A shadowy group calling itself Saraya Ansar al-Sunna (Battalions of the Supporters of the Sunnah) has recently captured the attention—and fear—of Syrians across the country, especially in the coastal and central provinces. Emerging publicly in early 2025, the group has claimed responsibility for a string of deadly attacks, particularly against members of Syria’s religious minorities, including Alawites, Druze, and Shiites. Though its origins and organizational structure remain murky, the group’s extremist ideology, bloody operations, and online presence suggest a dangerous new front in Syria’s post-war landscape.
A Digital-First Jihadist Network
Saraya Ansar al-Sunna first made headlines after a massacre in the village of Arzeh, Hama province, in February, where at least fifteen civilians were killed. The group operates largely through encrypted platforms like Telegram, issuing communiqués, ideological tracts, and threats via multiple affiliated channels. Its military media was recently suspended, possibly due to fear of exposure or internal capacity issues, though the group vowed to continue its campaign of assassinations and sabotage “in silence and shadow.”
Despite a highly stylized religious rhetoric, the group’s early publications were rudimentary, with poorly crafted statements and improvised justifications. That changed with the emergence of Abu al-Fath al-Shami, the group’s senior sharia official, whose literary flourishes and theological bombast now shape much of its messaging. In one statement, he promised that future attacks would be “silent like whispers, unseen like breath, yet leave behind terror that cannot be caged.”
The group’s leader, known as Abu Aisha al-Shami (believed to be named Khalil), reportedly oversees strategy, while Abu al-Fath serves as both ideologue and spokesman. While most members are believed to be Syrians—including defectors from other jihadist factions—some reports mention Lebanese recruits and support networks based in Libya, Turkey, the UAE, and even Poland.
Ideology and Priorities: Sectarian Cleansing over Regime Change
Unlike ISIS, with which the group shares ideological affinities but no declared allegiance, Saraya Ansar al-Sunna has explicitly stated its current priority is not fighting the new Syrian government, but purging the country of what it calls “apostate sects.” These include Alawites, Druze, Shiites, and the Kurdish-led SDF. Its April manifesto stated: “We cannot fight all enemies at once. Our focus now is eliminating the criminals of the sects.”
The group’s rhetoric is steeped in takfiri ideology, declaring not only religious minorities as apostates but also anyone who allies with them—including the interim government in Damascus. Still, the group has tactically avoided direct confrontation with state forces, preferring lone-wolf attacks and sectarian violence. It has issued fatwas declaring President Ahmad al-Sharaa and his allies infidels, yet refrains from targeting them unless provoked.
Notably, the group also targets Sunni individuals accused of “betraying the revolution” or collaborating with the Assad regime. Several high-profile assassinations in Homs and Aleppo were claimed on these grounds, with members promoted for their role in such operations.
Propaganda and Operations: From Arson to Assassination
In late March, the group published a “Ramadan Harvest” report listing dozens of operations: executions of Alawite civilians, arson attacks in Alawite villages like Baramiyah and Qurfays, destruction of shrines in Hama and Homs, and bombings in mixed neighborhoods like Banias and Latakia. The attacks are intended not only to kill, but to instill fear and provoke demographic shifts. One statement outlined a “demographic plan” aimed at replacing minorities with “true Sunnis.”
There is, however, considerable skepticism regarding the group’s operational capabilities. Some alleged victims and operations have been proven false or unverified. The group does not publish videos or photo evidence of its attacks, and in several cases, names of “victims” turned out to be fabricated. Nonetheless, some assassinations—including the killing of two brothers in Homs and a teacher in al-Waer—have been confirmed.
An Enigma Wrapped in Secrecy
Despite growing notoriety, Saraya Ansar al-Sunna remains organizationally ambiguous. There are no known headquarters, and members are reportedly scattered across Syria’s rural areas, particularly in Hama, Homs, and the coastal mountains. The group avoids centralization, describing itself as a “decentralized force of lone wolves.”
This secrecy has led to speculation that the group may be a fabrication, a proxy used by unknown actors to stir sectarian tensions. Some analysts compare it to the regime-era shabbiha militias—forces used to do the regime’s dirty work while maintaining plausible deniability. Others believe the group may be a genuine jihadist network born out of post-war disillusionment and unfulfilled revolutionary promises.
Expansion into Lebanon?
In one of its most audacious announcements, the group claimed it was preparing to expand operations into Lebanon, citing its growing presence near the border and a desire to “confront apostates” in Tripoli and elsewhere. Though this statement was initially dismissed, Abu al-Fath later confirmed it to An-Nahar, asserting that “the frontiers of jihad know no borders.”
Conclusion: A Threat Rooted in Disillusionment
Saraya Ansar al-Sunna reflects a broader undercurrent of frustration and radicalism festering in post-Assad Syria. As the country grapples with rebuilding institutions and achieving transitional justice, groups like this exploit the gaps—posing a renewed security threat not just to minorities, but to any vision of inclusive, democratic recovery. The group’s embrace of targeted violence, coupled with its mastery of online propaganda and fluid structure, makes it particularly difficult to neutralize.
Whether it will evolve into a sustained insurgency or collapse under its contradictions remains to be seen. For now, however, Saraya Ansar al-Sunna has made one thing clear: the struggle over Syria’s future is far from settled.
