HTS executes senior leader in Syria’s Idlib on charges of “espionage”
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS – formerly al-Nusra Front) executed on Saturday an Iraqi security leader close to Abu Maria al-Qahtani, head of General Security Service (GSS) ,after six months of detention in Idlib Governorate, northwest Syria, on charges of collaborating with forging intelligence.
An exclusive source told North Press that the HTS executed Abu Omar al-Iraqi who had been working for al-Qahtani since 2012.
The source further informed that the execution took place in Idlib Central Prison, western the governorate, after a trial attended by Muzher al-Waisi and Abdurrahim Atoun, members of Shura Council of the HTS and other officials.
Earlier yesterday, the GSS stormed eight houses of security militants close to al-Qahtani.
On August 17, the HTS imposed house arrest on al-Qahtani. The motivation behind this action was the confessions provided by numerous militants and leaders who had been arrested earlier that al-Qahtani had intentions to overthrow Abu Muhammad al-Julani, the HTS’s leader.
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.