Al-Qaeda linked group still controlling border town with Turkey

Special sources confirmed to Zaman Alwasl that the center of the border city of Azaz, near Turkey, is still controlled by the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham “ISIS”, besides 30 detainees and activist Mohamed Noor, are still under arrest at ISIS.

A ceasefire agreement between ISIS and the North Storm brigade requires ISIS to release the rest of detainees and taking off all its barriers by yesterday midnight, however, Sheikh Abdul Rahman al-Kuwaiti requested to extend the deadline until the end of this month and promised to release detainees held by ISIS today, according to sources.

Moreover, sources reported that a meeting at Azaz border crossing, lasted 4 hours between al-Kuwaiti and Abo Ali Sajo, a leader in Storm Brigade, to implement terms of the ceasefire agreement but no avail.

Beside the ceasefire, the agreement included mutual release of detainees and property of the two parties after battles resulted in deaths and injuries.

Zaman Alwasl was not able to verify the news about releasing nine detainees at ISIS yesterday, who were severely tortured. 

It seems that crossing checkpoints have been distributed between the fighting parties, where the North Storm Brigade controlled “al-Shat” barrier at the west, Abo Ibrahim Chechani Controlled al-Kaziyeh barrier and Turkish authorities continued to close Bab al-Salameh” crossing followed with closing “Bab al-Hawa” crossing which is heavily guarded to prevent extremists from controlling it. Fighting in Azaz started when a German doctor from “Doctors without borders” visited Azaz hospital to evaluate the situation in it, member from ISIS invaded the hospital and demanded the FSA guards to get the doctor outside it. When the later refused, they started shooting and killed two fighters from Storm brigade. Then fighting speeded outside the hospital to cover most areas in Azaz.

Read the Original Article; Translation by Yusra Ahmed