Tensions are high at the Ghazawiya intersection connecting the town of Darat Azza in western Aleppo under the control of the extremist group Hayyat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the Afrin area under the control of the Army rebels. Syria Freedom (FSA) is backed by Turkey.
On April 15, Faylaq al-Sham (a group affiliated to the FSA) arrested an HTS member when he tried to enter the Afrin area and in response HTS arrested 22 members of Faylaq al-Sham. at the Darat Izza-Ghazawiya intersection as they were returning from the HTS-held Idlib area.
It is known that HTS has ordered not to allow members of Faylaq al-Sham to enter the Idlib area until the issue is resolved through the two “gates” of Darat Izza-Ghazawiya and Atma-Deir Ballut.
HTS once tightened control over the aforementioned border gates in 2019 when they conducted a military operation against the FSA group Harakat Nour Al-Din Al-Zenki after taking control of the entire western countryside of Aleppo. .
HTS also raided Faylaq al-Sham’s checkpoints at the border crossings and arrested those in charge of security there. Faylaq al-Sham, on the other hand, sent reinforcements to the Deir Ballut area and raided an HTS stronghold north of Aleppo and captured three gunmen.
Faylaq al-Sham and other FSA groups still control some areas in the northwest Syria (blue) however almost surrounded by HTS (black).
Based on Al-Monitor’s interviews with HTS leaders and Faylaq al-Sham, the two sides are currently accusing each other of being involved in the arrest of the aforementioned HTS member.
The HTS side accused Faylaq al-Sham of slandering a member and also an HTS commander that this person was a spy for Damascus and their actions were just a response to the enemy’s desire to break HTS relations. with FSA groups.
Faylaq al-Sham, on the other hand, accused HTS of being “a trouble maker” for sending people to spy on FSA leaders in northern Aleppo and warned that the rival group would crack down on competing Faylaq al-Sham members. Syrian Arab Army (SAA) on the Idlib demarcation line in the coming days.
Turkish analyst Muhammed al-Sukkeri commented to Al-Monitor that despite the tensions between HTS and Faylaq al-Sham, the two sides remained “relatively calm” as Faylaq al-Sham received approval. great support of Turkey
The analyst added that the presence of Faylaq al-Sham in Idlib is also evidence that helps Ankara prove that the HTS – a group that many countries consider a terrorist – is not the sole ruler of this area.
However, al-Sukkeri did not rule out the possibility that Faylaq al-Sham became the next target after HTS eliminated most of the opposing FSA groups:
“HTS does not hide its efforts to gain control of Idlib… Turkey has always supported Faylaq al-Sham and now HTS is able to confront this threat after eliminating all other factions. threaten their control like Hurras al-Din and Harakat Nour Al-Din Al-Zenki”.
HTS fighters step on an FSA flag during combat with the enemy in Idlib.
at Blogtuan.info – Source: Soha.vn – Read the original article here
