Executive Summary
The Islamic State has issued a new propaganda video denouncing the Syrian transitional leadership under Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known by his nom de guerre Abu Muhammad al-Jolani, to be apostate and illegitimate under Islamic law.
The message is intensely ideological, using religious accusations to undermine al-Jolani’s leadership and encourage dissent among Sunni jihadists. This video comes out as Syria strengthens its security ties with Qatar and the United States partially pulls its troops from eastern Syria.
The messaging aligns with a broader Islamic State effort to regain influence in Syria’s post-Assad vacuum through rhetorical warfare and ideological subversion.
Key Takeaways
- The Islamic State accuses al-Jolani’s government of abandoning Shari’a and labels it apostate.
- The video propaganda aims to exploit former members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham to destabilise Syria’s political transition.
- Qatar-Syria defence ties may attract further jihadist criticism and threats.
Background Information
Following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024, Syria underwent a fragmented power redistribution. Abu Muhammad al-Jolani, leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, declared a transitional government, restored his name Ahmed al-Sharaa, and started being engaged in a diplomatic activity with regional actors and the West.
On April 21, 2025, the Islamic State released a video in the Arabic language accusing al-Sharaa and its transition government of apostasy and calling the local fighters to “embrace the true Islam”.
During the same day, April 21, 2025, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Syria Anas Khattab met a delegation of representatives of Qatar’s security services. The parties discussed strengthening cooperation in security and exchange experience and confirmed Damascus-Doha’s growing relations after a series of recent high-level visits, including the recent meeting between the self-proclaimed Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in Doha.
Islamic State Video: Narrative Analysis
The Islamic State’s propaganda video uses a doctrinal rejection of al-Jolani’s political legitimacy as the basis of its argument (we use “al-Jolani” instead of “al-Sharaa” in our narrative analysis to preserve the video’s original language). It presents several interwoven ideological arguments.
- Religious Betrayal: the Islamic State accused al-Jolani of breaking bay’ah (allegiance) to the group’s leadership, violating Islamic unity, and weakening jihadist cohesion.
- Political Apostasy: the video denounces the self-proclaimed Syrian president’s engagement with democratic structures, alleging that constitutional reforms and elections signify abandonment of Shari’a.
- Moral Hypocrisy: the narrative claims Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leadership, currently merged into Syrian Armed Forces, reconciles with former Syrian regime elements while suppressing loyal mujahideen.
- Foreign Alignment: the video portrays al-Jolani as complicit with Turkish and Western interests, describing him as part of a “Crusader-Zionist alliance.”
- Doctrinal Deviancy: The Islamic State declared the current Syrian administration non-Islamic and illegitimate, with HTS portrayed as ideological deviants who have abandoned the ummah (Muslim community).
Geopolitical Scenario
The propaganda coincides with shifting regional dynamics:
- Security Realignment: Syrian outreach to Qatar signifies a move toward structured defence and intelligence cooperation, supporting enhanced counterterrorism efforts but also provoking jihadist backlash.
- Reduced US Presence: The US drawdown from southern Syria may create a permissive environment for terrorist cells to reconstitute or mobilise locally.
- Internal Fragmentation Risks: formed Islamic State members in Syria’s new military and government could lead to infiltration, dissent, or even mutiny.
- Regional Messaging Impact: The narrative serves as an instrument of ideological polarisation, aiming to undermine normalisation efforts and foreign support by presenting the current leadership as apostate collaborators.
This video reflects the Islamic State’s attitude towards the current Syrian government and al-Sharaa. Since Assad’s fall and the affirmation of HTS leader in Damascus, the Islamic State has promoted a propaganda campaign aimed at discrediting al-Sharaa’s authority.
Conclusion
In post-Assad Syria, the Islamic State is actively resisting the development of new governing structures through ideological counter-offensives. The recent propaganda video is a calculated effort to destabilise al-Sharaa’s government by using religious claims to incite conflict within jihadist groups.
Despite lacking territory, the Islamic State maintains strategic influence through targeted ideological messaging. Careful monitoring of this propaganda’s implications is necessary, especially given Syria’s new defence partnerships and its adaptation to a changing international security landscape.
*Cover image: a fragment of the video that the Islamic State recently published against al-Jolani
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