SNA hands over 5 fugitives to HTS in NW Syria
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – On Tuesday, the Turkish-backed Sultan Suleiman Shah Division, aka al-Amshat, handed over five militants to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS – formerly al-Nusra Front) after fleeing Idlib Governorate to Afrin Region, northwest Syria, on charges of espionage to US-led Global Coalition.
A private source in the General Security Service (GSS) of the HTS informed North Press that al-Amshat Division handed over the five ex-militants to the HTS via al- Ghazawiyah crossing which separates the Turkish-occupied city of Afrin, and HTS-held areas in Idlib, 48 hours after arresting them in Afrin.
The source further added that the arrestees were ex-militants in Branch 106, affiliated with the GSS, in the city of Sarmada, northern Idlib. However, they fled Idlib after being placed in the list of the accused people of espionage to the Global Coalition.
The source indicated that the handover process took place based on security coordination between the al-Amshat Division and the HTS.
The HTS has been experiencing internal divisions for over two months, with one faction supporting Abu Maria al-Qahtani, a prominent leader within the HTS, and another supporting leader of the HTS, Abu Muhammad al-Julani. These divisions became evident during a recent security campaign that targeted numerous leaders and militants affiliated with the group, particularly within the GSS.