Second Ceasefire between Ahrar al-Sham (AAS) and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)
Export agreement:
Country/entity
SyriaRegion
Middle East and North AfricaAgreement name
Second Ceasefire between Ahrar al-Sham (AAS) and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)Date
23 Jul 2017Agreement status
Unilateral documentInterim arrangement
YesAgreement/conflict level
Intrastate/local conflict ()Stage
Ceasefire/relatedConflict nature
Inter-groupPeace process
Syrian Local AgreementsParties
Commander of Harikat Ahrar al-Sham al-Islamiyya, Abu ‘Amar al-Amr [Signed]
Commander of Harikat Tahrir al-Sham, [Illegible] [Sighed]Third parties
-Description
An implementation ceasefire agreement attempting to re-implement the ceasefire reached 2 days previous. Calls for a ceasefire, the ability of fighters from Ahrar al-Sham to joined Hayat Tahrir al-Sham to return to their original units and for resolving the issues that emerged following the previous ceasefire.
Agreement document
Agreement document (original language)
Local agreement properties
Process type
Informal but persistent processRationale
-> Local issues only; no external support mechanism; culture of signing There is no formally established mechanism to support the negotiation between Salafi armed groups. Moreover, this agreement cannot be linked to the national peace process. Indeed, both groups have a Salafist ideology; they oppose the rule of Bashar al-Assad in Syria and reject the idea of a national negotiation to solve the conflict. Yet, it seems that both signing parties choose to solve daily pragmatic issues related to their armed struggle through agreements. Although one cannot speak of a “culture” of singing peace agreements, the parties are involved (in a non-proactive and non-conscious way) in a persistent practice of signing local agreements.Is there a documented link to a national peace process?
NoLink to national process: articulated rationale
No link to the national peace process in Syria is mentioned in the agreement, neither it can be inferred from further research. First, the agreement does not involve local governance actors; and the signing parties themselves are not official state representative. Second, all parties to the agreement reject the national peace process, as it would maintain Bashar al-Assad and the Syrian government in power. Yet, the agreement is related to multiple local level processes in Idlib governorate in July 2017.Name of Locale
NANature Of Locale
RegionGPS Lat/Long (DD)
35.932089, 36.635221Participant type
Local armed groupMediator, facilitator or similar
Mediator or similar referred toMediator (references)
The initiative of the mediation was launched by three clerics: Sheikh Abu Mohammed al-Sadiq, Sheikh Abdul Razzaq al-Mahdi, and Sheikh Abu Hamza al-Masri.Type of mediator/facilitator/similar
Domestic religious organisation/leader or other elder
Local issues
- Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture)Page 1, In the name of Allah, the beneficent, the merciful
- Grievance ListAlthough the agreement does not refer to specific causes of the conflict, it lists four provisions to address local grievances.
Page 1,
1) Adhere to the previous agreement signed on Friday between the two parties.
2) Cessation of hostilities
3) Any issues arising from Friday’s agreement shall be solved in 5 days.
4) Any fighters from Ahrar al-Sham that joined Hayat Tahrir al-Sham under threat of force can return. - Cattle rustling/banditry
No specific mention.
- Social cover
No specific mention.
Second agreement between Ahrar al-Sham and Harikat Tahrir al-Sham, 23 July 2017
In the name of Allah, the beneficent, the merciful
Agreement Parties:
the Commanders of Ahrar al-Sham al-Islamiyya and Harikat Tahrir al-Sham signed Sunday, 23/07/2017.
1) Adhere to the previous agreement signed on Friday between the two parties.
2) Cessation of hostilities
3) Any issues arising from Friday’s agreement shall be solved in 5 days.
4) Any fighters from Ahrar al-Sham that joined Harikat Tahrir al-Sham under threat of force can return.
Commander of Harikat Ahrar al-Sham al-Islamiyya, Abu ‘Amar al-Amr [Signed]
Commander of Harikat Tahrir al-Sham, [Illegible] [Sighed]