Syrie : les escadrons du djihad

Today, everyone is talking about these men. Syrian jihadists, fighting a war against the Bashar al-Assad regime, fiercely determined brigades. There's the all-powerful Islamic State, but they are not alone.

Lots of other factions are fighting on the ground. We obtained permission to follow several of the most hardline of these brigades. This isn't training, everyone, push yourselves!

These are paramilitary groups, mainly Syrians. Some are made up of former members of the Islamic State, or the Al-Nusra Front, close to Al-Qaeda. Allahu Akbar!

Several thousand combatants come together in factions around Latakia, Idlib, and Aleppo. Like the Islamic State, they are fighting a holy war. Like the Islamic State, they want to bring down the regime.

Like the Islamic State, they dream of establishing a new caliphate. For all these reasons, the Islamic State and the brigades don't fight each other, nor are they allies. They cohabit.

These jihad squadrons wage war relentlessly. We obtained exceptional permission to follow these men for nine days, both into combat, and in their everyday lives. Never before have these men been filmed in this way We accompanied these jihadists into the heart of the Syrian conflict where we even saw a combatant blown up trying to bring down an enemy position.

This detonator can always be used against the pigs. The northern suburb of Aleppo, June 2015. These men, playing a pickup soccer game, belong to Ansar al-Aqeeda, a very influential component of the jihadist rebellion in the north of Syria.

These are the men we will follow for over a week. [Arabic spoken audio] None of this would have been possible but for this man, Abu Mohammad al-Halabi. This 40-something with a beard and glasses created the faction around one year ago.

Before that, he was the undisputed leader in the north, of Jabhat al-Nusra, a Salafist group affiliated with Al-Qaeda. A warlord with a bloodthirsty reputation, he is always in command, even here, when it comes to putting the ball in the opposition goal. If you want to pass the ball, never look to your right!

[Arabic spoken audio] According to several American sources, he was shot dead in a raid in 2012. As if by miracle, he lives again. Here in this Aleppo school, partly destroyed by the regime's bombing, the chief of Ansar al-Aqeeda, the followers of faith, established his headquarters some months ago.

Commander and religious leader, this is the image he likes to put across. Every day, the same ritual. From 8:00 in the morning, Abu Mohammed and his men take lessons in the akham, an extreme reading of the Quran.

The education is provided by one of their eminence grise, himself a jihadi veteran. We study the word of God and his prophet, may the blessing of peace be upon him, and we make them aware of jihad so that they might become true believers. Religion, and war.

The two fundamentals of Abu Mohammad. He even wanted to appear in traditional mujahideen costume at work in his office. It seems that the man is extremely distrustful towards journalists, as he soon reminds us.

We realized the intelligence services knew a lot about us. Where did their information come from? We began digging, investigating, and we came to the conclusion that journalists were behind all that.

Therefore, why us? We met Abu Mohammed in 2012, in Aleppo, at the beginning of the war, and we forged a bond of trust. We maintained contact since then, and a few months ago, asked if we could follow him for a week.

He agreed because he wants to show who these combatants are and explain why they are fighting. Throughout this shoot, we must follow the rules he will lay down. The daily fear of the war we're about to experience is firstly the bombing.

Just four years ago, Aleppo was the economic lungs of Syria. Now, more than half the city lies in ruins. The threat here almost always comes from the sky.

Barrels of oil or gas cylinders loaded with powerful explosives, and sometimes also scrap metal and combustibles, whose use is prohibited by the Geneva Convention. A bomb has fallen in this neighborhood, now under jihadist control, but where many civilians live. [Arabic spoken audio] Amnesty International says that over 3,000 people paid for the army's untimely drops with their lives, and that was just in 2014.

The regime continues to deny using these lethal weapons, claiming they're only targeting the rebels. Here, there's only material damage. [Arabic spoken audio] We're coming, Bashar, you filthy dog!

Shame on you, Bashar and on your mufti Ahmad Hassoun who orders you to bomb us! There's been another one. Barely have we arrived and there's another alert in an adjoining neighborhood.

