HTS arrests prominent SNA commander in Syria’s Afrin
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, formerly al-Nusra Front) arrested on Sunday a commander in the Third Legion of the Turkish-backed armed opposition factions, aka the Syrian National Army (SNA) in the countryside of Afrin, northwestern Syria.
A source within the Third Legion told North Press that the General Security Service (GSS) of the HTS arrested Abu Jafar Ram Hamdan, a commander in the Levant Front (Jabhat al-Shamiya) which is one of the most prominent factions of the Third Legion. Hamdan is the commander of the Brigade 315 of the Levant Front.
The arrest occurred on the road between the village of Goran and the town of Jindires in the countryside of Afrin just a few meters away from a checkpoint of the Ahrar al-Sham faction which is allied with the HTS.
The detained commander was one of the most notable leaders of Ahrar al-Sham before joining the Levant Front and is considered one of the greatest enemies of the HTS since he was in Idlib. He left Idlib after being pursued by the HTS, according to the source.
Since June 18, the HTS has conducted a series of raids and arrests, primarily targeting its own militants and commanders.