The Alawite Insurgency in Syria: Interview with the Leader of "Saraya al-Zhall"

The various Alawite insurgent groups that have arisen in opposition to the new Syrian government are often collectively labelled ‘regime remnants’. Such characterisation, however, risks obscuring some differences in outlook between those groups. Do all these groups necessarily have the same goals, the same stance on Alawite cleric Ghazal Ghazal and the same views of the former regime?

Below is an interview I recently conducted with “al-Zhall al-Hashimi” (“The Hashimi Shadow”), whose real name is Mudar Ali. Originally from Jableh in Latakia province and a veteran of the Republican Guard, he was initially interested in producing rap music. Mudar presently heads “Saraya al-Zhall” (“Squadrons of the Shadow”) and also dubs his group “The Alawite Resistance.”

In this lengthy interview, we discussed a number of topics the origins of his group, a detailed account of the events of the coastal massacres in March 2025 and the question of ‘regime remnants’ involvement, relations between his group and other Alawite insurgent groups like Coastal Shield, links to Iran and Hezbollah, the viability of Alawite federalism and the wider vision for Syria, and Mudar’s views on figures like deposed president Bashar al-Assad, Suhayl al-Hasan and Rami Makhlouf.

Emblem of Saraya al-Zhall

Q: Could you speak a little about your personal life, especially since an article appeared in the al-Jumhuriya newspaper claiming you worked in the field of rap music and then served in the Republican Guard? The paper seemingly did not contact you.