By Mo’ayed al-Sheikh
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) — Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS – formerly al-Nusra Front), exploited recent events that took place in Deir ez-Zor Governorate, eastern Syria, aiming to expand in areas held by Turkish-backed armed opposition factions, aka the Syrian National Army (SNA), in northern Aleppo.
The HTS sent military reinforcements during that period under the name “Tribal Mobilization” but the reinforcements did not participate in any military operations in the cities of Jarablus and al-Bab, in the northern and eastern countryside of Aleppo Governorate, northwest Syria.
They were stationed in posts of the HTS allies in the region, including Ahrar al-Sham Eastern Branch and Ahrar Olan. Afterward, the HTS exerted efforts to expand its presence in the region for economic purposes.
The HTS controls Idlib and parts of the countryside of Hama, Aleppo, and Latakia in northwestern Syria. It attempted several times to advance into areas controlled by the SNA in Aleppo countryside, but Turkey prevented those operations.
Regarding its latest operation at the end of 2022, it sought to take control of Afrin Region, northwest Syria, through an agreement with Sultan Suleiman Shah Division (al-Amshat) and the Hamza Division that are allies of the HTS in the region, to avoid clashes with the Turkish forces.
After that, the HTS made numerous attempts to reach northeast Aleppo but failed because of Turkey. So, it sought to implement a similar plan in Afrin through coordinating with Ahrar al-Sham which allowed the HTS to enter northeastern Aleppo.
It failed to advance towards the city of Azaz – the opposition stronghold northern Aleppo – after the Turkish forces intervened, forcing it to withdraw to Idlib. However, it kept thousands of militants under the banners of al-Amshat and Hamza Divisions.
The HTS has been striving, for months, through its allies, to control the strategic crossings connecting northeastern Aleppo areas to those controlled by the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Ahrar al-Sham failed to achieve its purpose, so it entered itself, taking advantage of the so-called “tribal Mobilization”. Since its arrival in the region, it began operations against the divisions there, most notably the Sultan Murad Division, which is close to the Turkish forces, as the region has been witnessing violent clashes between the two sides for days.
“For more than two years, the HTS has been negotiating with the SNA military factions in Aleppo countryside in order to enter the region for military purposes against the Syrian regime and the SDF”, Fahd Heritani, a leader in the SNA, told North Press.
Everyone in general and the factions in particular know that the HTS claims false declarations because it has frontlines with the “Syrian regime” along more than 150 kilometers. Its objectives are clear, which are to eliminate the factions as it did in Idlib and control the four crossings connecting northern Aleppo to Turkey and other crossings with the regime and the SDF to boost its economy, according to Heritani.
“The HTS realized that its control over Afrin was not of great benefit and attempted several times to advance to northeast Aleppo, but the factions prevented it. However, Ahrar al-Sham Eastern Brach facilitated its entry into the area,” according to Haritani.
Recently, the HTS has sent dozens of convoys and hundreds of militants under the name of tribal mobilization, trying to advance in the region and initiate operations against the factions of the Second Corps that controls the area.
It succeeded in taking control of several villages, towns, and crossings. The most important of which is al-Hamran Crossing that connects areas controlled by the SDF and northern Aleppo. This is the main and largest target of the HTS. There are ongoing clashes in the region in an attempt by the HTS to secure safety in the crossing and reach Abu al-Zandin crossing, in Aleppo eastern countryside, which connects government-held areas in Aleppo with northern areas.
“The HTS cannot reveal its existence in areas of Aleppo countryside, even if it takes control of large areas there. It will remain under the umbrella of its allies, who will not always be with it due to their ties with Turkey”, a military source of the Third Corps, affiliated with the SNA, told North Press, on the condition of anonymity.