People displaced due to HTS-SNA clashes in northern Aleppo
ALEPPO, Syria (North Press) – On Tuesday,villages and towns in the northern countryside of Aleppo witnessed a mass displacement due to the clashes over al-Hamran crossing between Turkish-backed factions of the Syrian National Army (SNA) and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, formerly al-Nusra Front).
Al-Hamran crossing links between the areas held by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) with those controlled by SNA factions. It is considered a financial resource for opposition-held areas; researchers and analysts have estimated the monthly income to be at least $2 million.
A military source in the SNA’s Suqour al-Sham stated that dozens of families of the villages and towns of Suran, Ihtaimilat, Dabiq, Arshaf, and Dowaibeq, were displaced after HTS-linked al-Shahba Gathering managed to capture their villages. The displaced families headed to the neighboring villages.
Suqour al-Sham, a faction in the SNA’s Third Legion, is still neutral regarding the recent clashes over the al-Hamran crossing. It seeks, along with the SNA’s Military Police, to end the recent hostilities between both sides.
According to the source, the hospitals of al-Bab and Azaz received six bodies of militants from both sides involved in the clashes. In addition, 24 individuals, including two children and five civilians, were admitted to the hospitals with injuries.
SNA factions have imposed an undeclared curfew within the contested villages and towns, the source added.
The clashes erupted between the HTS and some SNA factions on September 21, with each trying to control the crossing.