This time, it's a regime helicopter that has come to discharge several barrels in the Sukari sector. Casualties are heavy. Four people killed outright, and two of them are children.

Although 500 meters from the impact, this man's body was cut in two by the barrel's shrapnel. The scene we've just witnessed can be repeated up to 15 times a day, depending on the frequency of army raids. In this neighborhood of Aleppo, as in many others, intensive bombing inevitably favors the jihadist cause.

[Arabic spoken audio] It takes two hours. -To get to Arin? -Yes.

More than two hours. It's 30 kilometers at least. One of Abu Mohammad's men has invited us to his wedding.

Two hours to drive barely 30 kilometers. The many checkpoints and the state of the road are to blame. The groom, 23, is wearing his best suit.

The context is never entirely forgotten. The wedding song includes a direct attack on Bashar al-Assad. As is traditional, men and women celebrate separately.

After the celebrations he'll return to the jihad. Mujahideen all over Syria do the same. Life goes on, whether or not there is bombing, whether or not there are planes in the skies.

Life goes on despite Bashar al-Assad's regime. The scene is surrealistic. These men are all combatants.

Outside, the war goes on. The firing, at first thought to be joyful, comes from a helicopter overflying the sector. We leave the barn to try to film the source of so much controversy: the helicopters that the regime is so desperate to hide.

Spotting them is very risky and not at all easy. It is they who dropped the barrels of death, here, shown in slow motion. The first drop, and a second soon after, more than one kilometer away.

Though quickly on the scene, the men from Civil Protection can only survey the damage. [Arabic spoken audio] Three men have just lost their lives, buried under the rubble of their house. This one was caught in the trap.

The civil protection men don't manage to revive him. [Arabic spoken audio] For three weeks now, they've bombed Friday prayers at the mosque. Helicopters come and target it directly.

Last time, it cost us 14 martyrs, and this time, three martyrs. They only bomb civilians, they kill women and children. It's the end of our first day in Syria.

Allahu Akbar! [Arabic spoken audio] The following morning, in Idlib, 80 kilometers southwest of Aleppo, in a discreet mosque, an 11-year-old is reciting verses from the Quran, inciting Muslims to wage holy war. After Allah, our creator, made a gift to the mujahideen brothers gathered in Bilad al-Sham, they fell into line.

After the fragmentation and division, he united them once more. This young boy is the son of the man in the red and white keffiyeh. His name is Abu Tawfik, one of the most important warlords in the region.

A jihad veteran, he learned his trade in Afghanistan, in Chechnya, and in the Balkans. Today, Abu Tawfik's stronghold hosts a highly important meeting attended by all the chiefs of jihadist factions in the region. The heads of numerous groups that operate between Aleppo and Latakia all have the same objective, which is to establish Sharia law in an Islamic caliphate.

Listen to me. All clauses of the contract with God must be respected. Otherwise, there's no point to the contract!

[Arabic spoken audio] High on the War Council's agenda is the question, who will lead the next offensives on the various fronts? -There's a problem with chiefs of factions -Abu Tawfik pressures his men. The ones who have fought for four years and haven't fallen in combat.

Sometimes their decisions are good, sometimes bad. They should make room for new mujahideen. Abu Mohammad, our guide, is also present.

We must fight Bashar al-Assad because he is a Shiite extremist and because he does not apply the Sharia, the law of our creator. These are two eminently important reasons to fight him. Sitting by them is a man who refuses to be filmed.

He has a reason for that. There's a price on his head. No cameras.

Okay, no worries. Abu Murad al-Masri, alias Abu Moaz is an Egyptian with an impressive pedigree, wanted by the US State Department, captured in 2009 by the CIA in Afghanistan, and extradited to the USA and then Egypt. He was released following the revolution that brought an end to Mubarak's reign.

[Arabic spoken audio] The meeting ends. As well as being a feared warlord, Abu Tawfik is also a political strategist. He never questions the influence of the Islamic State in Syria.

All Muslims want an Islamic state. To be honest, both West and East falsify the so-called Islamic State to Muslims. They aim to divert Muslims from our goal of setting up an Islamic State.

