HTS moves on towards Syria’s Afrin
ALEPPO, Syria (North Press) – On Thursday morning, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, formerly al-Nusra Front) brought in military reinforcements to Jindires district in the countryside of Afrin, a city north of Aleppo, in an attempt to advance in the city.
This came amid news of escapes of prisoners from Marateh prison near the city.
An exclusive source told North Press military convoys with armored vehicles, ammunition and HTS militants accessed Jindires district this morning in preparation for getting in Afrin.
These preparations by HTS came after it took control over the entire Jindires district following fierce clashes with Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) factions including al-Jabha al-Shamiya (Levant Front) and Ahrar al-Sharqiya.
The source went further saying that the city witnessed military alert by the SNA factions amid news that prisoners in Marateh prison managed to breakout.
Another source said the vicinity of the city of al-Bab east of Aleppo underwent mortar shelling, resulting in the killing of a woman near al-Hikma Hospital.
The source added that the shelling was launched by militants of Hamza Division in Jabal al-Deir on Qabasin route in the countryside of al-Bab.
The shelling spread panic and terrified residents, according to the source.
On Wednesday, Suleiman Shah Division (al-Amshat) took over Mabatly district in the countryside of Afrin after expelling Levant Front following fierce clashes between the two parties, according to the source.
Afrin, a Kurdish city in the north of Aleppo, has been under the occupation of Turkey since March 2018 following a military operation called “Olive Branch” which resulted in the displacement of about 300.000 people of the original inhabitants of the city and its countryside.
The areas held by the SNA factions, for three days, have been witnessing unrest due to clashes with Hamza Division on the back of killing an activist and his wife at the hand of the division’s militants.
The intermittent clashes were intercepted by HTS advancement towards Afrin, according to North Press correspondents.