HTS counts foreign militants following meeting with Turkish intelligence
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – On Thursday, security branches of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, formerly al-Nusra Front) continued counting its foreign militants and their families which began in mid-September.
The census, which is the first of its kind, came after a secret meeting held between Turkish intelligence officers and HTS leaders, where they discussed the male and female migrants in northwestern Syria.
An exclusive source of the HTS said, the census has been going on for 20 days through three teams including security members and employees of the Statistics Office of the Security Service (107).
They are working to cover the southern and eastern countryside of Idlib.
The census aims at collecting detailed and accurate information about the foreign migrants, including male and female, within a timetable until the end of 2022, the source added.
The source went further that the data included the name, personal data, family data, and personal photos, in addition to taking electronic accounts and fingerprints of two hands.
Another exclusive source of the Statistics Office said, so far, the number which has been counted in Idlib has reached no more than 170 migrants.