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| HTS in NW Syria: HTS continues pruning the Abu Maria al-Qahtani faction, gave foreign turbans to Turkey, airstruck by Russia, continues mutual shelling against Syrian gov’t |
| 2023-08-23 |
| Russia targets HTS posts in NW Syria causing casualties Aug 22, 2023 [NPASyria] Russian warplanes renewed airstrikes on Tuesday, targeting a site belonging to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS – formerly al-Nusra Front) in the countryside of Idlib Governorate, northwestern Syria, injuring 15 individuals, including HTS militants. Opposition military sources informed North Press that the Russian warplanes targeted the outskirts of the villages of Batenta and al-Sheikh Bahr, west of Idlib, using three airstrikes with powerful dual-explosive missiles. The sources added that the airstrikes targeted HTS positions and the vicinity of the Beir al-Tayyib camp near the village of Batenta, resulting in the injury of 15 individuals, including eight militants and seven civilians, including women and children. On the same day at morning, four individuals, including two children, were injured due to artillery and missile shelling by the Syrian government forces on villages and towns in the countryside of Idlib and Aleppo in northwestern Syria. HTS hands over foreign militants to Turkish Intelligence in Syria’s Idlib Aug 22, 2023 [NPASyria] Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS – formerly al-Nusra Front) handed over on Tuesday an Iraqi and another Iranian militants, to the Turkish Intelligence through Bab al-Hawa border crossing in northern Idlib Governorate, northwest Syria. An exclusive source informed North Press that the HTS handed over the Iraqi leader Abu al-Laith al-Anbari, who has been detained in the city of Idlib since June 2022. “They also handed over the Iranian militant Abu Ishaq al-Irani, who used to be a militant in al-Nusra Front, through Bab al-Hawa crossing,” the source added. The source indicated that al-Anbari was a former leader in al-Qaeda and had defected from al-Nusra Front after internal conflicts. Meanwhile, the Iranian militant served as a military trainer for militants of a faction of al-Nusra Front. It is worth noting that the General Security Service (GSS), affiliated with the HTS, has previously handed over dozens of foreign leaders affiliated with al-Qaeda and dozens of foreign fighters who joined factions present in northwestern Syria to the Turkish Intelligence through the Bab al-Hawa crossing. HTS arrests senior leader in Syria’s Idlib Aug 21, 2023 [NPASyria] On Monday, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS – formerly al-Nusra Front) arrested a prominent leader in Idlib Governorate, northwestern Syria, on charges of involvement with Abu Maria al-Qahtani, a prominent leader within the HTS, in a coup plot against Abu Muhammad al-Julani, the HTS leader. An exclusive source informed North Press that the HTS arrested Abu Muhammad al-Shahil who was responsible for the Eastern Bloc and his companion Abu Humam al-Deri in Dabitt neighborhood, in the city of Idlib. This action is a strategic move by al-Julani to undermine the Eastern Bloc militants, who are seen as crucial supporters of al-Qahtani within the group. The source added that Abu Musab al-Shahil, an official of the Eastern Bloc, demanded clarification from the HTS regarding the reason for the arrest. The source revealed that the decision to carry out the arrest was influenced by recommendations from Abu Ahmad Hudud and Abdurrahim Atoun, both of whom hold high positions and are close associates of the HTS leader. Their concerns primarily revolved around anticipating the potential response from the Eastern Bloc following the arrest of al-Qahtani. On August 17, the HTS imposed a house arrest on al-Qahtani. The HTS has been experiencing internal divisions for over two months, with one faction supporting al-Qahtani and another supporting al-Julani. These divisions became evident during a recent security campaign that targeted numerous leaders and militants affiliated with the group, particularly within the GSS. HTS executes senior leader in Syria’s Idlib on charges of “espionage” [NPASyria] Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS – formerly al-Nusra Front) executed on Saturday an Iraqi security leader close to Abu Maria al-Qahtani, head of General Security Service (GSS) ,after six months of detention in Idlib Governorate, northwest Syria, on charges of collaborating with forging intelligence. An exclusive source told North Press that the HTS executed Abu Omar al-Iraqi who had been working for al-Qahtani since 2012. The source further informed that the execution took place in Idlib Central Prison, western the governorate, after a trial attended by Muzher al-Waisi and Abdurrahim Atoun, members of Shura Council of the HTS and other officials. Earlier yesterday, the GSS stormed eight houses of security militants close to al-Qahtani. On August 17, the HTS imposed house arrest on al-Qahtani. The motivation behind this action was the confessions provided by numerous militants and leaders who had been arrested earlier that al-Qahtani had intentions to overthrow Abu Muhammad al-Julani, the HTS’s leader. Furthermore, the HTS has been experiencing internal divisions for over two months, with one faction supporting al-Qahtani and another supporting al-Julani. These divisions became evident during a recent security campaign that targeted numerous leaders and militants affiliated with the group, particularly within the security apparatus led by al-Qahtani. HTS arrests 5 militants in NW Syria Aug 20, 2023 [NPASyria] Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS – formerly al-Nusra Front) raided on Sunday al-Ghazawiyah crossing, which separates the Turkish-occupied city of Afrin, northwest Syria, and HTS-held areas in Idlib Governorate, northwest the country, and arrested five of its own militants and leaders. The HTS arrested those responsible for inspection and security checks at the crossing, as well as some guards, on charges of facilitating the escape of wanted individuals. A special source told North Press that the HTS arrested the officials in charge of inspection and security checks along with three guards of the crossing on charges of involvement in smuggling militants and security leaders affiliated with the group who are wanted in security cases. The source further added that the detainees were transferred to one of the HTS’s prisons in the town of Sarmada in the northern countryside of Idlib. The source indicated that the HTS continues its security campaign against its opponents, with the number of detainees reaching 390 individuals, including leaders. Government forces-HTS mutual shelling in NW Syria causes casualties Aug 20, 2023 [NPASyria] A militant of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS – formerly al-Nusra Front) was killed and four others were injured on Sunday in a rocket attack launched by the Syrian government forces stationed in Regiment 46, west of Aleppo. An exclusive source told North Press that the injured people were transported to the National Hospital in the city of Idlib, northwest Syria. The source added that the HTS shelled posts of the government forces at the Regiment 46, using heavy artillery. They also targeted their own positions on the Urum al-Kubra outskirt, west of Aleppo, and the town of al-Bara in southern Idlib. In response, the government forces launched a similar shelling, targeting areas where the HTS was positioned. |
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