The door should be opened to Ahrar Al-Sham!

Abstract

Are the ideologies and strategies of all Syrian militant-opposition groups fighting Assad forces similar to those of Islamic State group (ISIL)? It can be said that politicians tend to simplify the jihadi phenomena in Syria – and elsewhere – by adopting a security approach, but reality dictates that explaining the phenomena is not so clear cut. Several forms of jihadi can be identified. Global jihadists, such as the self-proclaimed Islamic State (ISIL), seek to establish a state with unlimited borders, while on the other side, local jihadists are limiting their actions to the confines of the recognised borders of Syria. The approach adopted to deal with the latter category should not be the same: the approach should be political inclusiveness!