However, this situation won't last. This deception to put us off our true plan will not last, by the will of God. We're about to see for ourselves the determination of these men in the field.

Here, Abu Tawfik's combatants and other jihadists are leaving to attack a position held by soldiers faithful to the regime, in this case, Alawite militiamen. In this village, just 30 kilometers from Latakia, neither side will yield a meter to the other. [Arabic spoken audio] Scenes of unbelievable guerrilla violence.

We soon find ourselves trapped amidst the burst of gunfire from automatic weapons. One meter away from us, a bullet has just ricocheted into this man's mouth. Look, he's been hit!

Without medical assistance, he dies before nightfall. We take advantage of the short respite to slip away. The fighting continues and becomes even fiercer.

As for the village, it finally falls several days later. At the wheel of a pickup, Abu Mohammad agrees to take us to a secret place in Aleppo, where no camera has ever been before. Hey, boss!

At first glance, this looks like an ordinary mechanical workshop. This is where the Ansar al-Aqeeda group and other factions of jihadists daily produce explosives, bombs, and munitions. The man on the left with the red beard is called Abu Layeyth.

He's the chief of a brigade close to Ansar al-Aqeeda, the group led by our guide since this report began. We make a hole here and then stick it on. Do we solder the tube to the gun?

That's what we usually did. The two cylinders are placed on top. Then we get something solid so that everything leaves the gun properly.

From dawn till dusk, these jihadists make grenades, as well as bombs, and shells. In this room, gas cylinders are prepped for fitting with explosive charges. No, not that way, guys.

I'll tell you how. Fill it to the brim and once you've done that, turn it over, put the top back on, and store it over there. Each bottle is painstakingly cleaned up with sand to get rid of the gas.

Then, it is filled with powder. The bomb makers are equipped with smock and mask, precautions bordering on the ridiculous. Where do these weapons come from?

Who finances them? There's no way of knowing. The technicians take a break for our camera, but the reality is rather different.

The man on the right is a Syrian prisoner, sentenced to death by the jihadis. Far from an isolated case. This entire war arsenal might seem somewhat homemade but a trip to the front line is enough to see that they enable the jihadists to do a lot of damage to the enemy.

We go with Abu Mohammad, close to the port of Latakia, one of the most disputed front lines in recent months. Here, several jihadist factions have joined forces in a combined attempt to bring down Syria's fourth city, through which Damascus gets fresh supplies of weapons and essential goods. This combatant, barely 13, has just come too close to one of the guns that's just been used.

Abu Mohammad and Abu Layeyth meet to coordinate operations. [Arabic spoken audio] We have advanced 516 meters, no, 519. On the opposite slope, less than 500 meters away, a Shiite unit has given jihadists cold sweats.

Those facing us have guns and then… The interview is interrupted by fighting. [Arabic spoken audio] Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!

Abu Layeyth decides to break cover in a bid to assess the enemy positions and rectify the aim of his guns. He is then joined by one of his men. My brother, the explosives this guy supplied may God protect and keep you do not work, there's something wrong.

They are slow to act, they must be improved. It's an ideal position from which to assess the damage to the other side. We await your signal, Abu Layeyth.

Go, my brother, you can go. The target has been hit. Allahu Akbar.

It's almost twilight. In this war of attrition, which has gone on for months in the Latakia sector, the jihadists have forced their enemy back a few dozen meters. These men praying together have all been sentenced to death.

As with Islamic State, in the zones they control, the jihadis have their own courts and their own prisons. This one, located in a southern neighborhood of Aleppo, boasts around 50 inmates. Soldiers captured in combat, deserters from the regime, and sometimes civilians suspected by the jihadis of espionage.

Before being brought before the Islamic Commission, prisoners have an initial hearing in this office. This man is a deserter. [Arabic spoken audio] -Name?

-Mohammed. Surname? -Were you fleeing the regime?

-Yes! When did you arrive here? Three days ago.

Give me the exact date. May 23 or 25, I think. How many officers like you have deserted?

By asking these questions, the jihadist is trying to learn as much as possible about the other side. In this war, as in others, intelligence can be the key to victory. The interrogation is over.

