ALEPPO, Syria — Al-Qaeda-affiliated Hurras al-Din (Guardians of Religion Organization) in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib has been unprecedently weakened, with its first and second jihadist leadership ranks scattered, amid the ongoing crackdown Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which controls Idlib, is leading against jihadists close to the organization. 

The latest incidents raise questions about the continuity of Hurras al-Din and whether the organization is nearing its end, or whether it will rebuild its ranks and regain power once the security conditions are favorable.

In the second half of March, HTS has resumed its crackdown against Hurras al-Din — which had winded down in January. HTS’ security apparatus launched raids in several parts of the Idlib countryside and arrested a number of the organization’s leaders and members, as well as other jihadist figures close to them since the onset of April.

On April 4, HTS detained a number of jihadist members of Hurras al-Din and other jihadists close to or indirectly affiliated with the organization, namely Abu al-Laith Maabar, Abu Usama al-Jazairi and Abu Darda’ al-Jazairi in Idlib city, in addition to Moaz al-Turki who was arrested in Hamama village, Abdel Rahim al-Turki in Qunaya village and Abdel Rahman al-Turki in Yaaqoubiya village. The three villages are located in Jisr al-Shughour in the western Idlib countryside. Abu Dhar al-Masri, a top Hurras al-Din commander, is the most senior jihadist leader that HTS arrested April 6.