The clashes that started on the first day of the new year between gang groups in Idlib Turkey has taken on the role of guarantor in Astana and Sochi continue to spread.

Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) under the lead of Jabhat Al-Nusra and gang groups within the Turkey-backed “National Liberation Front” have been clashing in the Darat Izza region to the west of Aleppo and South of Afrin, and the clashes are spreading throughout Idlib.

HTS ATTEMPTS TO TAKE OVER THE BORDERS

The gang groups within the HTS are attempting to take over the “National Liberation Front” connection points to Turkey after having taken over the Darat Izza town where the Turkish state set up the first observation point in Idlib.

HTS has taken over the Atme camp immediately across from the Bukulmez Border Outpost on the border of Hatay’s Reyhanli district and advanced eastward, in an attempt to cut off the connection with Afrin the “National Liberation Front” groups hold.

Following clashes, the HTS gangs have taken over the Qile village in Afrin’s Jindirese district.

The 23 groups in the Turkish state backed “National Liberation Front” had previously declared mobilization against the HTS and sent reinforcements from Afrin, Jarablus and Bab.

TURKEY BACKED GROUPS OPEN NEW FRONTS IN THE SOUTH

HTS took over several positions in the area and is attempting to take over the connection points the groups in question have with Turkey. As a response, the “National Liberation Front” has opened new fronts against the HTS in the south of Idlib.

Reports say the “National Liberation Front” has taken the Safuhan, Kewkeb, Kefer Mus, El Fuqaye and Termala villages in the Kefer Ubeyd region, the Xedfa and Babila villages in the Maret Numan town and the Misibin village in the Ariha town back from the HTS.

JIHADIST GROUPS CLASHING

There are several groups of varying sizes in the HTS like Al Nusra, Jaysh al Sunnah, Jund al Aqsa, Liwa al Haq, Jaysh al Ahrar, Hurras al Din and Ansar al Din.

In the “National Liberation Front”, there are groups like the Ahrar al Sham who diverged from the HTS, Nureddin Zenki, Faylaq al Sham, Jaysh al Idlib, Jaysh al Nuxbe, Jaysh al Nasir, Hamzat and Jabhat Sharqiyya.

AIR STRIKES FROM THE REGIME AND RUSSIA

Meanwhile, Russian and regime jets continue to hold air strikes on jihadist positions to the south and southwest of Idlib.

LAVROV HAD SAID THEY HAD AN AGREEMENT

It is significant that clashes in Idlib started after the committee made up of the Turkish Foreign Minister, Defense Minister, MIT Undersecretary and Erdogan’s spokesperson visited Moscow with their file for the invasion of Manbij on December 29.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had said, “We have come to an agreement on how Russian and Turkish military representatives will coordinate steps to ultimately end the terrorist threat in Syria under the new conditions,” after the meeting.

CONTROLLED CLASHES

The Turkish state remains silent on the clashes in Idlib. The Turkish state is said to be allowing the controlled continuation of clashes in Idlib until they understand the stand the US will take in meetings Turkish state officials will hold in Washington DC.

Turkish officials visited Moscow last week and will be visiting Washington DC next week, and reports say the country will implement new planning between the HTS and the “National Liberation Front” in Idlib depending on the outcome of these meetings.