Tahrir Al-Sham Opposing Its Dissolution in Idlib Province

TEHRAN (defapress)- Tahrir al-Sham al-Hay'at (the Levant Liberation Board or the Al-Nusra Front) terrorists have voiced their strong opposition to being dissolved by the yearend as proposed by Turkey as part of Ankara plan to annex Idlib to other areas under its control in Northern Syria, the Arabic-language media outlets said.

News ID: 78005

Date: 07 July 2019 - 14:13

The Arabic-language al-Watan newspaper quoted media sources close to Tahrir al-Sham as saying that Tahrir al-Sham will not agree to its dissolution under any conditions.

The sources pointed to reports on Turkey's plan to dissolve Tahrir al-Sham and annexing Idlib province to other areas known as Olive Branch and Euphrates Shield in Northern Aleppo, and said that these reports are at a time while Ankara is trying to bring itself out of the current situation and it is trying to reinforce the Syrian dissidents in line with its expansionist policies.

They, meantime, noted that Tahrir al-Sham is a pressure lever for Turkey to achieve its long-term goals, and said that Ankara considers Tahrir al-Sham as its strategic partner and it will not victimize its under any agreement.

The sources also said that because Tahrir al-Sham has gained control over the entire Idlib province and Ankara's order to other terrorist groups to obey Tahrir al-Sham, Ankara does not intend to dissolve Tahrir al-Sham.

In a relevant development on Saturday, Syrian dissident sources claimed that "Ankara is attempting to take the preliminary steps for the political and military occupation of Idlib and annexing it to other areas occupied by the Turkish army in Northern Aleppo".

The Arabic-language al-Arabi al-Jadid newspaper quoted Syrian dissident sources as saying that Turkey wants to put Idlib province under the command and control of the Olive Branch and Operation Euphrates Shield forces which already control Afrin and the nearby areas in Northern Aleppo.

They added that the main problem for Turkey to attain this goal is the presence of Tahrir al-Sham terrorists, noting that the Turkish officials have told them that Tahrir al-Sham will be dissolved by the yearend, through either war or peace to leave the Russians with no excuse to continue their military operations in the region.

The sources also said that the interim government affiliated to the dissidents will gain control of the bordering corridors between Syria and Turkey and the residents of these regions will be provided with main services with the revenues of these passageways.

Meantime, the deputy governor-general of Turkey's Hatay province will supervise the administrative and service providing activities in Idlib province and the Ankara-backed National Army forces will carry out military and security missions, they said.

Based on an agreement with Russia, Turkey was due to pave the ground for the withdrawal of terrorists from the demilitarized zone in Idlib which was never materialized.

Reports said earlier this month that differences between Russia and Turkey had increased amid the Syrian army's air and ground offensives against the terrorist groups' positions and moves in Northern Hama and Southern Idlib.

Also, al-Watan newspaper reported in June that Turkey ordered Tahrir al-Sham to reinforce strategic military positions in Jbal al-Zawiyeh in Idlib province after it turned down Russia's demand for withdrawing militants from the region.

It wrote that with an aim to confront the Syrian Army in Northern Hama, Tahrir al-Sham has sent large volumes of its military equipment to al-Jolmeh to North of Mahradeh.

"Turkey's intelligence body has asked Tahrir al-Sham and other terrorist groups in Northern Syria to reinforce its defense lines, including 50 towns and villages up to the city of Ariha in Aleppo-Lattakia international highway as clean-up operation by the Syrian and Russian armies in Jabal al-Zawiyeh in Idlib is imminent," al-Watan quoted local and opposition sources in Idlib as saying.

The sources reiterated that Turkey's operations room in Shir Mughar region in Jabal Shahshabou in Northern Hama where terrorists are constantly supported in terms of weapons, ammunition and intelligence has warned terrorists that the Syrian army might soon capture Jbal Shahshabou which overlooks Sahl al-Ghab in Northwestern Hama and towns to the South of Idlib and then advance towards Jabal al-Zawiyeh.

The newspaper also further quoted the sources as saying that Russia had recently asked Turkey to make terrorists retreat from Jbal Shahshabou region in Northwestern Hama and Kabani town in Northeastern Lattakia which are regarded as the Southern and Western gates of Idlib, but Ankara has strongly turned down the demand.

Meantime, the Arabic-language al-Youm news website quoted media activists in Idlib province as saying that after supplying advanced weapons to terrorists, Ankara has ordered them to launch new attacks in Northern Hama to recapture the town of al-Saqilbieh.

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