Infighting Intensifies in Idlib as Unknown Assailants Attack Tahrir Al-Sham

Rasa - Unknown assailants' attack against the positions of Tahrir al-Sham Hay'at (the Levant Liberation Board) in Idlib extended the range of clashes among the terrorist groups in the region.

News ID: 429728

Date: 18 May 2017 - 23:25

RNA - Dissident media activists reported that after heavy clashes between Ahrar al-Sham and 'Fastaqem Kama Omert' militants in Idlib, infighting erupted between unknown assailants and members of Tahrir al-Sham Hay'at in the Eastern town of Sanjar, adding that the former won control of several positions of Tahrir al-Sham temporarily.

Meantime, some members of Tahrir al-Sham said that the attack was launched by Jeish al-Fatehin militants - affiliated to Ahrar al-Sham - at the order of the group's commander Hessam Salamah.

Tahrir al-Sham members were put on the alert against Jeish al-Fatehin for several hours after the attack.

Earlier this month, local sources reported that terrorists of Ahrar al-Sham and Jeish al-Islam have engaged in fierce clashes in Northern Idlib, inflicting major losses on each other.

The sources said that now clashes among terrorist groups have spread from Eastern Damascus up to Northern Idlib, adding that Ahrar al-Sham militants have attacked the positions of Jeish al-Islam in the village of Bab Saqa in Northern Idlib and have managed to take control over the positions of rival terrorists.

In the meantime, Ahrar al-Sham stormed the positions of Faylaq al-Sham in the region after seizing control over Jeish al-Islam's positions.

Military sources said at the time that terrorist groups in Idlib province were highly likely to engage in a fresh round of infighting after their comrades in Damascus province intensified attacks on each others' positions following their defeats in battle with the Syrian Army troops in Eastern Ghouta.

The sources referred to the clashes between Faylaq al-Rahman and Tahrir al-Sham Hay'at with Jeish al-Islam, and said that after the Free Syrian Army (FSA) announced support for Jeish al-Islam in Eastern Ghouta, the infighting seemed to be spreading in other regions, particularly in Idlib province, as well.

They added that after intensifying clashes among the terrorist groups in Eastern Ghouta, Ahrar al-Sham in a statement asked Jeish al-Islam to end attacks on other rival groups in the region and called for forming a religious court to find a way to end the clashes.

Emir of Jeish al-Umah organization Abu Hafas al-Moqadasi that is a notorious al-Qaeda-minded Salafi leader asked all terrorist groups to annihilate Jeish al-Islam if the group continues attacks on other militant groups.

Minutes after release of Ahrar al-Sham's statement, media activists informed of a heavy explosion in Jeish al-Islam's ammunition depots.

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