Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham controls 6 cities and towns in the countryside of Idlib, meetings fail to stop the raging fight

The alerts and tensions still persist in Idlib province, between two of the largest factions operating in Idlib province and the Syrian north, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights learned that fighters of the Islamic Movement of Ahrar Al-Sham carried out an attack on Zradna town in an attempt to take control of it from the Ahrar al-Sham, in conjunction with mobilization by Ahrar al-Sham to attack Kansafra town which is controlled by Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham and has a notorious prison known as the Punishment Prison of Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham, while demonstrations are taking place in the western countryside of Aleppo Maarrat al-Hermeh and several other areas in the countryside of Idlib, demanding the battles to be stopped and un-involving the civilians in these battles and protecting them, they also called upon both parties to end the armed demonstration in the towns in which the clashes took place, and to withdraw to outside of it and hand it over to civil administrations to oversee and run it.

In another context, cross-sources confirmed that a meeting was held via mediators between Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham and the Islamic Movement of Ahrar al-Sham in Saraqeb area in the eastern countryside of Idlib, to reach an agreement to stop this most violent and widespread fight, which has spread from the north of Idlib to the south and from east to west, followed by hearing sounds of clashes in areas in the vicinity of the town, followed by the control of Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham and entre to the town, and information about arresting pro-Ahrar persons and fighters who remained in the town from the Movement, while the clashes continue in Salqeen area between both parties, in an attempt by each party to take control of the city, which is located in the northern countryside of Idlib, and confirmed information about the control of Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham over the city, and starting inspecting it and deploying fighters in its neighborhoods.

During the past few hours, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights published that clashes are taking place between both parties, in areas in in al-Bara town and its surroundings in Jabal Al-Zawiyah, the Ahrar al-Sham have controlled Hersh Benneen and the Tanks Battalion After an attack on the area, located in in Jabal Al-Zawiyah, while Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham was able to control a checkpoint of members of Ahrar al-Sham south of Saraqeb town in the eastern countryside of Idlib, accompanied by the fall of shells on the northern neighbourhood of Saraqeb, intersecting sources said that the shells came from Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham, while Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham have arrested fighters of a battalion of Ahrar al-Sham in Marshourin, while Ahrar al-Sham entered Kafr Nabl and arrested people, cross-sources told the Syrian Observatory that most of them are members who remain after the withdrawal of the rest from the town, while more casualties fell in the ranks of both parties, as well as civilian citizens.

While 2 members and a local security commander were killed in al-Maghara area in Jabal Al-Zawiyah, after being targeted by fighters of Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham while they were stopped on a checkpoint of Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham, where a verbal altercation developed between them which then turned to shooting by members of Hayyaat Tahrir al-Sham on fighters of Ahrar al-Sham, while the towns of Hass and Kafr Nabl and several other areas in the countryside of Idlib are witnessing demonstrations and protests that demanded the stop the fight and solve this matter in the court.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights documented hours ago, the death of 11 fighters at least in targeting and clashes between Ahrar Al-Sham Islamic Movement and Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham while 3 civilians, including a female citizen, lost their lives as a result of being hit by bullets and shrapnel during the exchange of targeting. The SOHR also observed that Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham managed to regain control over Al-Dana and Azmareen towns after losing them to Ahrar Al-Sham during the night. Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham also took full control of Hazarin and Kafrnebbul, amid information about handing both towns over to Idlib Free Army. Local sources and activists accused Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham of baffling the public opinion by claiming that they are handing the areas under their control to other factions in order not to leave any excuse for Ahrar Al-Sham to attack the towns that they claim to have handed over to “Idlib Free Army”. The local people also confirmed that there are protests against the fighting taking place calling upon all parties to rid the villages under their control from any military manifestations. Moreover, Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham managed to take control of Harem city following the withdrawal of Ahrar Al-Sham Islamic Movement from there. The sounds of gunfire was then heard in the area and local sources said that Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham fighters are behind that in an attempt to make people believe that there were clashes taking place.

The Syrian Observatory also published that clashes took place between both parties in Salqeen area in the northern countryside of Idlib, while Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham launched a violent attack on the south of Saraqeb town which enabled them to take control of its silos after the withdrawal of Ahrar Al-Sham and of a prison inside the silos. Sources said that there were a number of prisoners there who are still held by Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham but some of them were released. Information was reported about Tahrir Al-Sham’ use of armored vehicles in some areas, amid explosions that were heard in the vicinity of Saraqeb. Explosions coincided with holding a demonstration condemning the attack on the town and calling for halting hostilities. Demonstrators also called on Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham to stop their aggression on Ahrar Al-Sham. Meanwhile, a violent explosion rocked Armanaz town in the northwestern countryside of Idlib as a result of a bombing that targeted one of the locations of Ahrar Al-Sham Movement. Contradictory information was reported about whether the explosion was caused by a booby-trap or an explosive device. As a result, 17 persons, including members and security officers from Ahrar Al-Sham in the town, were injured and 3 of them at least died of their injuries. In addition, clashes broke out in the vicinity of Jarjanaz town in the eastern countryside of Idlib between both parties, amid an exchange of targeting, causing the injury of civilians. Information was reported about the death of a female citizen. Violent battles also take place between both parties in Ahrash Benneen in Jabal Al-Zawiyah, amid an advancement made by Ahrar Al-Sham Movement. Information was reported about the arrest of some of the members of Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham as part of Ahrar Al-Sham attempt to take full control of Al-Ahrash. There were also skirmishes at a checkpoint near Al-Atareb area, near the western administrative borders between Aleppo and Idlib, amid a state of alert among the fighters of Tahrir Al-Sham in Regiment 46 which is near Al-Atareb in the western countryside of Aleppo.

Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham also took control over the last hours of the night of Al-Habit town and Aabdeen village, after attacking two checkpoints affiliated with Ahrar Al-Sham Movement at the outskirts of both areas. Whereas, Ahrar Al-Sham Islamic Movement managed to take control of the towns and villages of Sarmada, Kafruma, Frekya, Al-Maghara, Marzaf, Shnan, Benneen, Iblin, Kadoura, Ma’rbleet, Rwiha, and Deir Senbol. The SOHR published yesterday that tensions surfaced against the backdrop of opening fire on a demonstration in which the Syrian Revolution banner was raised in Al-Saha Square in Idlib city, causing the injury of 3 persons at least. The protestors and the residents of the area accused fighters of Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham of opening fire on the demonstration; one day after unknown persons had raised black banners that read “there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is Allah’s messenger”. Local sources confirmed that banners were raised in the public squares and that some accused Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham of raising such banners as a reaction to raising the Syrian revolution banner. Violent clashes followed such tensions between Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham and Ahrar Al-Sham Islamic Movement.