HTS raids camp in north of Syria’s Aleppo
ALEPPO, Syria (North Press) – Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) raided on Wednesday a random camp in the city of Afrin, north of Aleppo Governorate, looking for wanted militants of the Third Legion, a faction of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA).
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.
A military source told North Press, “A group of HTS’ security forces raided a random camp near the Kawa roundabout in the city of Afrin, north Aleppo, looking for three militants of the SNA’s Third Legion.”
“HTS militants cordoned off the camp searching for the pursued militants, and opened fire between the tents, which caused a state of fear and panic among the camp’s residents,” the source added.
The source pointed out, “HTS’ militants are still present in the cities of Afrin and Jindires, in the countryside of Afrin, but they act under the flag of the SNA’s Hayat Thaeroon for Liberation.”
On October 13, the HTS took full control of the city of Afrin, following the withdrawal of Third Legion from the city toward the city of Azaz.
On October 17, the clashes between both sides came to a halt after Turkish intelligence intervened and ordered the HTS to hand over the security and military posts in the villages of Kafr Janneh and Qatmah to the SNA’s Hayat Thaeroon for Liberation, which remained neutral during the recent clashes, an exclusive source told North Press.