HTS arrests spokesperson of General Security Service in NW Syria
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – The General Security Service (GSS), affiliated with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS –formerly al-Nusra Front), arrested on Sunday its official spokesperson in Idlib Governorate, northwest Syria, on charges of leaking information to external parties during a campaign of arrests within the HTS ranks.
“A unit from the GSS, under the orders of its leader Abu Muhammad al-Jolani and under the supervision of his son-in-law known as al-Mughira al-Badawi, raided the headquarters of Diyaa al-Omer, also known as al-Muqana, who is the official spokesperson of the GSS. He was arrested at his workplace in the city of Sarmada, northern Idlib, pending an investigation into his communication with international intelligence agencies and leaking of information”, an exclusive source told North Press.
“The GSS transferred al-Omer along with its affiliated militants to the main headquarters of the GSS in the city of Idlib, on charges of collaborating with foreign and Arab intelligence agencies and leaking important information to them, amid significant efforts by military and security leaders to pressure the HTS to release him”, according to the source.
This arrest is considered as the most significant one since the detention of the top security official within the HTS, Abu Maria al-Qahtani, who was arrested on security-related charges, the source added.
The GSS arrested, earlier this week, a military leader along with several of its militants on charges of collaborating with al-Qahtani.