Turkish-backed militant leader killed in Syria’s Idlib
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – On Monday, unknown individuals assassinated an official of the Turkish-backed Ahrar al-Sharqiya, which is affiliated with the Syrian National Army, in northwest Syria’s Idlib countryside.
Areas held by Turkish-backed groups and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, formerly al-Nusra Front) areas in Idlib are witnessing security chaos amidst the groups’ inability to control the security situation.
“Field leader Ibrahim al-Hamed, a.k.a. Ibrahim al-Ansari, lost his life after he was stabbed with a knife several times,” local military sources told North Press.
Al-Hamed’s body was found near Ma’arat Misrin city, north of Idlib.
Medical examination showed that the cause of death was ten knife wounds, and that he was bound and his body showed signs of torture, according to the sources.
Al-Hamed, who is from Deir ez-Zor in Syria’s east, had a brother Abu Hafes, a military leader who died during Turkey’s Operation Peace Spring against Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ain) and Tel Abyad, north Syria, the sources added.
Ahrar al-Sharqiya was formed in November of 2016, with most of its militants from villages and clans of Deir ez-Zor.
Meanwhile, activists and international human rights organizations condemned Ahrar al-Sharqiya because its militants were involved in human rights violations in Turkish-occupied Afrin, north of Aleppo.