HTS-SNA clashes renew in northern Aleppo
AZAZ, Syria (North Press) – After the Turkish forces’ attempt to implement a ceasefire between factions of both Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the Syrian National Army (SNA), clashes reignited on Wednesday between both sides in northern Aleppo.
On Tuesday evening, Turkish forces imposed a ceasefire to resolve the hostilities between HTS-affiliated factions and those of the SNA’s Second Legion. The agreement also included the withdrawal of HTS’ factions from villages they have recently captured and handing them over to SNA. This came after clashes erupted due to a dispute over the control of al-Hamran crossing in Jarablus, in northern Aleppo, between both parties.
A military source from the Suqour al-Sham faction, one of the parties involved in resolving the conflict, told North Press that al-Shahba Gathering and Ahrar al-Sham Eastern Branch, both affiliated with HTS, violated the ceasefire and raided the villages of al-Numan, Shaddud, Ihtaimlat, and Dowaibeq. They had withdrawn from these villages and handed them over to the conflict resolution forces yesterday in line with to the initial agreement.
The source further added that factions from the Second Legion launched a wide-scale attack on multiple fronts against positions of the factions loyal to HTS, and that Turkish tanks are positioned in some key areas, but there have been no movements to resolve the clashes.
An administrative source affiliated with HTS at the Ghazawiyah crossing, stated that Turkish tanks prevented a military convoy from HTS from crossing the crossing in northwestern Aleppo. They also prevented another convoy from crossing the Deir Ballout crossing towards areas controlled by SNA factions in northern Aleppo.
The Turkish tanks and military vehicles have blocked the road in front of military convoys that were heading to support the factions loyal to HTS in northern Aleppo.