The problem with those referred to as the cultural elite in the Arab world is that they believe in only one thing: their self-interests and living benefits. They do not pay attention to the higher values that an intellectual should be dedicated to in their society, such as freedom, human dignity, the right to expression, and the belief in differing opinions and visions within the framework of public work, and reverting to the majority’s stance in accepting what should be approved and adopted. Therefore, they completely reject Islam and see it as a source of trouble for them!

Echo Chambers of the Elite

 The cultural elite - and I mean those who have the opportunity to express their opinions and ideas widely through the powerful official propaganda means - only hear the voice that reaches their ears from the entities that use them. They have no qualms about using lies, misleading, and fraud, and claim they are more nationalistic, pan-Arab, and Islamic than others, even though most of them are leftist, communist, or secular. They claim they alone possess enlightened intellect, sound analysis, and correct opinions. The more they are bestowed upon by users and donors, the more they wander in the arena of remembrance, dervish, and loyalty to tyrants and oppressors.

Nurtured Loyalty to a Despot

The sectarian butcher and thief Bashar al-Assad managed to create an elite working for him in many Arab capitals, defending him, putting their conscience in a freezer, and remaining silent about his massacres and crimes against his innocent, unarmed Sunni people, while at the same time praising what is called steadfastness and confrontation that he allegedly represents, which does not exist on the ground.

Wealth Used to Buy Loyalty

The bloody terrorist and thief Bashar al-Assad was generous with some of these elites, owning hundreds of billions of dollars from the miserable Syrian people and from the trade of Captagon drugs, which "Financial Times" likened to a mountain of cash! According to a report on the "Al-Arabiya" website on December 18, 2024, which relayed the newspaper's report, the Central Bank transported nearly $250 million to Russia between 2018 and 2019, in addition to exciting details about money transfers. Documents showed that Syrian planes executed 21 flights to transfer funds to Russia during this period.

Financial Manipulations Revealed

Investigations revealed that economic figures close to al-Assad, like Yasser Ibrahim, played a pivotal role in managing these financial operations. These economic figures cooperated with external companies to facilitate money transfers in coordination with regional entities supporting the regime. "Financial Times" said that these funds were deposited in Russian banks subject to US sanctions.

Desperate Elites Post-Assad

It seems the loss of the fodder the pro-Bashar elites depended on after his fall made them lose their sanity, hitting right and left with ideas and opinions that are baseless. In essence, they want Syrians to return to an era of repression, oppression, slaughter, displacement, and the cancellation of Islam, hoping the intelligence prisons and agencies expand to accommodate more innocent Syrians, especially those saying "Our Lord is Allah."

Assassination Calls and Misleading Narratives

We have seen calls for the assassination of Ahmed Shar’ and talks about the Syrian resistance (!) against the liberation of Damascus, and violent groups against the revolution like the loyal sons of Syria! There are tales about crimes committed by Ahmed Shar’ who they insist on calling al-Jolani against innocents!

Resisting the Freeing of Syrians

I do not think any person with a shred of humanity believes that liberating the Syrian people from a criminal, godless thief regime necessitates the empty militants and corrupt cultural elites to ignite mourning to restore repression, oppression, torture, and genocide with explosive barrels, chemicals, and napalm, to allow a traitor, hostile to Allah, His Messenger, Arabism, freedom, and the future, to rule.

Dangerous Rhetoric and Incitement

The newspaper "Watan," on January 13, 2025, referred to an article written by someone loyal to the Jewish Nazi enemy, inciting the assassination of Ahmed Shar’, who published his article on "Arutz Sheva," the spokesperson for the religious Zionist movement in the Jewish Nazi entity. The author described Ahmed Shar’ as a "militia leader," saying there is no doubt that "Jabhat al-Nusra" - later known as "Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham" - gained significant battlefield experience during their 12-year war against the Assad regime. However, protecting the head of state requires a different security approach than protecting a militia leader.

Demonizing Syrian Administration

In demonizing the Syrian administration, the author said that what Shar’ and his new administration are doing is far from being safe. Wherever arrangements are found, opposition follows, which could be from states, organizations, or even individual leaders, whether competitors, potentials, or newcomers.

