Disagreements between National Army and HTS with continued Russian and Syrian raids on Idlib
Idlib – North-Press Agency
The armed groups of National Army closed, on Saturday, a crossing linking Afrin areas of Aleppo northern countryside to Idlib and western Aleppo areas, which are controlled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), while clashes and shelling continue in the de-escalation zones.
Activists have told North-Press that "the National Army of the Syrian Interim Government in Aleppo northern countryside closed the crossing of al-Ghazawiya village in Afrin area, near the city of Darat Azza west of Aleppo, permanently to travelers, traders and fuel tanks, pointing out that hundreds of cars carrying passengers and goods, especially fuel tanks are still stuck on both ends of the crossing."
A military source quoted activists that the reason for the closure of the crossing, is due to harassment which military members of the "National Army" are exposed to, as they go to areas south of Idlib and western Hama.
The source added that " HTS members insult and make troubles on checkpoints with other armed groups members, although they have official missions, and therefore the National Army closed the crossing until finding a solution to this problem."
Two days ago, HTS closed the crossing, while the governorate of Idlib, its countryside, Aleppo countryside and Hama have witnessed a sharp rise in fuel prices since Turkey announced its military operation in northern Syria, which had a negative impact on the region.
On the other hand, in light of security chaos in the areas controlled by the Turkish forces and their affiliated groups, a violent explosion occurred in the village of Shamarin in the countryside of Azaz city in northern Aleppo, caused by an IED which exploded in a military vehicle of the "Northern Division" faction of Turkey, killing a member of the faction and wounding several others.
In a related context, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that Syrian and Russian aircraft continue to bomb Kabbana axis in Jabal al-Akrad north of Lattakia, accompanied by fierce clashes after an attempted infiltration of Syrian government forces on the axis of Zuwayqat hill east of Kabana village, this morning.
Furthermore, Russian warplanes carried out several raids on the town of al-Kinda and Tal Khidir in the western countryside of Jisr al-Shughour, Kafr sijna, Sheikh Mustafa and the vinicity of Sarmin, Neirab, Kafr Nabl, al-Rami, Hass, Maarat al-Numan, Maar Hirma, al-Musherfa, the southern outskirts of Saraqeb, al-Dar al-Kabira, Kafr Shlaya, Hazarin and Sheikh Salman, Rakaya Sijna in western and southern Idlib countryside.
On Saturday, Syrian government forces targeted with rocket-propelled grenades, areas in Maarat Harma, al-Tah, Kafr Sijna, Sheikh Mustafa and Tal al-Nar south of Idlib. And al-Musherfa, al-Sayad village in Maarat Al-Numan al-Sharqi countryside, Um Jalal and al-Tina in the southeastern Idlib countryside, and al-Hanboushieh village at the border with Iskandaroun Brigade in the western countryside of Idlib.