[Arabic spoken audio] In the office next door, a civilian presides over the court. His knowledge of Muslim law, in other words, the Quranic texts that govern the application of Sharia made him the ideal man for the job. In our religion the spies, those who somehow feed information to the regime, are treated like heathen dogs and suffer the fate provided for such crimes in the holy texts.

A simple poster is a reminder of the severity of the penalty. [Arabic spoken audio] The sanction for insulting God and his prophet is to be treated as an infidel. If that person does not repent, he will be stripped of his wife.

Were he to commit his misdeed three times, the punishment is death by beheading. This officer of the Assad regime managed to eject when his plane was hit by a missile. The jihadists accuse him of multiple offenses of dropping barrel bombs on civilian populations.

He is facing decapitation. Prison is prison. There's nothing funny about it.

Freedom, being outside, is much better, it's true. How are you treated here? Well, thank God.

It's impossible for us to find out the real conditions of his detention. The only escape lies in prayer, as barring a miracle, none of these men will ever again see the light of day. In certain cases, prisoners can also be used as bargaining chips, like this man on the right, captured three months ago on the front, on the phone is his father, a major in the regular army.

With him, the jihadist on the left will negotiate his son's release. Talk to your father. Hello?

-My dear son… -How are you? No, how are you? -Good.

-How is your health? I'm fine, why didn't you call with news? Negotiation has been bogged down for weeks.

The jihadists will give him a clear ultimatum. That's when the prisoner understands he may be living his final moments. Did you ask if we can exchange prisoners?

-I talked to the lawyer. -Okay. He asked me to give him the names of jihadist prisoners held by the regime so we could exchange.

The whole problem revolves around the question of names. I'll call with news as soon as I know more. We'll give you a final deadline of one week.

Have you done what I asked? No, you haven't. Start worrying about your son.

Oh, you are good people. It's not a matter of being good or not. We will apply Allah's judgement to your son.

I swear you are good poeple. Goodbye. [Arabic spoken audio] You've seen for yourself, as God is my witness, we've called three times.

You've been our prisoner for two months and they haven't contacted us up to now and your father is lying when he says he spoke to a lawyer about swapping prisoners. It's obvious he's on the side of the regime and that pig Assad. He comes very close to calling us gunmen, terrorists.

Whatever happens to you no longer depends on us. It's all down to him. You can talk to him again tomorrow or the day after but he won't come through.

We have mujahideen brothers in prison there and we want them back. If that doesn't happen, you'll be put to death. It's a reprieve for the prisoner but how long will that last?

Since our arrival, we've been constantly surprised by the harshness of this war. We were almost as surprised by this totally unexpected slice of life. Brothers in arms, Abu Mohammed's men are all here paddling in the water, bathing in this river.

Contrary to what you might think, swimming, laughing, and having fun aren't considered as haram, as a sin. That day, Abu Mohammad decided to grant his men a few moments relaxation. As the prophet Muhammad said, always keep some wood in handy.

We'll soon be in Latakia, God willing. We're getting close. Soon we'll have won back every neighborhood in Aleppo.

I'm sorry. The day is coming to an end. In the Latakia sector, our guide decides to inspect a rather special building site.

The foreman, sporting an Islamic State headband, is called Abu Assad. The visit begins. What we're about to see inside will take our breath away.

Built early in the summer, six meters underground, this tunnel was dug to take the enemy from the rear. After two kilometers, the enemy positions are right above our heads. This colossal project is kept going by 15 Syrian prisoners working 15-hour daily shifts, night and day.

We told them this: You're widening all this here but just think, just one centimeter is a lot of work, easily 10 wheelbarrows. Appalling working conditions for these slaves, armed with simple pneumatic drills, who have to put up with more than 40-degree heat and a stifling atmosphere. When we questioned them, you could see the fear in their faces.

Before we were with the regime which insults the prophet. Now, we are ready to blow everything up, to do suicide operations against them. If we don't fight them on the surface, we'll do it from underneath If God wishes, we shall kill them one by one.

