HTS in NW Syria arrests militants to avoid coup movement
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – Ahmad al-Rahhal, a military expert of Syrian opposition, told North Press on Monday that the purpose of arrest campaigns carried out by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS – formerly al-Nusra Front) against its own militants in northwest Syria is to get rid of commanders, fearing a coup movement against it.
The HTS has launched an arrest campaign, pursuing its security personnel, accusing them of dealing with the US-led Coalition. The number of detainees has reached hundreds.
There are information from within the HTS that indicates that it is an intelligence institution that has its own branches, according to al-Rahhal.
The recent arrests and events prove that, he added.
Abu Maria al-Qahtani, the head of HTS’ General Security Apparatus, has the highest authority, while Abu Mohammad al-Julani, HTS leader, is merely a figurehead who represents defections made by al-Qahtani, according to the military expert.
On July 29, the HTS’ General Security Apparatus arrested security personnel within its ranks, including a military official, in the city of Idlib and its southern countryside, northwest Syria, on charges of collaborating with the coalition.
On July 23, the HTS executed two detainees after spending eight months in custody on charges of spying for the coalition without being brought to trial or allowed to be visited during their entire period of detention.
Since the beginning of 2023, HTS has conducted 19 extrajudicial executions in Idlib, including at least two women, after they were arbitrarily detained and disappeared. Their families were not allowed to visit them or appoint lawyers for them.