Tahrir al-Sham–Junud al-Sham conflict
| Tahrir al-Sham–Junud al-Sham conflict | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the inter-rebel conflict in the Syrian Civil War | |||||||||
 | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Hayat Tahrir al-Sham |  Junud al-Sham Jund Allah Jund al-Islam[1]Unaffiliated foreign jihadists[1] | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Abu Mohammad al-Julani | Muslim al-Shishani Mahr al-Dein | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
9 killed[3] 1 killed | 26 killed 3 captured[3] Several foreign jihadists executed | ||||||||
The Tahrir al-Sham–Junud al-Sham conflict was a series of violent clashes between Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and several rival jihadist factions operating in the Idlib and Latakia governorates. The clashes began on 25 October 2021 after HTS demanded that the jihadist leader Muslim al-Shishani should stand trial after they accused him and his group of sheltering members of the Islamic State.[1][4]
Clashes
On October 25, clashes began in and around Jisr al-Shugur and the Turkmen Mountains after forces of HTS attacked the headquarters of the Junud al-Sham faction, following a refusal to stand some of their members on trial as part of an internal security operation by HTS.[2] The clashes soon also involved Jund Allah (a group of mostly Turkish and Azeri jihadists), Jund al-Islam, and unaffiliated foreign jihadists.[1] Tensions increased when Jund Allah arrested several HTS fighters in the Turkmen Mountains. In response, HTS brought up to 100 vehicles with heavy weapons towards the north of Latakia. The same day, HTS stormed the headquarters of Jund Allah in Jisr al-Shugur.[5]
On October 26, after hours of fighting, forces of HTS had taken Abu Aref hill in the Turkmen mountains from Jund Allah, killing 7 members of the faction. 4 members of HTS were also killed during the fighting. Under mediation of the Turkistan Islamic Party in Syria, HTS had secured a deal with two rival factions where they agreed to leave the Turkmen Mountains, however some members of the factions refused and continued fighting. Later, HTS forces captured 3 Chechen jihadists that had refused to abide by the deal. The deal also secured the transfer of prisoners.[6][7]
On October 27, heavy clashes were reported between Jund Allah and HTS on the frontlines of the Turkmen Mountains, Latakia.[8][self-published source?]
On October 28, HTS arrested two men after storming the village of Deir Hassan, for their part in a demonstration against the fighting in Latakia.[9] The fighting ended after HTS managed to capture two Jund Allah field commanders together with Abu Musa al-Shishani, the brother of Muslim al-Shishani, the leader of Junud al-Sham. As a result, Muslim al-Shishani had to accept Tahrir al-Sham's terms to transfer his men to Idlib.[10][unreliable source?]
Aftermath
Following the deal between HTS and Junud al-Sham & Jund Allah, it was reported on 29 October that HTS had executed several foreign members of jihadist groups on the frontlines in the Turkmen Mountains.[11]
See also
- Idlib Governorate clashes (June 2020)
- National Front for Liberation–Tahrir al-Sham conflict
References
- ^ a b c d "Clashes escalate in Latakia countryside : HTS captures hill where "Jund Allah" group stationed and arrests jihadists in Jabal al-Turkman". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 26 October 2021.
- ^ a b "Factions on fire : Al-Julani attacks posts of Abu Muslim al-Shishani and Turkish Jihadists in Jiser al-Sho'our and Jabal al-Turkoman". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 25 October 2021.
- ^ a b "Turkish promises for Russian side : HTS kills above 25 jihadists of foreign nationalities in military raid on Jabal al-Turkman". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 27 October 2021.
- ^ "Factional growing clashes : Factions of HTS, Turkish Jihadists and Abu Muslim al-Shishani clashes caused casualties in Idlib and Latakkia countryside". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 25 October 2021.
- ^ "Clashes between HTS and armed factions in Syria's Idlib". North press agency. 25 October 2021.
- ^ "Turkistan-mediated deal : Clashes resumes between HTS and groups including non-Syrian Jihadists". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 26 October 2021.
- ^ "Clashes on Latakia hills between HTS and the "Soldiers of God" unit continue. 1 heavy machine gun (23mm or 14.5 mm) belonging to such small unit got destroyed and one of its members has been apparently captured". LiveUAMap. 26 October 2021.
- ^ "Violent clashes between Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham and Jund Allah faction on several axes and points in Jabal al-Turkman in the northern countryside of Lattakia". LiveUAMap. 26 October 2021.
- ^ "Participating in anti-fighting sit-in : HTS arrests two men from border camp with Liwaa Eskandron". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 28 October 2021.
- ^ "Hayat Tahrir al-Sham defeats Jundallah in northern Latakia". ISW News. 28 October 2021.
- ^ "Bloody fight left dozens of deaths and wounded : Field execution of foreign jihadists members by HTS in Jabal al-Turkuman". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 29 October 2021.
