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Syrian jihadist group in Idlib purges hard-liners

A prominent Egyptian resigned from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s Shura Council as the group sidelines hard-line members.
OMAR HAJ KADOUR/AFP via Getty Images

Egyptian Abu al-Fath al-Farghali, a prominent Hayat Tahrir al-Sham hard-liner, resigned via Telegram from the group’s Shura Council.

As a religious scholar on the council, Farghali issued a fatwa calling on HTS members to kill anyone associated with the Free Syrian Army-affiliated National Front’s factions, according to a leaked 2018 recording. Giving instructions to HTS’ fighters, Farghali was heard to say, “Kill whoever is fighting," "Kill them in support of your religion," and "Kill them even if they are withdrawing.”

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