2022 Ahrar al-Sham–Levant Front clashes
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (September 2022) |
| 2022 Ahrar al-Sham–Levant Front clashes | |||||||||
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| Part of the inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian civil war | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
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 Sham Legion[4] | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
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4-5 fighters killed[1] Dozens of fighters wounded[1] 4 civilians killed[8][3] 11 civilians injured[8] Total: 8-9 killed, 11+ wounded | |||||||||
Clashes took place between Ahrar al-Sham and the Levant Front, two factions of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army, across the Turkish-occupied areas of the Aleppo Governorate in June 2022, as part of the on-going civil war in Syria. Ahrar al-Sham was supported by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) from the latter's territories in the Idlib Governorate, while the Sham Legion and Jaysh al-Islam backed the Levant Front.
Clashes
The purported casus belli was the defection of the 32nd Division, part of Ahrar al-Sham's eastern branch, from the Levant Front-dominated Third Legion of the SNA. Following this defection, the Levant Front, including reinforcements of tanks and artillery from Azaz city,[1] attacked Ahrar al-Sham positions in the al-Bab District countryside on 18 June,[1] besieging the Ahrar al-Sham-held Kurdish-majority villages of Tel Battel and Abla before proceeding to storm and capture Ahrar al-Sham's headquarters in the villages. The two fighting factions then withdrew to the outskirts of the villages.[5] At least one Ahrar al-Sham fighter was killed,[9] and four civilians, including two children, were killed, and 11 civilians wounded during the clashes in the al-Bab countryside, which had spread to the villages of Sousian, al-Hadath,[8] Alwan, and Sheikh Alwan.[1]
In response to the clashes, the Sham Legion and the Syrian National Army closed the al-Ghazawiya and Deir Ballut crossings which link the SNA and HTS areas of control between Afrin District and the Idlib Governorate.[10] However, HTS then captured the al-Ghazawiya crossing after the Sham Legion withdrew. The HTS and Ahrar al-Sham convoy, consisting of technicals with heavy machine guns, artillery, and armoured personnel carriers, advanced north into the Jindires and Afrin subdistricts, capturing Jindires and the villages of Basouta, al-Muhammadiya, al-Ghazawiya, Qarzihil, and Ain Dara. Qarzihil saw the heaviest fighting.[5]
Turkey then brokered a ceasefire between the fighting factions.[3] The agreement stipulated that the HTS convoy withdraw from the areas it captured in Afrin, and the return of Ahrar al-Sham's headquarters in al-Bab. All HTS fighters left Qarzihil village and Ain Dara park and regrouped in Basouta and Deir Ballut, near Darat Izza.[6] Despite the truce, Ahrar al-Sham attacked Levant Front bases in Tel Battel.[11] By the morning of 19 June, fighting had ceased in all of the areas with the exception of Sousian village in al-Bab.[2]
Aftermath
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Seven dead as clashes erupt in northern Syria". The New Arab. 19 June 2022.
- ^ a b c "Negotiations and Mediations: Fragile Calm Hangs Over Areas North of Aleppo". Baladi News. 20 June 2022.
- ^ a b c Suleiman Al-Khalidi (19 June 2022). "Truce ends clashes among Turkey-backed rebels in northwest Syria". Reuters.
- ^ "Following clashes with Ahrar Al-Sham and HTS - Al-Sham Corps withdraw from Al-Ghazzawiyah crossing between Idlib and Afrin". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 18 June 2022.
- ^ a b c "Factional rivalry and infighting - Tahrir Al-Sham and Ahrar Al-Sham control several areas in "Olive Branch" areas amid negotiations to restore the status quo ante". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 19 June 2022.
- ^ a b c "At Turkish orders - HTS withdraws from Afrin to areas in Idlib". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 19 June 2022.
- ^ Al-Khalidi, Suleiman (19 June 2022). "Truce ends clashes among Turkey-backed rebels in northwest Syria". Reuters.
- ^ a b c "Death toll update - Four people, including little girl and child, killed and 11 civilians injured in ongoing fierce clashes among Ankara-backed factions in"safe zone" in Aleppo countryside". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 19 June 2022.
- ^ "Afrin - Clashes renew between "3rd Corps" and "Ahrar Al-Sham" in Al-Bab countryside in light of deployment of "Tahrir Al-Sham and Ahrar Al-Sham" militiamen". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 19 June 2022.
- ^ Farouq Hamo (18 June 2022). "SNA Factions Close Crossings Link Their Areas Of Control To Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham Areas". North Press Agency.
- ^ "After HTS withdrawal - Ahrar Al-Sham attacks Al-Jabha Al-Shamiyah bases in Al-Bab". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 19 June 2022.
