Protests Against Al-Qaeda-Affiliated HTS In Turkish-Occupied Part Of Syria’s Aleppo (Videos)

Click to see full-size image. Via Twitter.

Late on October 16, hundreds of civilians took to the streets in Azaz and several other Turkish-occupied towns in the northern Aleppo countryside to protest against al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

HTS entered Turkish-occupied areas in the northern Aleppo countryside a few days earlier, under the pretext of supporting some of its Turkish-backed allies in their battle against the 3^rd Corps, which is also backed by Turkey. The battle ended a day earlier with a dangerous agreement that solidified HTS control of Afrin and other Turkish-occupied areas in the northern Aleppo countryside.

Protesters in Azaz and other towns called for expelling HTS from Turkish-occupied areas because they see the terrorist group as a threat to security and stability there.

Many Syrian opposition activists have already warned that the presence of a terrorist group like HTS could jeopardize a de-escalation agreement on the northern countryside of Aleppo that was brokered by Russia and Turkey years ago.

These worries were justified in the morning when a series of Russian airstrikes hit positions of Turkish-backed militants in the northern Aleppo countryside. The unusual airstrikes killed two militants and wounded nine other. The agreement with HTS was likely what provoked the airstrikes.

HTS is currently working to tighten its grip over Turkish-occupied areas in the northern Aleppo countryside by deploying its security forces there. Public pressure could, however, disturb the terrorist group’s plans.

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