Tension arouses among opposition factions in Syria’s Idlib over crossing
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – On Friday, tension rose between Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, formerly al-Nusra Front) which is in control of Idlib and western Aleppo and the Turkish-backed al-Sham Legion in al-Ghazawiya crossing west of Aleppo amid mutual arrests between both parties.
Al-Sham Legion arrested a member of HTS in the Shield of the Euphrates region in northern Aleppo and refused to release him. Accordingly, HTS closed al-Ghazawiya crossing and arrested a group of al-Sham Legion members, exclussive sources told North Press.
Darat Izza-al-Ghazawiya crossing links between HTS-held areas in Idlib city and Aleppo western countryside and those held by the Turkish-backed in Afrin northern Aleppo.
HTS issued a decision denying any member of al-Sham Legion in and out of Idlib. The same procedures were applied to Deir Ballout crossing which is run by HTS.
HTS arrested 17 members of al-Sham Legion in al-Ghazawiya crossing, according to the sources.
In response, al-Sham Legion introduced heavy military reinforcement to al-Ghazawiya village adjacent to Afrin and blocked all roads, the sources said.
A well-informed source told North Press that siapute would be solved following the intervention of Turkish forces.
Crossings are presumed to re-open in the few coming hours.