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* Jund al-Aqsa captures 17 towns and villages,<ref name="controls" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://southfront.org/jund-al-aqsa-joins-to-isis-captures-17-populated-localities-in-hama-idlib/|title=Jund al-Aqsa Joins to ISIS, Captures 17 Populated Localities in Hama & Idlib|date=10 February 2017|publisher=}}</ref> including [[Kafr Zita]], [[Taybat al-Imam]] and [[Murak, Syria|Morek]]<ref name=zone>{{cite web|url=http://www.alhadathnews.net/archives/272995|title="Jund al-Aqsa" seize the headquarters of the "free" and declared a military zone in Hama and Idlib|work=Al-Hadath News|date=8 February 2017}}</ref>
* Jund al-Aqsa captures 17 towns and villages,<ref name="controls" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://southfront.org/jund-al-aqsa-joins-to-isis-captures-17-populated-localities-in-hama-idlib/|title=Jund al-Aqsa Joins to ISIS, Captures 17 Populated Localities in Hama & Idlib|date=10 February 2017|publisher=}}</ref> including [[Kafr Zita]], [[Taybat al-Imam]] and [[Murak, Syria|Morek]]<ref name=zone>{{cite web|url=http://www.alhadathnews.net/archives/272995|title="Jund al-Aqsa" seize the headquarters of the "free" and declared a military zone in Hama and Idlib|work=Al-Hadath News|date=8 February 2017}}</ref>
*[[Tahrir al-Sham]] recaptures [[al-Tamanah]], [[Kafr Zita]], [[Khan Shaykhun]], Morek, and 13 other villages from Jund al-Aqsa<ref>[http://www.syriahr.com/2017/02/14/%d8%a7%d8%b4%d8%aa%d8%a8%d8%a7%d9%83%d8%a7%d8%aa-%d9%87%d9%8a%d8%a6%d8%a9-%d8%aa%d8%ad%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%b1-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b4%d8%a7%d9%85-%d9%88%d8%aa%d9%86%d8%b8%d9%8a%d9%85-%d8%ac%d9%86%d8%af-%d8%a7/ اشتباكات هيئة تحرير الشام وتنظيم جند الأقصى تخلف نحو 70 قتيل بين الطرفين… والأخير يخسر 9 بلدات وقرى خلال الـ 48 ساعة الفائتة]</ref><ref name="Jund al-Aqsa besieged" /><ref name="defect to ISIS" />
*[[Tahrir al-Sham]] recaptures [[al-Tamanah]], [[Kafr Zita]], [[Khan Shaykhun]], Morek, and 13 other villages from Jund al-Aqsa<ref>[http://www.syriahr.com/2017/02/14/%d8%a7%d8%b4%d8%aa%d8%a8%d8%a7%d9%83%d8%a7%d8%aa-%d9%87%d9%8a%d8%a6%d8%a9-%d8%aa%d8%ad%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%b1-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b4%d8%a7%d9%85-%d9%88%d8%aa%d9%86%d8%b8%d9%8a%d9%85-%d8%ac%d9%86%d8%af-%d8%a7/ اشتباكات هيئة تحرير الشام وتنظيم جند الأقصى تخلف نحو 70 قتيل بين الطرفين… والأخير يخسر 9 بلدات وقرى خلال الـ 48 ساعة الفائتة]</ref><ref name="Jund al-Aqsa besieged" /><ref name="defect to ISIS" />
* Local civilians expel Ahrar al-Sham from [[Kafr Nabudah]]<ref name=videos>{{cite web|url=https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/civilians-take-arms-chase-islamist-rebels-town-northern-hama-videos/|title=Civilians take up arms, chase Islamist rebels out of town in northern Hama [Videos]|work=Al-Masdar News|author=Chris Tomson|date=12 February 2017}}</ref>
* Jund al-Aqsa forces withdraw from Idlib Province to join [[ISIL]] in the [[Raqqa Governorate]]<ref name="defect to ISIS" /><ref name="leaves for Raqqa" />
* Jund al-Aqsa forces withdraw from Idlib Province to join [[ISIL]] in the [[Raqqa Governorate]]<ref name="defect to ISIS" /><ref name="leaves for Raqqa" />
| combatant1 = {{flagicon image|Flag of Ahrar ash-Sham.svg}} '''[[Ahrar al-Sham]]'''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/Charles_Lister/status/837328790569234432 |title= |last=Lister |first=Charles |date=2 Mar 2017 |website=Twitter |publisher= |accessdate= |quote=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/Charles_Lister/status/837665402603843584 |title= |last=Lister |first=Charles |date=3 Mar 2017 |website=Twitter |publisher= |accessdate= |quote=}}</ref><br>
| combatant1 = {{flagicon image|Flag of Ahrar ash-Sham.svg}} '''[[Ahrar al-Sham]]'''<ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/Charles_Lister/status/837328790569234432 |title= |last=Lister |first=Charles |date=2 Mar 2017 |website=Twitter |publisher= |accessdate= |quote=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/Charles_Lister/status/837665402603843584 |title= |last=Lister |first=Charles |date=3 Mar 2017 |website=Twitter |publisher= |accessdate= |quote=}}</ref><br>

