Hayat Tahrir al-Sham removes bridge in Syria’s Idlib
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – Militants from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, formerly al-Nusra Front) uninstalled and transferred parts of the Dama iron bridge in Jisr al-Shughour, west Idlib, raising residents’ fears that the area will be handed over to the Syrian government.
HTS typically uninstalls iron bridges and train tracks before surrendering areas in both the countryside of north Hama and east Idlib to the government forces.
A group of HTS militants started the Dama iron bridge two months ago, local sources told North Press.
Uninstalling the bridge increased the residents’ fears regarding HTS’ intentions to hand the area over to the Syrian government forces.
The sources stated that the bridge connected Bidama and al-Ze’iniye, that was adjacent to the M4 Highway.
HTS is transferring the train tracks to an unidentified destination in order to uninstall them in special workshops, as it is expected that the group will smuggle the parts and then sell them to merchants in government-held areas, according to activists.
The aforementioned bridge separates Syrian opposition-held areas from Syrian government-held areas.
In June 2020, activists published photos of militants affiliated with HTS permanently uninstalling transformers from inside the city of Ariha, south of Idlib, and placing them on a truck in order to transport them to the city of Idlib.