HTS breaks into Kafr-Takharim in response to protests
Idlib – North-Press Agency
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has mobilized its militants and military vehicles at the entrances of the town of Kafr Takharim, northwest of Idlib governorate, and broke into the town this morning after demonstrations and protests against the Salafist-Jihadist group and its political wing, the "Salvation Government". Where the town witnessed violent clashes between the HTS on one hand, and the people of the town backed by militants from al-sham corps (Failaq al-Sham), on the other.
Local sources told North-Press that HTS militants broke into the town of Kafr Takharim, northwest of Idlib on Thursday morning, from four axes, after failed negotiations between them and the people in the town.
The sources added that the HTS, with the support of "Ajnad al-Qoqaz" and the "Turkistan Islamic Party" entered the city at today’s dawn using heavy weapons in their attack, amid reports of killing five people and wounding others, upon targeting a center for the IDPs nearby the town. According to sources, most of the IDPs are from the western countryside of Hama.
The attack was resulted by demonstration in the town two days ago against the Salvation Government following Maghreb prayers, as the demonstrators headed towards the olive oil factories and HTS police station, and expelled members of the police station and checkpoints on the outskirts of the town.
While the Salvation Government sent a committee to negotiate with the civil and military personnel in Kafr Takharim, but was failed, after HTS demanded the residents to hand over 70 people of demonstrators, which forced the locals of the town to take up arms to protect their town and prevent the entry of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and the arrest of demonstrators.
Meanwhile, activists on social media tweeted regarding the military mobilization by HTS near Kafr Takharim, that the road to Khan Shaykhoun and Hama northern countryside does not pass via Kafr Takharim, and that pistachios are more expensive than olives, in reference to the preference for the mobilization towards the towns of Morek and Khan Shaykhoun, where Syrian government forces are, instead of Kafr Takharim.