Revision as of 13:06, 4 April 2017

Idlib Governorate clashes (2017)
Part of the Syrian Civil War, and the
Inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian Civil War

Map of region of Idlib and western Aleppo where the conflict took place
Date20 January – 9 March 2017
(1 month, 2 weeks and 3 days)
Location
Idlib Governorate, western Aleppo Governorate, and north Hama Governorate, Syria
Status

HTS victory over Liwa al-Aqsa and other FSA groups

Belligerents

Ahrar al-Sham[1][2]
Suqour al-Sham Brigade (part of AAS since 26 January)
Sham Legion (splintered into 3 groups as of 2 March)[3][4][5]
Jaysh al-Islam[6] (some members joined AAS on 26 January)[7]
Ajnad al-Sham[8]
Saraya al-Ghuraba[8]

Syrian opposition Free Syrian Army

File:Hayat Tahrir al-Sham flag.jpg Tahrir al-Sham[9]

Turkistan Islamic Party[6]

Jund al-Aqsa (Until 7 February)

Islamic State Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant

Commanders and leaders

Abu Ammar al-Omar[20]
(Ahrar al-Sham general commander)
Rawad al-Khalifa †[21]
(Ahrar al-Sham commander)

Abu Bakr[22]
(Army of Mujahideen commander, resigned)
Syrian opposition Capt. Tariq Jadou Executed[23]
(Army of Victory military commander)
Syrian opposition Mustafa Abu al-Hadid Executed[23]
(Central Division commander)
Syrian opposition 1st Lt. Mohammed Dukhan Executed[23]
(FSA commander)
Syrian opposition Saddam al-Mohammed Executed[23]
(FSA commander)
Syrian opposition Eagle Abu Qusay Hussein Khalil Executed[23]

(FSA commander)		 File:Hayat Tahrir al-Sham flag.jpg Abdul-Rahim Attoun[24] Islamic State "Karmo"[24]
Units involved

Ahrar al-Sham

Syrian opposition Free Syrian Army

Unknown Unknown
Strength
Several thousand fighters 400 Zenki fighters[30] Up to 2,100 militants[18]
Casualties and losses
250 captured[31] (160–197 executed)[32][23] 107 killed[33][34] 52 killed[34]
2+ civilians killed[22]
  1. ^ Jund al-Aqsa was part of Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (JFS) until 23 January; it also became known as Liwa al-Aqsa since 7 February. The group was allied with HTS until 13 February, when clashes erupted between the two groups

The Idlib Governorate clashes (2017) were military confrontations between Syrian rebel factions led by Ahrar al-Sham and their allies on one side and the al-Qaeda-affiliated Jabhat Fatah al-Sham (later as Tahrir al-Sham) and their allies on the other. After 7 February, the clashes also included Jund al-Aqsa as a third belligerent, which had re-branded itself as Liwa al-Aqsa and was attacking the other combatants. The battles were fought in the Idlib Governorate and the western countryside of the Aleppo Governorate.[10]

Background

Main articles: October 2016 Idlib Governorate clashes and Second Battle of Maarat al-Nu'man

