Security tension | HTS-backed Ahrar Al-Sham members and Al-Jabha Al-Shamiyah strengthens presence in Aleppo
Aleppo province: SOHR activists have monitored military reinforcements and security alert of the “National Army” on one hand, and members of Ahrar Al-Sham of the previous commander of HTS-backed “Hassan Sofan” on the other hand, in Sosyan village, Al-Hadas camp and the vicinity of Al-Bab city after members of “Hassan Sofan” group assaulted members of Al-Jabha Al-Shamiyah in Al-Hadas village camp, and established checkpoints to stop passengers.
Earlier today, SOHR activists reported the death of a civilian of wounds he sustained due to clashes between Ahrar Al-Sham and Al-Jabha Al-Shamiyyah factions on June 18.
Accordingly, the number of civilian casualties rose to five.
These violent clashes also left four fighters of Al-Jabha Al-Shamiyyah and Ahrar Al-Sham dead.
On June 21, SOHR activists monitored a military meeting between “Al-Jabha Al-Shamiyah” on one hand and HTS and Ahrar Al-Sham on the other hand, under direct supervision by Turkish Intelligence in Aleppo countryside.
According to reliable SOHR sources, the factions reached an agreement stating the necessity of redeployment of “Al-Sham Legion” members in Basofan, Fafertin, Kabashin, Borj Haidar and Ba’yah villages in Shirawa district, in exchange for a withdrawal of Al-Jabha Al-Shamiyah faction from areas it recently controlled in Al-Bab countryside east of Aleppo.
Moreover, the agreement stated the necessity of immediately releasing prisoners of both parties and withdrawal of HTS from villages recently controlled in Shirawa district, in exchange for the withdrawal of Al-Jabha Al-Shamiyah from A’oulan village and keep control over Tel Bital and Abla villages in Al-Bab countryside eastern of Aleppo, in addition to the withdrawal of Ahrar Al-Sham from positions of Al-Jabha Al-Shamiyah in Jarablus city, which Ahrar Al-Sham members took over during the last battle between both factions.
The agreement terms also stated the cancelation of the Peace Committee and all decisions issued by them in Ahrar al-Sham and Al-Jabha Al-Shamiyah case in Aleppo countryside, and referring the file to Turkish Intelligence. Moreover, the “Revolutionary Commission” factions would stay on the frontlines of Idlib countryside and western Aleppo countryside.
It is worth noting that Hay’at Thae’ron threatened to withdraw from all frontlines with the regime in western Idlib and Aleppo countryside, after HTS controlled villages in “Olive Branch” area. The Turkish side pledged to expel HTS and prevent it from advancing in the area.
SOHR activists reported that dozens of civilians and fighters staged demonstrations near Kawa roundabout in Afrin city centre in the north-western Aleppo countryside in Azaz, north of Aleppo.
The people protested against Tahrir Al-Sham after its control of the villages in Afrin countryside and for breaching the terms of the agreement reached by the warring parties in Al-Bab countryside and Afrin between the “Third Corps, and Al-Jabha Al-Shamiyyah faction on the one hand, and “Ahrar Al-Sham” with the support of Tahrir Al-Sham.
According to SOHR activists, the demonstrators broke out following the call of Al-Jabha Al-Shamiyyah leader, Abu Ali Sejo, via an audio recording that the people and faction members to stage demonstrations against HTS faction to reject the entrance of HTS Afrin countryside and taking over five villages in Shirawa district, following the sudden withdrawal of “Al-Sham Corps” faction.