ALEPPO, Syria (North Press) – Military training for about 150 militants of a faction of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, formerly al-Nusra Front) have started a few days ago in a camp of the Turkish-backed armed opposition factions, also known as Syrian National Army (SNA), in Afrin, north of Aleppo.
The boot camp, which is under the supervision of the Turkish forces, is the first of its kind since the control of the SNA and the Turkish forces on Afrin region.
Afrin has been under the control of Turkey and the SNA factions since 2018 following the so-called Olive Branch operation against the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) under the pretext of preserving Turkish “national security”.
The operation has caused the displacement of about 300.000 of the original inhabitants of the Kurds of Afrin who have been taking shelter in 40 villages and five camps in Shahba region (Aleppo northern countryside) since then.
A source said that Turkey intends to use those militants in battles that it plans to carry out against Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northeastern Syria.
Abu Qays al-Deiri, a commander in the SNA’s Hamza Division, said that 150 militants, wearing the uniform of the SNA’s Military Police, have started military training for battles within villages, in open areas, and on front lines since December 1 in Special Forces camp, affiliated to the SNA in the vicinity of Afrin.
On Oct. 13, the HTS took full control of Afrin, following the withdrawal of Third Legion from the city toward Azaz.
On Oct. 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 Hayat Thaeroon for Liberation which remained neutral during the clashes.
Training them in Afrin needs the approval of the Turkish forces and they may be used to fight the SDF, according to al-Deiri.
The source did not mention whether there will be more boot camps or not.
The faction wears the uniform of the Military Police just to cover the fact that Turkey is providing military training and support for the HTS, which is still present in Afrin and its withdrawal was just a pro forma.
On Oct. 21, on the back of Turkish mediation, the HTS withdrew militants and heavy weaponry from Kafr Janneh, Afrin and Jindires to its areas of control in the countryside of Idlib.
On Oct. 25, Military columns of the HTS withdrew from areas in Afrin and its countryside towards Idlib, while maintaining its security forces there.
However, North Press, through correspondents and sources, monitored that the withdrawal was pro forma and was imposed by Turkey following international rejection for al-Nusra’s expansion in areas north of Aleppo.
Yaman Abu Najda, an HTS militant, said that registration for joining the boot camps in Afrin has started in November and “it was voluntary.”
A number of militants headed to Afrin under the flag of Hamza Division, affiliated to the SNA, as a camouflage and they may end the training by the beginning of 2023, Najda added.
Haj Hassan Abu al-Hakam, a military leader of Jabal Trenda camp, run by the SNA’s Ahrar al-Sham faction, said that about 15 days ago, the Turkish forces, in coordination with the faction’s leadership, asked for training a batch of fighters in the camp.
The faction’s leadership approved training the faction, thinking that they are affiliated to the SNA, however, after it is clarified that they are affiliated to the HTS, the Turkish request was denied and the faction was directed to the Special Forces camp to receive training.