Anti-HTS protests result in arrests in Syria’s Idlib
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – On Friday, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, formerly al-Nusra Front) launched an arrest campaign in the village of Kafarya and the town of al-Fu’ah northeastern Idlib, northwest Syria, following protests that were organized at noon today against the HTS policy in the region.
Security sources told North Press, “The arrest campaign was launched in the village of Kafarya and the town of al-Fu’ah northeastern Idlib and targeted eight people, including two old men and a woman in her forties.”
The sources added that the arrests were carried out “under the pretext of incitement for protesting and threatening security in the region in favor of external parties.”
The HTS also raided other houses in search of five other wanted people, however, some of the wanted managed to flee to Afrin in northern Syria, according to the same sources.
The protestors demanded that detainees in the HTS prisons under pretext of incitement and sowing disorder are released.
Days ago, the HTS arrested notables, who were displaced from the city of Hama, a defected officer, and leaders from the Turkish-backed factions of the Syrian National Army (SNA) under the charges of involvement and fuel the protests against the HTS.
Lately, various areas in Idlib and Aleppo countryside have witnessed protests against arrests carried out by the HTS.
The HTS, founded in 2017, controls the city of Idlib and the western countryside of Aleppo, using the Salvation Government as a political and administrative umbrella since.