Fresh clashes between Ahrar al-Sham, former al Qaeda group in Idlib

(Zaman Al Wasl)- Fierce clashes erupted on Tuesday between the two main Islamist groups in Idlib, less than 48 hours of fragile truce amid fears of widespread violence in the northern province.

A woman was killed and dozen were wounded on Tuesday when Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, former al-Qaeda branch in Syria, attacked Ahrar al-Sham bases in ten villages.

Sources told Zaman al-Wasl that Tahrir al-Sham had taken control of the villages of Hazazin and Abdeen in the southern countryside, using heavy guns and artillery.

The powerful groups on Sunday reached a deal to end a week of tensions and to halt fight and media provocation by forming a committee to reconcile the discords, Imad el-Din Mujahed, press officer of Tahrir al-Sham told Zaman al-Wasl.

Local activists said militants of Tahrir al-Sham opened fire on civilians raised the revolution flag in Idlib square. The ‘independence’ flag that has been adopted by Ahrar al-Sham as its new banner. Such a stance set the alarm bells of Tahrir al-Sham from the former ally.

On Saturday, Ahrar al-Sham said the al-Qaida-linked Tahrir al-Sham is sending reinforcements to the town of Saraqeb and the Jabal al-Zawiya region in preparation for an attack.

The Ibaa News Agency of the al-Qaida-linked group accused Ahrar al-Sham of setting up checkpoints and detaining one of its commanders and his bodyguard, adding that Tahrir al-Sham, or the Levant Liberation Committee removed the checkpoints later by force, AP reported.

The two rival groups have clashed earlier this year before a truce was reached.

Turkey announced in early July of possible deployment for its troop in Idlib in coordination with its allied factions. Observers say Tahrir al-Sham command believes that it will be the next target of uprooting ISIS from eastern Syria.

Idlib is one of the most important strongholds of rebels, including jihadist factions, who seek to overthrow Bashar al-Assad, whose air force, along with that of his ally Russia, has been heavily bombarding rebel there.

The peaceful demonstrations that ended up with deadly war carried out by the Syrian regime and key regional players has killed at least 470,000 people, including 150,000 children and has displaced over 12 million people.