Russia says HTS seizes UN aid sent to NW Syria  

DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, formerly al-Nusra Front) seized humanitarian aid sent by the United Nations to Idlib, in northwest Syria,  the Khmeimim-based Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria announced on Saturday.

The deputy head of the center, Oleg Gurinov, said that “the shipment of humanitarian assistance, delivered under the auspices of the United Nations to the Sarmada settlement in Idlib Governorate, was distributed to militants and their families.”

Gurinov added, “The Committee for the Protection of Russian Civilians has received information from settlers in the de-escalation zone of Idlib that the leaders of the terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and the leadership of the so-called Syrian Salvation Government [its political administration] continue to use humanitarian assistance provided for locals by international charity organizations for their benefit.”

According to the official, a “terrorist Turkistani group” also shelled posts of the Syrian government forces south of the de-escalation zone in Idlib on April 21.

Reporting by Hozan Zubeir