HTS forces abduct prominent American journalist Bilal Abdul Kareem in Syria
Gunmen affiliated with Syria’s ruling HTS regime have abducted prominent American journalist Bilal Abdul Kareem following his criticism of the country's new rulers amid reports of ongoing summary executions, arbitrary detentions, and other abuses.
Abdul Kareem was detained near al-Fateh Mosque in al-Bab city, located 40 kilometers (25 miles) northeast of Aleppo, earlier this week.
According to local reports, two vehicles, with HTS-linked gunmen onboard, surrounded the area before detaining Abdul Kareem and taking him to an unknown location.
A former US stand-up comedian, Abdul Kareem has lived in Syria since 2012 and worked with many foreign media outlets.
He has previously produced reports for CNN, Channel 4, BBC, Sky News, and the Dutch program Nieuwsuur.
In 2020, Abdul Kareem was arrested by the HTS in northern Idlib province and held for six months for “inciting” against the militant group.
After his release, Abdul Kareem spoke openly about arbitrary detention, abuse, and the absence of due process in HTS-run prisons.
Following the fall of former president Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024, Abdul Kareem expressed strong support for the new Syrian rulers.
However, by mid-2025, his attitude shifted, and he has been increasingly critical of the HTS regime led by Mohammad al-Jolani, who once commanded al-Qaeda’s branch in Syria.
The journalist has criticized the HTS regime’s alignment with Western interests and warned that without true reform, Syria could face a grim fate.
In Abdul Kareem's latest video, he took a swipe at the HTS over its decision to join the US-led military coalition purportedly formed to fight the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group.
He has decried the presence of foreign military forces on Syrian soil, particularly US troops.
Abdul Kareem has also questioned the new Syrian rulers’ lack of response to Israeli aggression, as well as broader policies that he views as overly pragmatic.
Following the fall of Assad’s government, the Israeli military has been conducting airstrikes targeting military installations, facilities, and arsenals previously operated by Syria’s now-defunct army.
Israel has faced widespread criticism for ending the 1974 ceasefire agreement with Syria and taking advantage of the chaos in the war-torn nation to seize territory.
Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED), a US-based war monitor, has recently revealed that the Israeli military has carried out more than 600 attacks on Syria over the past year.
Despite the HTS’s pledges of cooperation with Tel Aviv, Israel has remained unwilling to withdraw from Syria.
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