The infidels In this tactical war where each side tries to catch the other unawares, this shows that the jihadists are ready for anything. In the bowels of the earth, Abu Assad takes advantage of the presence of foreign journalists to challenge us on a subject dear to his heart. He is one of the few in the group to speak openly of France as an enemy.

The Kouachis defended the prophet may blessings of peace be upon him. They are our brothers, May God keep them in a place in paradise. They are our brothers.

Our prophet is their prophet. Our God is their God. My Islam is their Islam and God will reunite us in paradise, in the great beyond.

At the time of our visit, the prisoners had already dug close to four kilometers of tunnels. The ultimate target was five. Almost one week at the heart of the jihad and our amazement continued to grow.

Just months ago, this zone was controlled by Islamic State, but its men were routed by other combatants, in particular the Free Syrian Army. We had heard that some Christians remained in the sector. We brought this up with our guides and they brought us here to the village of Al-Quniyah.

Built in 1933, its church is still standing. It's even regularly attended by 230 Christian families from three neighboring villages. For the past 15 years, Father Francis, an Italian, has officiated here.

Recent events have changed nothing, even when the zone was held by Islamic State. They said we could practise our religion freely. We could pray, etc.

We just had to avoid ringing bells and to take away the religious signs outside the church. All the statues, the statues of the Madonna, of Saint Joseph and Saint Anthony and we took away the crucifixes because they are Christian signs and that's all, really. The visit continues, still accompanied by the jihadists.

Abu Layeyth and Abu Mohammad sit down alongside the priest and are very attentive to our interview. It's hard to know if he was speaking under duress or not, but Father Francis showed an unexpected understanding of the Islamic State. The term extremism is a very, very broad concept.

The mass media tend to exaggerate the problem. When the Islamic State was here, that was a good time for us. A period of peace and tranquility because all the killers, all the assassins, all the thugs and gangsters were chased away.

We could finally sleep peacefully with our doors open. It really was a lovely period. As I told you earlier, we had a very respectful relationship.

It would seem that the rules haven't changed since the arrival of Abu Mohammed's jihadists and the other factions. Even for the Jizya, the mandatory tax imposed on non-Muslims, they showed quite astonishing indulgence. What happens about Jizya?

It's a tax for non-Muslims. Those who can pay, pay. Those who can't are exempt.

Our guide politely invited us to shoot the following sequence. We are back on the front line. In this people-carrier are women and children who all armed.

The jihadists made it a point of honor that we filmed this sequence. They are quite aware that these images are exceptional. This child, barely 12 years old and carrying a heavy weapon, struggles to pose for the camera.

[Arabic spoken audio] Allahu Akbar! These women are learning to fight. Their actions are still very uncertain.

The wife of Abu Mohammad, seen here on the left, has set up her own cell, Qaedat al-Jihad, the jihad base, though she is seven months pregnant. Both bomb-making and weapons-handling skills are learned in a practical setting. To avoid bullets, hide behind the mound.

Then put on the safety catch. If you panic, you don't kill each other. [Arabic spoken audio] Allahu Akbar!

Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar! On the sixth day of our voyage into the heart of the jihadi world, Abu Mohammad wants to show us something he feels strongly, that jihad is a family affair.

He enjoys the moment playing with his nine-month-old son, though perhaps not quite the kind of games we are used to. The setting for the women's interview is carefully composed. No, I'm not afraid.

When I'm at home with my son, they drop barell bombs. When I'm at the market with my son, bombs and missiles rain down on us. Here we can defend ourselves and retaliate when we're shot at.

If we are to die, it will be with dignity. The situation is clear, they strike, so do we. I am not scared for my son, if death comes, then it will come.

Wherever we find ourselves, we will die anyway. Abu Layeyth's wife is here too. A stolen image of an intimacy never normally shown.

What she doesn't know is that within 48 hours, her husband will no longer be of this world. [Arab spoken audio] One of the challenges facing the jihadists is spotting the enemy, who are often invisible. To this end, they've invested in a new device.

In fact, they have just taken delivery of several drones. One of their men has just brought them back from Europe. This program offers several options.

