Syrian militant rebels took back some ground Thursday from rival insurgent groups near Syria's border with Turkey after losing control of several towns to them in recent days, rebels and residents said.
The rebel-held area in northwestern Syria is their biggest remaining stronghold, and since last year it has been in the grip of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, a militant alliance spearheaded by a former affiliate of al-Qaeda.
Last month two of its rivals joined forces in a new alliance of rebel groups affiliated with the Free Syrian Army and in the past 10 days they have pushed Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham from several towns and villages.
Their attack on Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham came against the backdrop of big street protests in some of the towns it controls in the area against the local civilian administration.
However, in fighting Wednesday and Thursday, it regained some territory and strengthened its position along the border with Turkey - an important strategic possession - the rebels and residents said.
Syrian President Bashar Assad has gained momentum in the war since Russia joined on his side in 2015, and has seized advantage of rebel in-fighting at points in the conflict for military advantage.
Increased conflict in the rebel-held northwest, an area that includes Idlib province and parts of Aleppo province, risks worsening the already dire situation of a million displaced people from other parts of Syria who have fled there.
Turkey also closely watches developments in northwest Syria, where it has established several observation posts in recent months as part of an agreement with Russia and Iran to reduce warfare.
The new alliance fighting against Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham is called Jabhat Tahrir al-Sham - the Liberation of Syria Front - and was formed by two powerful groups called Ahrar al-Sham and Nour al-Din al-Zinki Battalion.
The clashes across several towns in both Idlib and Aleppo provinces in the last 10 days have killed and wounded scores of people, according to rebels from both sides.
The fighting was close to camps where tens of thousands of civilians have taken shelter from recent heavy bombardment by the Syrian government and Russia's air force.
More than two million people live in Idlib province, about half of them displaced people including rebel fighters and their families, according to the United Nations.
In recent days Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham pulled back many of its fighters to a string of positions along the Turkish border, witnesses said.
"They have moved to the area around the crossing, where they are reinforcing their presence," Bassam Haji Mustafa, a senior official in the new alliance, Jabhat Tahrir al-Sham said.
They also launched counter-attacks to regain the village of Kafr Lusein, near the border, and to push back into other towns including Maaret Misreen.
Street protests against the civilian administrations linked to Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham complained about financial levies imposed on local people, which range from the licensing of pharmacies to issuing number plates for vehicles.
"Let them first repel the regime and its militias from the doorsteps of Idlib before trying to burden already suffering people," Abdullah Sheikh, a trader in Atma town, said.
In two other towns, Khan Sheikhoun and Saraqeb, local dignitaries have forced Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and other rebel groups to sign neutrality pacts to spare their towns from the in-fighting.
But the fear of an all-out war among rebel factions long divided by both ideology and local power struggles has kept other insurgent groups on the sidelines, containing the violence.
Liberation of Syria Front seeks to hold al-Julani accountable
Liberation of Syria Front said last week that the commander-in-chief of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham along with three senior commanders are wanted for the the 'revolutionary justice' on various charges including incitement and participation in the killing of the Syrians.
Abu Mohammad al-Julani is also the head of Fateh al-Sham faction, which was previously known as Al-Nusra Front before renouncing its ties to Al-Qaeda.
The Islamic Liberation of Syria Front formed on February 18 by the moderate group of Ahrar al-Sham and the Nur al-Din al-Zenki movement. Tahrir al-Sham's key rival groups.
The Liberation Front posted photos of al-Julani along with Abu Maria Al-Qahtani (Iraqi), Abu Al-Yaqdhan Al-Masri (Egyptian), and Abu Al-Fateh Al-Farghali ( Egyptian).
The accusation list came as follows: "The incitement to kill Syrian people and participate in criminal acts." Al-Qahtani, former spkesman, was accused of being "a leader in a criminal organization that took part in killing the Syrians."
The Syrian Liberation Front asked residents in towns and villages of northern Idlib province to inform about the whereabouts of one of these leaders to go to the nearest headquarters of the Syrian Liberation Front to inform them.
The Liberation Front did not mention any financial rewards for any one reporting on the "wanted" militants.
Activists and rebel commanders have accused Tahrir al-Sham of colluding with the Assad regime in northern Idlib province after a series of rapid gains made by the Assad army and allied militias.
Last August, the former Al-Qaeda affiliate expelled moderate Ahrar al-Sham from Idlib province.
General Commander of Ahrar al-Sham and his fellow senior commanders tried to ease the defeat outcomes, assuring to their fighters and supporters that the Islamic movement is still strong and united.
HTS and Ahrar al-Sham, which is supported by Turkey and some Gulf countries, were once allies and fought alongside each other to capture most of Idlib province from the regime in 2015.
But analysts say growing tensions have been exacerbated by HTS fears of a plan to expel the internationally designated "terror" group from the province.
On July 28, 2016, al-Julani announced in a recorded message that Jabhat al-Nusra would henceforth go under the new name of Jabhat Fateh al-Sham as part of the announcement al-Julani stated that the rebranded group has "no affiliation to any external entity". While some analysts have interpreted this to mean breaking away from Al-Qaeda, the group was not specifically mentioned in the announcement, and al-Julani did not renounce his oath of allegiance to Ayman al-Zawahiri.
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