SNA’s Ahrar al-Sham dismisses leader over close ties with HTS
ALEEPO, Syria (North Press) – Five brigades and battalions of, a faction of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA), announced on Tuesday dismissing the group’s leader, Amer al-Sheikh, and designating Youssef al-Hamwi, nicknamed Abu Suliman, as a general commander.
The faction said in a statement that it “will delegitimize the current leadership that does not represent Ahrar al-Sham, dissolve the current leadership council, and communicate with the faction’s personnel to work on forming a new leadership council in accordance with the faction’s charter and principles.”
The statement was signed by the brigades of al-Iman, al-Khattab, al-Sham, al-Hamza, and the Elite Forces of al-Adiyat Brigade.
The brigades and the battalions that signed the statement called on the rest of the battalions affiliated with Ahrar al-Sham to join them.
Recently, al-Iman Brigade, the largest formation of Ahrar al-Sham faction, suspended its work within the faction, due to the latter normalizing relations with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, formerly al-Nusra Front).
Al-Iman Bridage, which constitutes a quarter of Ahrar al-Sham, suspended its work due to disagreements with Amer al-Sheikh, nicknamed Abu Obeida, and his deputy Abu Muhammad al-Shami, according to the source.
The normalization comes amid unconfirmed reports about the faction’s intention to officially join the HTS.