HTS Withdraws from towns in Syria’s Idlib
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – On Thursday evening, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS – formerly al-Nusra Front) withdrew from the towns of Kafsarja and al-Bara in southern Idlib Governorate, northwest Syria, in order to avoid further losses inflicted by the ongoing shelling by the Syrian government forces.
A military source from the group told North Press, “Seven headquarters were evacuated in both towns, including three headquarters in al-Bara and four in Kafsarja, in southern Idlib, including all personnel and vehicles.”
“The reason for the withdrawal was to avoid the intense rocket and aerial bombardment that targeted the two towns in recent days,” the source added.
At least six fighters from the HTS were killed, and several others were injured in recent days as a result of artillery and missile shelling by the government forces targeting multiple locations in southern Idlib.
A few hours ago, four militants of the Turkish-backed armed opposition factions, aka the Syrian National Army (SNA), were killed due to artillery shelling by the government forces on positions in the town of Fatterah in al-Zawiya Mountain, south of Idlib.
Cities, town and villages in Idlib and Aleppo governorates have been witnessing intense government shelling since October 5, following an attack on a Military Academy in Homs Governorate, central Syria, which the government accused “terrorist organizations” in Idlib of being behind.
On Oct. 5, several drones struck Homs Military Academy’s courtyard during a ceremony graduation where families were gathered with newly graduated young officers. The strikes took place minutes after Syria’s Minister of Defense Ali Mahmoud Abbas left the ceremony.