RASC News Agency: The Taliban in Ghor Province, Afghanistan, have celebrated the alleged fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in Syria by distributing sweets among locals, marking what they described as a victory for Assad’s opposition forces. A video circulating on social media depicts Taliban members distributing sweets while rejoicing over what they claim is the “conquest” of Syria by anti-Assad factions. In the video, a Taliban member is heard saying, “Syria has been conquered. Congratulations!” Another member proclaims, “Syria has been liberated by the Mujahideen of Islam, and, God willing, Bashar al-Assad is dead.”
A source in Ghor, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed to RASC that the Taliban in the province celebrated the purported downfall of Assad’s government by distributing sweets and publicly supporting the opposition. The source stated that Taliban members referred to Assad’s regime as a “tyrannical system” and described its collapse as a divine triumph. The Taliban’s reaction highlights significant ideological parallels with Assad’s opponents, particularly Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an extremist Islamist group with similar objectives.
HTS, which evolved as a splinter faction of al-Qaeda, shares substantial ideological and operational similarities with the Taliban. Its leader, Abu Mohammad al-Julani, was previously aligned with al-Qaeda before founding Jabhat al-Nusra. This group quickly became one of the most formidable and deadly opposition forces against Assad’s regime during Syria’s civil war. Unlike secular revolutionary factions, Jabhat al-Nusra operated with a strict Islamist ideology, often clashing with the Free Syrian Army during the uprising. In 2016, al-Julani publicly announced the severance of ties with al-Qaeda, dissolved Jabhat al-Nusra, and formed a new organization. The following year, this group merged with other factions to establish Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
Both the Taliban and HTS are classified as terrorist organizations by various countries and international bodies. Al-Julani has consistently denounced Assad’s regime as un-Islamic and has fought to overthrow it. Similarly, the Taliban regard Assad’s government as secular and un-Islamic, glorifying its opposition as “Mujahideen in the path of God.” The Taliban’s public celebration underscores the ideological alignment between these two extremist entities, further cementing their positions as threats to stability recognized by multiple international organizations.
