They are a group found by Abu Fatima Al-Turki and currently led by Abu Hanifa Al Adhari and officially their name is Jundullah. They are a small independent group of foreign (mainly Azerbaijani) fighters that were stationed in the Turkmen Mountain (Jabal Turkman). There are reports about them which are concerning including extortions, theft etc. Reportedly once they made a car deal with another group and they killed the members of the other group and stole the cars. This is an example of what kind of group they are.Can someone give me a rundown on Abu Hanifa? I kinda feel like I should be annoyed about this as an Azerbaijani but I don't know enough to make a clear judgement call.
Even that they are involved in crime this is only the authorization for the HTS to launch that operation. The real reason is that HTS pressure other groups to either join them or face annihilation. Small groups like Jundullah and also Jund Ash-Sham that is led by the prominent Georgian (Chechen) fighter Muslim Shishani faced the same fate. HTS openly launched an operation to "restore order" against Abu Hanifa but covertly they targeted Muslim Shishani and his group as well. Because of the good reputation of Muslim Shishani among the other fighters and groups they didn't want to fight Muslim Shishani openly. Earlier they threatened him and urged him to leave Syria. His home was even attacked and HTS sent a delegation to his home to tell him that he should leave.
After the operation HTS launched Muslim Shishani and ~70 of his fighters left the Turkmen Mountain. HTS sent a negotiation group consisting of mainly Turkic fighters part of different groups and the retreat of Abu Hanifa group was ensured. Rumors are circulating that MIT had arrested the brother of Muslim Shishani that is named Musa Shishani and transferred him to Turkey but this could just be a propaganda. Now these groups are in great danger and it will be interesting to see the developments. Are they going to leave Syria or they are going to stay and fight is yet to be seen.