A video circulated on social media on May 17 showing the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Abu Mohammed al-Golani, in a tent meeting with a number of tribal elders in Syria’s northwestern province of Idlib, during a visit on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr. Golani is known for exploiting such occasions for media coverage.

The video shows Golani beginning his speech by saying, “HTS is in the stage of preparing and building institutions in preparation for a major war. At the same time we are advancing toward Damascus, because the Syrian regime is collapsing in light of the deteriorating economic situation, in addition to losing all its support. Even the Russians could not protect the regime.”

Golani told the tribal leaders that HTS is preparing to be an alternative to the regime when it falls. Noting that rebuilding is more difficult than war, he added that HTS wants to solidify ties with the tribes because it depends on them to restore what the Syrian government has destroyed and help HTS regain its previous power.

The spokesperson for the Council of Syrian Tribes and Clans, Mudar Hammad al-Asaad, who resides in Turkey, told Al-Monitor, “All countries and parties including Iran, Russia, the Syrian regime, the Syrian Democratic Forces, the United States, the opposition and Turkey are competing for the tribes' support. Syrian tribes have a large number of young people and control agriculture and natural resources in a vast area of Syrian territory, in addition to having gained political weight by coordinating with all the active forces on the ground. This is why HTS wants the support of the tribes.”