In October 2016, major clashes erupted between Ahrar al-Sham and Jund al-Aqsa in the Idlib province. This resulted in most of Jund al-Aqsa pledging allegiance to Jabhat Fatah al-Sham on 13 October 2016. Sporadic clashes continued for the next few months.[35]

Another reason for the recent attacks by Jabhat Fatah al-Sham were airstrikes conducted by the United States Air Force earlier in January, which killed more than 100 Jihadists belonging to the group.[36] Fatah al-Sham accused rival opposition groups of providing targeting information to the United States.[37] In a statement released by Fatah al-Sham, the group claimed its attacks were to "prevent conspiracies" against them.[38]

One of the rebel groups involved in the conflict, the Army of Mujahideen, is a party to the peace talks in Astana, Kazakhstan. Representatives from Jaysh al-Islam and the Sham Legion, along with 13 more factions are also involved.[39] Ahrar al-Sham, on the other hand, refused to participate in Astana due to their relations with JFS.[21] Negotiations between Syrian government and opposition representatives began on 23 January.

Clashes

January 2017

On 20 January 2017, the al-Nusra Front (Jabhat Fateh al-Sham) launched several coordinated attacks against Ahrar al-Sham headquarters and positions in the northern Idlib Governorate, near the Bab al-Hawa Border Crossing. In addition, al-Nusra also attacked Ahrar al-Sham outposts in Darkush and Jisr al-Shughur.[40] On the same day, Jund al-Aqsa raided an Ahrar al-Sham prison in Jabal Zawiya and freed 13 of their prisoners.[41] Meanwhile, in the same area, al-Nusra attacked the Mountain Hawks Brigade of the Free Idlib Army and captured a commander and his equipment.[42]

On 23 January, Jabhat Fatah al-Sham announced that it has expelled Jund al-Aqsa from its ranks. Clashes then continued.[21] JFS fighters, with support from the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement, captured the headquarters of the Army of Mujahideen in western Aleppo. They also proceeded to attack the Levant Front in Haritan.[30]

By 24 January, the Army of Mujahideen joined Ahrar al-Sham after its defeat by JFS.[25] Ahrar al-Sham then deployed several military convoys to the countryside of Idlib and western Aleppo in order to deter attacks by JFS.[43] Meanwhile, the Sham Legion repelled a JFS attack against a Mujahideen Army base in rural Idlib.[26]

On 25 January, Jabhat Fateh al-Sham militants captured the Idlib central prison from the Suqour al-Sham Brigade.[20]

By 26 January, Ahrar al-Sham and its allies had captured multiple villages in the northern part of the Jabal Zawiya region from Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, in a region between Balyin, Kafr Naya, and Maarrat al-Nu'man.[12] On the same day, militants loyal to Jabhat Fateh al-Sham captured the strategic town of Halfaya from rival opposition forces.[44] The next day, JFS forces attacked the headquarters of Jaysh al-Islam in northern Idlib.[45] By 27 January, it was reported that JFS had lost over 35 fighters in the clashes with other rebel groups.[33]

During the clashes, it was reported that civilians gathered near settlements caught in the conflict and protested against Fatah al-Sham's attacks on rival opposition forces, and called on the conflict to end in order to save civilian lives.[46]

On 28 January, Jabhat Fatah al-Sham and several other Jihadist groups formed Tahrir al-Sham (Levant Liberation Body).[47] The overall mission for this new front is likely to consolidate power in northwestern Syria against rival opposition groups, most prominently Ahrar al-Sham.

