Illustrative image
Jaysh al-Ahrar, a part of the National Front for Liberation (NFL) coalition, has a accepted an agreement that will expand the influence of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in the opposition-held part of northern Lattakia.
Citing pro-HTS sources, the Enab Baladi news outlet said the agreement forces Jaysh al-Ahrar to recognize the authority of HTS’ Salvation Government. Furthermore, the Turkish-backed group will hand over its positions along the Syrian-Turkish border to HTS.
The new agreement is a part of HTS’ efforts to dominate the opposition territory in northwestern Syria. In early January, the terrorist group attacked the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement in the western Aleppo countryside. HTS won and imposed control of all former positions of Turkish-backed militants.
After this easy victory, HTS launched an attack on the remaining positions of the Ahrar al-Sham Movement in the northwestern Hama countryside. The Turkish-backed faction surrendered within hours and agreed to withdraw.
Click to see the full-size image
HTS’ plans didn’t stop there, the group prepared to launch a new attack on Turkish-backed militants in the southern Idlib countryside. However, the militants opted to surrender without any battle and recognized the authority of HTS over their territory.
Now most of the opposition-held part of northwestern Syria is under the complete control of HTS, a radical group which was once the main branch of al-Qaeda in Syria. This new situation doesn’t only violates the Russian-Turkish demilitarized zone agreement, but also threatens peace and stability in the entire region.
More on this topic:
hts are the turks proxy,s.dont never trust the turks ,they are backstabbers .
Sorry, but I really don’t know what (or why this) is happening? No-one is fighting back? Where are the SAA?!?!?!?
Officially there are negotiations in Russia now, over the situation in Manbij and in general relations between Syria and Kurds There is also Turkish army with their “moderate” terrorist stooges waiting the outcome there in Mnbij and US is also trying to pull some strings with the Turks…. So it is POLITICS TIME at the moment and Manbij knot is much more important for the outcom of the Syrian war than Idlib at the moment…
BTW SAA is in tranches surrounding Idlib…..why do you ask, they are not attacking them but “moderate rebels”?
excellentes news for damas and russians!!! yes!! :)
We like to see more of this Antoun! https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/998d98ddc9ef6286d3065884468c89aa3e7ec172ca63e7b6ea864db56c70e4ea.jpg
Erdogan managed to form a unified group of terrorists. it will be much more difficult to take over idlib province. He once again cheated on Putin. On the other hand, in punishment, the north-east of Syria will easily return to Bashar. Later on it will be worthy to bombard convoys coming from Turkey towards Idlib.
Yes agreed, new unified command called ” Syrian Salvation Goverment “just a re-image/re-badging under firmer Turkish control.
I hate terrorists.
The Russians will never allow HTS to exist so close to their bases, the areas to the north of Latakia that are in Turk rebels hands will also return to Assad’s control, the areas around Jisr ash Shugur that are under HTS control may be swapped by the Turks and the SAA in an agreement to place the Turks there instead of HTS, I’m not sure about it though, but all the rest of southern Syria is about to fall back into Assad’s hands, especially ALL of Latakia. HTS have 15 to 20,000 fighters at most, Erdogan had 20,000 in Idlib itself, who weren’t fighting the SAA, just holding positions, and 15,000 or more in Aleppo waiting to invade the East. Look at the map and pay attention to the how long the front is that HTS is fighting on, not even 50,000 soldiers could do that, leave alone 20,000. Maintaining the area they did with the fighters they had was a miracle in itself, now we have a second one happening. Assad has as many as 150,000 soldiers and probably a lot more in his army, and most of them are here waiting around Idlib, no HTS buffer will ever exist, it can’t, in a months time only the Turks ilegal proxies will remain, that’s the campaign I’m waiting for the Turks proxies, this one against HTS will be over before we know it started practically. I give these supposed HTS supermen just 3 to 4 weeks after the SAA and Russia make a start in them, even less if the Turks join in and they will, lets see how good they are when someone really fights them. Just a few more days.
HTS=Al Qaeda =Alnusra Erdigans hidden plan won’t work out.Soon missile’s will take you out.Iran,Syria,Russia and Hizbollah is capable .
Erdogan is going to be arrest by own army because coup lies and false accusation hate is not yet over inTurkey.
Let me correct some misread of the situation – NONE of the Turkish backed proxies in the FNL (Ahrar ash-Sham, Suqour ash-Sham, Faylaq ash-Sham etc..) , Jaysh al-Izza, or even Wa Harid al-Mu’mineen have been defeated or departed their zones. On the contrary these forces have made agreements to be incorporated/re-badged into the new Turkish backed ” Salvation Government of Syria. The graphic attached clearly shows and lists these groups. If you don’t believe me I attach a fotocopy of the agreement signed by acting Commanders of HTS on the one hand, and Ahrar ash-Sham and Suqour ash-Sham for the FNL to this effect. The Turkish regular army TSK has substantial (2+bn) in and around the entire area and could easily have managed the operation if its proxy NFL was being really threatened. I think Turkey is just tying up loose ends to bring various gangs together
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/daaf787e27c72cbd7b549c93f8b36cfbcb0cf3f9b27e7fe6cf8430d2ce5a96de.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/39e41361f7850ee5e617f6c2121165d82d40eb0738e413cafc6fadc3e37a361f.jpg
Well, it looks like that thanks to Putin-Erdogan agreement the terrorists are every time closer and closer to Russia air basis. Turkey-USA are doing very good job so far to keep alive their terrorists, and Russia seems to be very well manipulated by Turkey, am I wrong ?