HTS sends reinforcements to ally faction in eastern Aleppo
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Late on Saturday, a convoy of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, formerly al-Nusra Front) entered areas under the control of Turkey-backed opposition factions in eastern Aleppo, north Syria.
A military source told North Press, “The convoy, including leaders of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and Ahrar al-Sham, headed to the city of al-Bab in east Aleppo.”
The source added that the convoy entered the city in order to pay their respects to Abu Udai Aulan, a leader in Ahrar al-Sham, who was killed in a drone strike in the village of al-Hadath, in eastern Aleppo.
The column headed to the city of al-Bab to support Ahrar al-Sham, after the defense minister of the Turkish-backed Syrian opposition’s Interim Government demanded Ahrar al-Sham hand over the eastern area of al-Bab to the ministry.
Since 2017, the city of al-Bab has been under the control of Turkey and Turkish-backed opposition factions.
The source said military reinforcements of Ahrar al-Sham were deployed to the al-Hamran crossing in the countryside of Jarabulus, in eastern Aleppo, in preparation for any military action by Turkish-backed factions in the area.
Ahrar al-Sham – Eastern Sector are headquartered in the villages of Abla and Aulan, west of al-Bab, in addition to the al-Hamran crossing, a main crossing that connects areas under control of the opposition with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).