Local rebel commanders were generally suspicious of outside Arab military leaders, such as al-Qawuqji, and of the AHC, particularly after many members of the latter joined the Damascus-based Central Committee of Jihad following the AHC's dissolution by the authorities in October 1937.
The Central Committee settled the leadership dispute when it conferred the title of general gommander solely to al-Hajj Muhammad in February 1939 [REF].