Turkey’s mercenaries turn over Idlib to HTS

An agreement has been reached in Idlib following clashes among Turkish state allied gangs. The gang groups directly under Ankara’s protection have left control of the Idlib region to Hayat Tahrir al Sham.

Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS), founded by former Al Nusra, announced that an agreement has been reached in Idlib among gang groups directly fostered by Ankara.

HTS announced the agreement on their propaganda organ. The agreement ends the days-long clashes in the region and leaves control of the Idlib region to the HTS.

The clashes had occurred between the HTS and gang groups gathered under the National Liberation Front (NLF) formed by Ankara.

The clashes sparked after NLF component Nour al-Din al-Zenki gang group killed 5 HTS members in the Aleppo region. Over 130 people were killed in the clashes that spread throughout a large area from Aleppo to Idlib. HTS took over some 50 residential areas to the west of Aleppo.