This device does indeed have several functions. It enables them to drop small explosive charges but also to scrutinize the regime's positions and its aircraft. [Arabic spoken audio] You see, the drone is here.

This is our current position. Here is where we bombed them yesterday. The reconnaissance is done.

Now, the jihadists will temporarily abandon this part of the front as a crucial battle awaits them elsewhere. For several weeks, the jihadists have been stuck in Al-Fureikha, a small town 70 kilometers from Latakia. The regime has pulled out all the stops, sending the Air Force on bombing raids and reinforcing numbers on the ground.

This tower in the background is the problem. Inside, there are army snipers. They've devised a plan to capture it.

Aleppo, in the jihadi headquarters. The bomb makers have prepared a stock of shells ready to be sent to the front. Abu Layeyth coordinates all operations, but we can feel that there is something special in store.

The Emir reveals his strategy for capturing the tower occupied by snipers. His idea is to gain access and open fire on the enemy's soldiers. If this doesn't work, he has a plan B, to blow himself up.

How do you justify the fact that, as chief, you and no one else will wear the belt of explosives? How exactly do you feel about that? God is almighty and welcomes our martyrs.

Our duty is difficult. Pigs and heathens are prospering in our country, on our lands. By God, by God, by God, we have just this belt with which to fight them.

Warriors have been trained in the land of Sham, Syria. If God wishes, I shall be the first. Who will come with me?

We are all brothers here. If we do it tonight, who will come with me to lead this operation against the regime? God willing, we will gain access.

For this operation, for this operation, for this operation, God willing… What's the matter, Islam? -Mohammed, are you ready? -Yes, God willing.

-Takbir! -Allahu Akbar! -Takbir!

-Allahu Akbar! Who still wants to go, youngsters? Faced with their chief and our camera, everyone volunteers, even the prisoner.

The fateful hour draws near. Some find it hard to hold back the tears. A final prayer together.

Abu Layeyth goes off on his own for a long while. Then, comes the time for farewells. I am proud of you, prouder than of my own brother.

Before, you were with the infidels and now you are on the right path. That's why you must prepare to join me soon. God willing.

I am ready. Are you ready? Goodbye, everybody.

-Takbir! -Allahu Akbar! -Takbir!

-Allahu Akbar! -Takbir! -Allahu Akbar!

Chief! Chief. I swore to Almighty God.

If you should see our prophet Muhammad up there, say hello from me. -Allahu Akbar! -Allahu Akbar!

-Allahu Akbar! -Allahu Akbar! -Allahu Akbar!

-Allahu Akbar! Goodbye, everybody. The next morning at dawn.

Posted at the entrance to the village, one of the jihadist factions opens fire on the enemy to create a diversion. This is the final picture of Abu Layeyth, less than five minutes before he enters the building where the snipers are stationed. The suicide bomber has just entered the tower.

We take up position in the building opposite. Allahu Akbar! [Arabic spoken audio] -Allahu Akbar!

-Allahu Akbar! -Allahu Akbar! -Allahu Akbar!

Allahu Akbar! Finally, he opens fire. [Arabic spoken audio] Before being hit by a bullet himself.

-Allahu Akbar! -Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!

Abu Layeyth resorted to plan B. The way is now clear for the jihadists to advance on the tower. What we find there is a vision of horror.

[Arabic spoken audio] You see what happens to Bashar's pigs? -That's what'll happen to Bashar too! -Allahu Akbar!

Around 20 bodies lie scattered at the foot of the tower. We decide to turn off the camera. Aleppo, the final day of our tour.

In the many neighborhoods that have fallen to the fundamentalists, their flag is flying almost everywhere. The first victims of this conflict that has gone on for more than four years are the children, abandoned to the perils of war, the bombs, and the chaos. Each day, this ten-year-old boy is doomed to wander the streets looking for food and reusable waste.

The day's harvest is meager but losing hope isn't an option. People are dying one after the other. I gather bits of bread to live on.

We have nothing to eat every other day. I leave my parents alone at home and I miss them… From the beginning of the revolt against the regime in March 2011, more than 220,000 people have died in Syria, one-third of them civilians, and 12,000 of them children.