HTS prepares false flag operation in Syria’s Idlib – Khmeimim
IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria, affiliated with the Russian Ministry of Defense, said on Wednesday Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, formerly al-Nusra Front) intends to carry out a false flag chemical attack in Idlib Governorate, northwest Syria.
“Terrorists are planning a provocation with toxic substances in Syria’s Idlib province in order to accuse Syrian forces of using poisonous substances against civilians,” according to Deputy Head of the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria, Oleg Egorov.
The Russian Sputnik news agency said, quoting a source as saying, that the countryside of Idlib witnessed a “complete disappearance of the militants of Ajnad al-Kavkaz group from their headquarters in the city of Jisr al-Shughur, in the southwestern countryside of Idlib, and their affiliated groups in the northeastern countryside of Latakia.”
The militants handed over their headquarters and weapons to the HTS, which in turn handed them over to its strategic ally, Turkistan Islamic Party, according to the source.
On October 23, Chechen militants left northern Syria and headed to Ukraine, fleeing the crackdown led by the HTS with the aim to fight against Russian forces there.
However, the Russian Reconciliation Center did not provide further details about the abovementioned false flag attack intended by the HTS.
On October 4, Russian Ministry of Defense announced the killing of 13 militants of the HTS in Idlib.
Thirteen militants were killed including the leaders Abu Youssef al-Shami and Khaled al-Youssef (Abu Omar), and 22 others were seriously wounded, according to Egorov.