Fear of Rising Freedom and Islam

The counter-revolution fears that the tide of freedom, dignity, justice, and the presence of Islam, which they hate, will catch up with it. Hence, they despicably and treacherously promote what they call the Syrian popular resistance and special operations against "Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham," in response to alleged crimes committed by the terrorist group against civilians in the rural areas of Homs, the coast, Hama, and Aleppo, as they claim.

Claims of Successful Assassinations

They talk about the success of the so-called popular resistance fighters in assassinating someone they describe as the terrorist Mohammad Khaled Al-Safadi Abu Sami, the head of the Sheikh Maskin post, affiliated with what they call the General Security (terrorist)!

Fabricating Martyrdom Narratives

A few days ago, anti-Islamic, sectarian, hostile elites promoted the killing of a sectarian, Alawite writer named Rasha Al-Ali, whose body was found with her fingers cut off from torture. Enlightened individuals across the Arab world lamented the darkness that kills honorable thinkers and intellectuals, tortures and kills them, then throws their bodies on the road. A Francophone mercenary writer, an enemy of Islam and Muslims, said: Arab thinkers and intellectuals must confront the darkness that has reached Damascus!

Denying and Dismissing Fabrications

The General Security in the Revolutionary Government denied there was anybody found on the road, tortured, or had its fingers cut off as the scoundrels and bloodthirsty tyrant's widows insisted. The referred lady was kidnapped (certainly by remnants of the sectarian Alawite regime), and they were pursuing the kidnappers to liberate her.

Fostering National Unity

Enemies of freedom ignite sectarian strife, promoting conflicts between sects, while the new administration tries to solve matters with national logic that unites rather than divides. Does it make sense for someone from the Druze sect to recently go to America named Muwafaq Tarif, seeking protection for his minority? He forgot that the predominant host protects his minority and him, but loyalty to America will not protect him, I imagine!

Refuting Heavy Lies

While the sectarian Alawite remnants and the empty militants in Syria continue to spread lies and fabrications, the empty militants in Egypt participated with heavy, blatant lies! The "Correct Egypt" site took on the task of refuting the lies propagated by one of them, a famous leftist, about Syria after its liberation from the bloody, thieving tyrant, as referred to by "Watan," on January 13, 2025. The lies were published on December 17, 2024, in three points:

Refuting Claims on Judicial Retirement

First: The leftist claimed: "Al-Jolani acted faster than expected by retiring Syrian female judges." "Correct Egypt" stated: This statement is inaccurate, as no decision was issued by the Syrian Ministry of Justice to retire female judges. No Syrian press reports indicated that Ahmed Shar’ had decided to retire female judges, contrary to the leftist's claims. The new transitional government's Minister of Justice, Shadi Al-Weisi, has not issued any decision to retire female judges since officially taking office on December 10, 2024, according to the ministry's website and official social media pages. The Syrian Ministry of Justice's official page previously noted the necessity not to pay attention to rumors circulated on social media and that official government channels should be your source of information. Any instructions, decisions, or circulars concerning the work of the Ministry of Justice will be published through the official page of the Ministry of Justice.

Denying Religious-Based Media Bans

Second: The leftist claimed: "Banning the broadcasting of Fairuz’s songs because she is Christian." This statement is inaccurate, as "Syrian Radio" denied the news of banning Fairuz's songs, and no credible media outlet reported al-Jolani banning Fairuz’s songs, contrary to the leftist's claims. The "Lebanese National News Agency" published a denial from the "Syrian Radio and Television Authority," stating that no decision had been issued by the administration to ban Fairuz’s songs or others. In response to an inquiry from the "Lebanese National News Agency," the "Syrian Radio General Authority" said: Only official announcements and decisions are currently being broadcast, and no decision has been issued by the administration regarding Fairuz’s or other songs.

The third: The claims of the leftist: "Assassination of scholars in their homes in Syria."

This is an inaccurate statement, as the news of the assassination of Syrian scholars by the "Israeli Mossad" is fabricated, and there is no documented evidence of any Syrian scholar being assassinated following the departure of Bashar Assad's regime, contrary to what the leftists claimed.

In general, the impact of these lies and fabrications may undermine the Syrian dream that was realized with freedom after 60 years of bloody sectarian rule and the eradication of Islam, where a million Muslims were slaughtered by Bashar, and over 40,000 previously by his father Hafiz, and his big-thief uncle Rifaat al-Assad.

