Turkish authorities hand over wanted militants to HTS in Syria’s Idlib
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – Turkish authorities handed over on Sunday three detainees wanted by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, formerly al-Nusra Front) who were arrested three weeks ago while attempting to cross into Turkey from the town of Salqin in northwestern Idlib Governorate, northwestern Syria.
A security employee in the Bab al-Hawa border crossing on the Syrian-Turkish border told North Press that the Turkish authorities handed over 13 individuals, including five women, to the General Security Services (GSS) of the HTS in addition to three former security officials in the 106 apparatus affiliated with the GSS in Idlib.
He added that the three HTS militants ran away because of HTS’ security campaign. They were listed as suspects of espionage for foreign parties and were taken to the 106 Prison in the city of Sarmada in northern Idlib for investigation.
In a related context, the GSS raided on Saturday the village of Kafraya in northeastern Idlib and arrested eight people including a Russian military commander under charges of working with the Russian Intelligence.
On Saturday, the GSS arrested six people from the relatives of the wanted individuals by the HTS in the village of Deir Hassan in northern Idlib.
Since June 18, the HTS has carried out an arrest campaign against dozens of commanders, militants, employees and security officials within its institutions under various security charges.