The pro-opposition media outlet Idlib24 has released an report providing look at a wave of assasinations, which took place in the Syrian province of Idlib in the period from April 24 to June 1.
According to the report, at least 93 militants were killed in the assassinations. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda) suffered most of the casualties. 41 Hayat Tahrir al-Sham members were killed.
Besides this, at least 11 civilians, including a woman and 3 children (a family of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham member), died as a result of the attacks.
According to some experts, the recent wave of assassinations is linked to the increased tensions within militant groups operating in the area. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, Ahrar al-Sham and others constantly compete for a power. This competition has become more violent with the implementation of the Turkish-Russian-Iranian-backed de-escalation zone in the area.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham remains the most powerful group in Idlib, but it is slowly losing its influence and power under pressure of Turkish-backed groups.
SF keeps saying ‘wave of assassinations,’ but I think terms like ‘private war,’ ‘sectarian war,’ and ‘local coup’ are more descriptive.
They are single-killings aka assassinations. That they are part of a larger issue, OK agree.
Terrorists killing terrorists, at last a good news story.