The dream of Syrians to build a new Syria free from the confiscation of Islam, oppression, and tyranny that they have suffered for decades is facing a "counter-revolution," resembling the scenario that occurred in other countries, where counter-revolutions managed to return and seize power; (And those days We rotate among people, and that Allah may make evident those who believed and may take to Himself from among you martyrs, and Allah does not like the wrongdoers) (Al-Imran: 140).

I believe the situation in Damascus will be different, God willing!

Within 24 hours, the Syrian opposition overwhelmed the positions of President Bashar al-Assad's army and his allies from Iran and Hezbollah in Aleppo and is about to liberate the cities of Hama and Homs as well, amidst questions about the reasons behind this collapse and the implications of the war, which has terrified Israel, despite attempts to show that it benefits from the situation!

Many questions have been raised about the Syrian opposition that liberated the city of Aleppo. Are they rebels and terrorists as described by the Western media? Why the insistence on linking them to "Jabhat al-Nusra," which is affiliated with al-Qaida, even though it has been dissolved and no longer exists? And why did they choose to move against Assad's forces now, just 24 hours after the ceasefire between "Israel" and "Hezbollah," knowing that "Hezbollah" is defending Assad, and that preoccupying him with a war in Syria would be advantageous for "Israel"?

What is the secret behind the swift collapse of Assad's forces in Aleppo and their escape from various areas?! Are the rebels heading towards Damascus? Is the fall of Assad imminent? Is it due to the repercussions of the Lebanon War on the strength and morale of Hezbollah and the Iranian axis supporting Assad, and the Syrian opposition's realization that regional and international developments have provided a boost to the timing of the attack and the opportunity to exploit Hezbollah's diminished ability to operate freely between Lebanon and Syria to rescue Assad? Or is it because they have been preparing for months, this time under unified leadership, and they deliberately chose to launch their offensive after the Lebanon War ceased, so it wouldn't be said that they are aiding the occupation with their actions?

What is the secret behind the collapse of the Kurdish "Syrian Democratic Forces" (SDF) in Tall Rifaat and Manbij, and their escape or withdrawal in agreement with the opposition, being mercenaries trained and armed by the U.S. to serve as a tool for them in Syria while fighting against Turkey from there?

The most important question is, will Iran, Russia, Israel, and the United States allow Turkish-backed Syrian opposition forces to reach Damascus after Aleppo, Hama, and Homs, and redraw the maps of the region in a way that will affect Western interests and the interests of the Zionist state?

The secret is in opposition

The first and most important key to success lies in the Syrian opposition themselves, their Islamic commitment, discipline, and their standing under a unified leadership known as the "Military Operations Command," within an alliance that includes a wide range of opposition fighters, including Salafist Islamic factions and moderate groups close to the ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood in Syria.

With this, the trumpets, newspapers, satellite channels, and foreign and Arab news agencies launched accusations against them at times, claiming they are jihadists and "ISIS," and at other times labeling them as agents of America and "Israel." They fabricate stories about them thanking "Israel" for its support or America for sponsoring their attacks, despite their clear and declared positions against the Zionist occupation and their rejection of American influence in Syria (with nearly 22 American military bases in Syria).

The first thing the revolutionaries did when they liberated the Citadel of Aleppo was to raise the flags of Syria and Palestine to adorn the citadel after liberating the city as part of the "deterring aggression" operation, sending clear messages about their intentions.

The truth is that these Syrian opposition factions fighting against the Syrian regime and its army, which has committed atrocities and crimes against Syrians that are no less than the crimes of the Zionists in Gaza, aim to stay in power and are independent, not affiliated with any external entity. Some, however, receive support from Turkey, especially the Free Army, which primarily fights against the Kurds. Most of them are from the families of the early martyrs and detainees who were displaced from their land. The videos coming from Syria show many of them returning to their old homes and reuniting with the remaining members of their families, As well as the opening of prisons and detention centers to release others who remain in Assad's prisons.

Four of the most important factions among these seven that are fighting under a unified command are Islamic factions that have been united, along with nearly 10 other Islamic factions, the majority of which are moderate Salafists or affiliated with the ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood in Syria.

"Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham" is the most prominent group participating in the attack, and because it is the successor to "Jabhat al-Nusra," which is affiliated with "Al-Qaeda," opponents are accused of being "terrorists." However, the truth is that "Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham" is an armed Islamist group formed in January 2017 as a result of the merger of several jihadist factions. While it includes some individuals who have renounced the ideas of "Jabhat al-Nusra" and defected from it, their beliefs have changed completely and they have become moderate after leaving "Jabhat al-Nusra," which no longer exists. They form a government in Idlib, and an administrative front called the "Syrian Salvation Government," led by Abu Muhammad al-Julani, who previously led "Jabhat al-Nusra." The overall goal of the group is to liberate Syria from the regular forces.

There is also the Islamic "Ahrar al-Sham Movement," which emerged during the Syrian revolution through the unification of four Islamic factions: "Ahrar al-Sham Battalions," "Islamic Fajr Movement," "Islamic Vanguard Group," and "Fighting Faith Battalions."

"Ahrar al-Sham" is a moderate Salafi movement with origins in the thought of the Muslim Brotherhood, such as Muhammad Surour, Muhammad al-Abdo, and Esam al-Attar, as explained in a previous report in "Al-Mujtama" by the thinker Muhammad Salem al-Rashed.

Among the other moderate Islamic groups is the "Nur al-Din Zenki Brigades," a revolutionary Islamic movement that participated in the fighting against the Syrian regime in recent years. They are students of the "Aleppine Sheikhly School," which was previously led by Sheikh Tawfiq.

There is also the "National Liberation Front," which is a coalition of the Syrian armed opposition in southwestern Syria, formed by 11 factions of the "Free Syrian Army" in May 2018 in Idlib province in the northwest of the country, and it includes 30,000 fighters.

"The Syrian National Army," which is an alliance of opposition factions supported by Turkey that opposes the forces loyal to the Syrian regime, was established in December 2017. It operates as the army of the interim government affiliated with the Syrian opposition, based in Turkey.

There is Israeli American anxiety about "Islamists."

The Israeli and American concern about the advance of the armed Syrian opposition factions against the Syrian regime forces and their Iranian and Russian allies stems from the fact that most of these factions belong to moderate Salafi groups or are ideologically aligned with the Muslim Brotherhood in Syria.

On December 1, major General Tamir Yadai, the commander of the ground forces in the "Israeli" army, said: "The situation in Syria concerns us very much and if the revolutionaries win against the Syrian regime, we will see them all on our borders in the future, and this is not in our favor.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held an urgent security meeting following the advance of the Syrian opposition on November 29, to discuss the developments in Syria, according to the newspaper "Yedioth Ahronoth." He expressed concern over the victories of the opposition forces and the implications of this for "Israel."

The newspaper "Haaretz" quoted an "Israeli" political official as saying: "We must be prepared for any eventuality, including the possible fall of Assad's regime and the potential for extremist Sunni organizations to pose a new threat to Israel."

The newspaper "Times of Israel" stated on November 30 that the heads of intelligence agencies told the Israeli Prime Minister that the progress of the rebels in Syria could mean short-term benefits. The newspaper " Ma'ariv ", for its part, warned on November 29 about the fall of Aleppo into the hands of the opposition due to the Islamic ideological nature of the opposition and the potential for cooperation with "Hamas" if Assad's regime collapses and Islamists take power in Damascus, according to what it reported.

"Yedioth Ahronoth also stated under the title 'Israel must prepare for the emergence of a potential Sunni jihadist threat on its borders': If the Assad regime collapses and Sunni rebels manage to take control of Syria, Israel may face a greater and more dangerous security challenge. It mentioned that, although weakening Assad benefits Israel in some respects, Sunni rebels also pose a significant threat, and Hamas is a clear example of the dangers posed by Sunni jihadists."

The newspaper "Ma'ariv" published an analysis by Israeli expert, researcher, and lecturer in the Department of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at the University of Haifa, Dr. Yaron Friedman. He emphasized that one of the issues causing concern for "Israel" is the Islamic ideological identity of the rebels fighting the Syrian regime, particularly "Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham." He said that if Assad falls, the Syrian opposition led by Salafist groups could pose a greater threat to the "Israeli" border. He suggested that there is a possibility of the emergence of an extremist Sunni religious state, which he believes would pose a greater threat to "Israel" than the Assad regime, which has maintained calm in the Golan Heights for 50 years.