Idlib Province witnesses decrease in the pace of the most-violent wide-scale fighting between its major factions

Idlib Province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: Calm prevails in Idlib Province amid on and off clashes in Salqeen area between Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham and Ahrar Al-Sham Movement and continued clashes in Zradna town between both parties in addition to the advancement of Ahrar Al-Sham Islamic Movement into parts of the town. Moreover, Sarmada town has been witnessing a series of arrests by Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham of persons and supports of Ahrar Al-Sham along with members of the Movement who are still in the town. Confirmed information was reported about the arrest of local commanders in Ahrar Al-Sham by Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham in Saraqeb town in the Eastern countryside of Idlib. The residents of the town also went out in a demonstration demanding the exit of Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham from the town. Local sources confirmed that members of Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham opened fire on demonstrators, causing the death of one person and several injuries. Meanwhile, members of Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham carried out an attack on Al-Z’einiyyeh checkpoint in Jisr Al-Shughur countryside, causing fatalities and the injury of one. Moreover, confirmed information was reported about the death of 3 fighters of Ahrar Al-Sham in a targeting by Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham in Salqeen area.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights published hours ago 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.

On the other hand, cross sources confirmed that a meeting was held through intermediaries between Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham and Ahrar Al-Sham Islamic Movement in Saraqeb area, located in the eastern countryside of Idlib, in order to reach an agreement on halting this fighting, which is considered the most violent and widest-scale, as it extends from the north of Idlib to its south and from its east to west. The meeting was followed by battle sounds in the vicinity of the area and then the entry of Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham to the town and taking control of it. Information was reported about arrests of Ahrar Al-Sham supporters and fighters who were still present in the city. Meanwhile, clashes continue in Salqeen area between both parties in an attempt by each to take control of the city, which is located at the northern countryside of Idlib. Confirmed information was reported about the fall of the city under the control of Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham and the launch of inspection and deployment operations in its neighborhoods.