On 30 January, there were reports of mobilizations by Tahrir al-Sham and Ahrar ash-Sham at the Bab al-Hawa Border Crossing and other nearby areas, and that the 2 groups were preparing for another round of clashes.[48]

February 2017

On 2 February, Tahrir al-Sham's former JFS forces attempted to occupy a bakery in Atarib, the largest bakery in western Aleppo, but withdrew after protests by residents.[49] Several days later, the Uzbek Jihadist group Katibat al-Tawhid wal-Jihad pledged its allegiance to Tahrir al-Sham.[50]

On 7 February 2017, Jund al-Aqsa attacked the headquarters of Jaysh al-Nasr near the town of Murak, in northern Hama. Jund al-Aqsa then captured the town of Kafr Zita and stormed Taybat al-Imam,[15] capturing more than 250 fighters and weapons from Jaysh al-Nasr.[31] On 9 February, Jund al-Aqsa attacked the headquarters of Ajnad al-Sham, Saraya al-Ghuraba, Liwa al-Maghawir and several other rebel units around Kafr Zita and in other areas in the northern Hama countryside, expanding its influence and capturing weapons, supplies and vehicles. By then, Jund al-Aqsa had taken full control of 17 towns and villages overall.[8][51]

During the afternoon of 11 February, local civilians expelled Islamist rebels of Ahrar al-Sham and Jaysh al-Nasr from the town of Kafr Nabudah. The rebels were mobilizing in the town to prepare for an offensive in northern Hama. Protesters threw stones and attacked the rebel convoy, killing 3 and injuring 20 of the rebel fighters.[52]

On 13 February, clashes erupted between the previously-allied Tahrir al-Sham and Jund al-Aqsa in northern Hama and southern Idlib.[53] HTS declared war on Jund al-Aqsa as a result, and the clashes resulted in the deaths of almost 70 fighters on both sides.[24] At least 17 of those killed were Jund al-Aqsa fighters,[54] Abu Bakr Tamanna, who led a group of suicide bombers for JFS during the rebel the attempt to break the siege of Aleppo, at the 3000 apartments, was killed by Liwa al-Aqsa.[55] During the fighting, Kafers Jonah village was captured by Liwa al-Aqsa after its general security leader Abu Rihana was killed by Tahrir al-Sham.[56]

On 14 February, Jund al-Aqsa announced the execution[57] of 150–200 prisoners of war, including both HTS and FSA fighters. Moer than 160 of those executed were FSA fighters, including more than 70 from Jaysh al-Nasr, while 43 were HTS members who were killed after a Sharia Court was stormed[32] in Idlib's rural countryside in Moqa village by Liwa al-Aqsa.[58] In order to secure a potential withdraw the Syrian opposition and Liwa Aqsa engaged in talks.[59] Still, on the next day, HTS captured the village of Heish from Jund al-Aqsa, and then besieged the retreating Jund al-Aqsa forces in Khan Shaykhun and Murak.[17] The Turkistan Islamic Party and Tahrir al-Sham surrounded Liwa Al-Aqsa in Mourak and Khan Shaykhoun.[60] Turkistan Islamic Party and Liwa al-Aqsa negotiated an agreement.[61][62][63]

On 19 February, it was reported that 600 Jund al-Aqsa militants would be transported to the Ar-Raqqah Governorate to join ISIL, while the remaining Jund al-Aqsa forces would surrender their heavy weapons and join the Turkistan Islamic Party within 72 hours. By this point, it was reported that over 250 Free Syrian Army and Tahrir al-Sham fighters had been killed in clashes by Jund al-Aqsa.[64] That afternoon, a convoy of Jund al-Aqsa members and their relatives tried to cross from Idlib Province into the Raqqa Governorate, across a Syrian government supply route to Aleppo, stretching from Ithriyah to Salamiyah, in order to escape the rebel infighting. However, they were ambushed by the National Defence Forces, resulting in several deaths, with rest of the militants surrendering themselves.[65] On the same day, Tahir al-Sham stormed Jaysh al-Islam positions near the Bab al-Hawa Border Crossing and captured heavy weapons. HTS also occupied several abandoned warehouses formerly belonging to the Hazzm Movement.[66]

On 22 February, the last of Liwa al-Aqsa's 2,100 militants left their final positions in Khan Skaykhun, to join ISIL in Ar-Raqqah province, after a negotiated withdrawal deal with Tahrir al-Sham and the Turkistan Islamic Party.[18][19] Armored vehicles, tanks, and heavy weapons were all burned by Liwa al-Aqsa during their withdrawal.[67][68][69] Afterward, Tahrir al-Sham declared the termination Liwa al-Aqsa, and promised to watch for any remaining cells.[70]

