Large-scale security campaign | HTS arrests tens of “Islamic Party of Liberation” affiliates near Iskenderun border

Reliable SOHR sources have confirmed that HTS security service has launched a large-scale security campaign, targeting the affiliates of the “Islamic Party of Liberation” in Atma town in northern Idlib, near the border with Iskenderun region. HTS arrested tens of the party’s affiliates after storming their houses. HTS also attacked a demonstration by women calling for the release of detainees in HTS prisons, and opened fire indiscriminately with the aim of dispersing the protesters.

 

It is worth noting that the “Islamic Party of Liberation” is a political formation whose stated aim is “the re-establishment of the Islamic Caliphate”. In addition, activities of the “Islamic Party of Liberation” have been noticeably escalated in the recent times in areas under the control of Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham, as the party has criticised all rebel and jihadi factions, regarding them as “traitorous and agents of foreign states”.

 

The “Islamic Party of Liberation” is one of the most prominent bodies rejecting the Russian-Turkish agreement concerning the “de-escalation zone”. The party is working recently on showing HTS commanders as traitors, including “Mohammed Al-Julani” the HTS leader whom the party describes during its symposiums in areas controlled by HTS as “an agent of Turkey”.

 

Moreover, the party periodically distribute leaflets to the residents, calling for the suspension of dealing with foreign countries and the need for establishing a “Caliphate” state, as well as defaming all armed formations which controls territories beyond the control of regime forces and allies.

 

On January 4, SOHR sources reported that Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham security service arrested a member of “Al-Tahrir Islamic Party” (The Islamic Party of Liberation), in Killi town in northern Idlib. SOHR sources said that HTS security force arrested the member and took him to unknown destination, after opening fire on him as he was trying to escape.

 

While on July 8, 2019, SOHR sources reported that an HTS military group raided the headquarters of “Islamic Party of Liberation” in Jabal Sam’an area in the western countryside of Aleppo.

 

The security force confiscated equipment and devices of radio broadcasting belonging to the party. It is worth noting that HTS had confiscated radio transmitters belonging to “Islamic Party of Liberation” on July 2, 2019, while storming the border village of Khirbet al-Joz in the western countryside of Idlib.