Jihadi factions in Syria are hailing the Taliban’s takeover of most of Afghanistan. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which controls Syria’s northwestern province of Idlib, congratulated the Taliban on their “conquest” in an Aug. 18 statement. 

Many other jihadi factions hostile to HTS followed suit, praising what they described as a “victory” by the Taliban. A group known as Al-Jihad Coordination, the Firqat al-Ghuraba battalion and Jund al-Sham issued separate statements congratulating the Taliban movement on their advance.

The congratulatory statements came from groups many observers believed had been eliminated. Instead they had been quietly avoiding persecution by HTS, which has been cracking down on groups espousing ideologies similar to al-Qaeda's.

Al-Jihad Coordination is led by Abu al-Abd Ashidaa, who was arrested in 2019 by HTS after having defected from it. He had opposed HTS’ approach and disassociation from al-Qaeda. In an Aug. 16 statement the group said, “To our people in beloved Afghanistan: You have reaped what you have sown. … On this glorious occasion, we call upon all vanguards of the Ummah, the patient mujahideen everywhere, to have patience and show steadfastness. This is the path you have to follow. Do not be deceived by the armies of the enemies, for God is higher and more exalted. He who walks the path will reach his destination. God will not neglect to reward those who do good deeds.”