HTS imposes house arrest on prominent leader in Syria’s Idlib
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – Leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS – formerly al-Nusra Front), Abu Muhammad al-Julani, imposed on Thursday a house arrest on Abu Maria al-Qahtani, head of the HTS’s General Security Apparatus.
An exclusive source, who wished to remain anonymous, informed North Press that a plan was in place to arrest al-Qahtani for a week. However, some leaders close to al-Julani opposed the decision due to concerns that the arrest could trigger an armed conflict between al-Qahtani’s supporters, who are affiliated with tribes associated with the HTS, and al-Julani’s own supporters.
The source mentioned that the motivation behind al-Julani’s action was the confessions provided by numerous militants and leaders who had been arrested earlier that al-Qahtani had intentions to overthrow al-Julani.
The source stated that al-Qahtani had been engaged in secret meetings with Fahim Issa, leader of Second Corps, Abu Amsha, the leader of Sultan Suleiman Shah Division (Amshat), and Saif Abu Bakr, leader of the Hamza Division in the cities of Afrin and Azaz, northwest Syria.
These revelations were based on confessions from leaders close to al-Qahtani, which heightened al-Julani’s suspicions towards him.
Furthermore, the HTS has been experiencing internal divisions for over two months, with one faction supporting al-Qahtani and another supporting al-Julani. These divisions became evident during a recent security campaign that targeted numerous leaders and militants affiliated with the group, particularly within the security apparatus led by al-Qahtani.
The source acknowledged that there are individuals within the group who deny the reports of al-Qahtani’s arrest or his placement under house arrest, claiming that he is “at home due to illness.” However, several sources close to him have confirmed that he is indeed under house arrest, and this restrictive measure is expected to continue for two months until the HTS’s Shura Council reaches a final decision regarding his fate.