HTS hands over 3 foreign militants to Turkey in Syria’s Idlib
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – On Sunday, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS – formerly al-Nusra Front), handed over three foreign militants to Turkish intelligence via Bab al-Hawa border crossing with Turkey, north of Idlib, northwest Syria. The militants were arrested about a year ago.
The HTS handed over three militants who are Iranian, French, and Qatari nationals to the Turkish intelligence. They were arrested by the HTS about a year ago on charges of collaboration with other parties hostile to the group, according to security sources at the Bab al-Hawa crossing.
The detainees included Abu Muslim al-Tanousi, an Iranian military leader who used to lead a group affiliated with the al-Qaeda group in Iran before joining the HTS. In addition, there were Qatari and French militants, according to the sources.
The handover process took place under the supervision of the General Security Service (GSS), affiliated with the HTS.
The GSS has previously handed over dozens of foreign leaders affiliated with al-Qaeda and dozens of foreign fighters who joined factions present in northwestern Syria to the Turkish Intelligence through the Bab al-Hawa crossing.