the government in Damascus. An uneasy truce brokered by Moscow and Ankara in 2020 had stopped large-scale fighting for nearly four years. 

The Taliban took power in Kabul in August 2021 during the final stages of the withdrawal of US troops from the country. It had previously ruled Afghanistan in the 1990s but was ousted in 2001 during the US-led invasion. The Taliban insurgency continued for 20 years. Afghanistan’s new government, however, is not officially recognized by any nations.