Saudi-Qatar Spat Spilling Over to Terrorist-Held Regions in Northwestern Syria

Rasa - Intensified tensions between Qatar and Saudi Aribia are leading to serious infighting between their proxy forces in Syria's Idlib province, local sources said Wednesday.

News ID: 430184

Date: 07 June 2017 - 22:57

RNA - The sources said that the terrorist groups deployed in Idlib said that they are fortifying their positions that seem to be the scene of clashes between Ahrar al-Sham and Tahrir al-Sham Hay'at (the Levant Liberation Board).

The sources further added that Tahrir al-Sham and Ahrar al-Sham have gathered their forces and military equipment in the towns and villages of Idlib, Salqin, Harem, Kafr Takharim, Sarmin, Banish, Ariha, Jisr al-Shughour, Ma'arat al-Nu'aman, al-Dana, Sarmada, Atmeh and Khirbet al-Joz, declaring that a fresh round of heavy infighting is likely.

The sources quoted field commanders of the Free Syrian Army as saying that differences between Doha and Riyadh will result in fierce clashes among terrorist groups in Idlib and a change in the map of the regions under their control.

Local sources reported on Monday that 10 terrorists were killed and wounded in a roadside bomb blast near the town of Khan al-Sabal after an intensified round of tensions and infighting rival militant groups in Northwestern Syria.

Local media activists said that a roadside bomb hit one of the vehicles of Faylaq al-Sham near the town of Khan al-Sabal, killing six terrorists and injuring four more.

The sources said that the attacks of this kind were increasing in Idlib, but this was the first time that Faylaq al-Sham was targeted.

In the meantime, one of the commanders of Tahrir al-Sham Hay'at nom de guerre Abu Torab Muhassan was shot down by unknown assailants in the town of Salqin in Northwestern Idlib.

847/940