On 23 February, the relatives of the FSA prisoners executed by Liwa al-Aqsa accused the group of treating them worse than the Syria government ever did.[71] Around Khan Seikhoun, mass graves were discovered following Liwa al-Aqsa's retreat.[72][73][74] Between 22 and 23 February, two separate mass graves containing the bodies of at least 131 executed rebels were found near the town. This was in addition to the discovery of the bodies of 41 fighters the previous week.[75]

On 25 February, Ahrar al-Sham raided the Free Idlib Army's headquarters and warehouses in the village of Aqrab, Idlib. The AaS fighters occupied the area under the pretext of "protecting" the FIA from a potential HTS attack. The Free Idlib Army, however, denied that they were under attack by Ahrar al-Sham.[76] Three days later, HTS attacked a Sham Legion headquarters in northern Idlib, and captured an arms depot.[77]

March 2017

On 2 March, the Sham Legion split into three armed groups, while fighting erupted in town of Saraqib, after a brigade in Ahrar al-Sham defected to Tahrir al-Sham.[78][79] The former Ahrar al-Sham brigade had been responsible for manufacturing and maintaining Ahrar al-Sham's weapons.[80] On 3 March, the clashes escalated, with clashes erupting between Ahrar al-Sham and Tahrir al-Sham in the city of Salqin.[81]

On 4 March, it was reported that the Syrian Government had taken a high interest in the inter-rebel conflict, and that they were watching the clashes closely.[82] On 6 March, Tahrir al-Sham attacked Ahrar al-Sham inside of Al-Mastoumeh and Kafr Yahmoul, to the south of Idlib, and captured several checkpoints inside of those villages, severing the main Idlib-Ariha road.[83]

On 7 March, three Tahrir al-Sham fighters died when their vehicle hit an IED in the eastern Hama province; one of the fighters was as young as 14 years old.[84] Later that day, Tahrir al-Sham and Ahrar al-Sham signed a ceasefire deal to end the fighting between them, and to create a new council to resolve their issues diplomatically instead of fighting.[85] However, two days later, clashes broke out between Ahrar al-Sham and Tahrir al-Sham again in the Jabal Zawiya region, after Tahrir al-Sham attempted to arrest a senior Ahrar al-Sham leader in the area.[86]

US aid for Syrian rebels

During the infighting, CIA military aid was frozen, due to the Islamist attacks on FSA groups in the Idlib Governorate. Salaries, training, and ammunition were halted, due to fears of falling into Islamist hands.[87]

On March 10, 2017, United States labeled the largest rebel group Hayyat Tahrir al-Sham a terrorist organization, even though in the past it has openly supported and provided military assistance to some rebel groups which are now part of this alliance, most notably Harakat Nour al-Din al-Zenki.[88]

Aftermath

Main article: 2017 Hama offensive

After the inter-rebel clashes, HTS grew further in size and launched the 2017 Hama offensive.

See also

References

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  2. ^ Lister, Charles (3 March 2017). Twitter https://twitter.com/Charles_Lister/status/837665402603843584. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. ^ Wintour, Patrick (24 January 2017). "Sponsors of Syria talks in Astana strike deal to protect fragile ceasefire". The Guardian.
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  16. ^ اشتباكات هيئة تحرير الشام وتنظيم جند الأقصى تخلف نحو 70 قتيل بين الطرفين… والأخير يخسر 9 بلدات وقرى خلال الـ 48 ساعة الفائتة
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  52. ^ Cite error: The named reference videos was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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  55. ^ العمر, موسى (13 February 2017). Twitter https://twitter.com/MousaAlomar/status/831210919212568579. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  56. ^ Twitter. Step News Agency. 13 February 2017 https://twitter.com/Step_Agency/status/831166145466101761. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  57. ^ Leith Fadel (14 February 2017). "Syrian Al-Qaeda group slaughters over 100 jihadist rebels in Idlib". al-Masdar News.
  58. ^ ""لواء الأقصى" ينفذ أكبر عملية "إعدام جماعي" بحق مقاتلي الجيش الحر". أورينت نت. 18 February 2017.
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