Idlib Governorate clashes (July 2017)

The Idlib Governorate clashes (July 2017) were a series of military confrontations between Ahrar al-Sham and Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).[18] During the clashes, Tahrir al-Sham attempted to capture the Bab al-Hawa Border Crossing, causing concern for Turkey, which prefers Ahrar al-Sham to be in control of the crossing.[19] As a result of the clashes, HTS took control of Idlib city, the Bab al-Hawa Border Crossing, and most of the areas along the Turkish border in the Idlib Province.

Idlib Governorate clashes (July 2017)
Part of inter-rebel conflicts during the Syrian Civil War
Date14–23 July 2017[1]
(1 week and 2 days)
Location
Idlib Governorate, western Aleppo Governorate, and northern Hama Governorate, Syria
Result

Major Tahrir al-Sham victory and ceasefire[2]

Territorial
changes		 Tahrir al-Sham controlled 60% of the Idlib Governorate[9]
Belligerents

Ahrar al-Sham

Syrian National Army[12]

Supported by:
 Turkey[13][14]

Tahrir al-Sham

Turkistan Islamic Party in Syria[17]
Casualties and losses
77 fighters from both sides and 15 civilians killed[3]

Background
Further information: Idlib Governorate clashes (January–March 2017)

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said that the fighting began when HTS fired on demonstrators throughout the Idlib Governorate who carried the 1932 French Mandate flag, recently adopted by Ahrar al-Sham in addition to its original white Islamic flag. HTS, which embraces the Black Standard, opposes the use of the tricolour flag. The two rivals accused each other of provoking this round of fighting in Iblin.[20][21]

The clashes

Prior to the major breakout of fighting, on 14 July, clashes occurred between Ahrar al-Sham and Suqour al-Sham against Tahrir al-Sham in multiple locations in the Idlib Governorate, including Saraqib and Jabal Zawiya.[11]

On 19 July, forces of Tahrir al-Sham took hold of the town of Salqin, later in the day capturing Al-Dana and Saraqib.[22] On 20 July, Tahrir al-Sham captured the border town of Atme from Ahrar al-Sham.[4] Following the capture of Atme, Tahrir al-Sham attempted to capture the Bab al-Hawa Border Crossing in its campaign to cut off Ahrar al-Sham from Turkey. On 21 July, a convoy of forces from the Sham Legion and the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement, which left Tahrir al-Sham the previous day, headed to Darat Izza near frontlines between Ahrar al-Sham and Tahrir al-Sham.[3] However, before reaching the frontlines, the convoy was intercepted by Tahrir al-Sham, and was forced to withdraw.[23] On the same day, a cease-fire agreement was reached between Ahrar al-Sham and Tahrir al-Sham, which involved the withdrawal of Ahrar al-Sham from the Bab al-Hawa border crossing and its control handed over to a civil council. Soon after, Tahrir al-Sham forces entered the towns of Maarrat Misrin and Ram Hamdan, after Ahrar al-Sham withdrew without fighting.[24][25]

Russia and Turkey considered intervening to bring peace to the region.[14]

On 22 July, HTS captured the remaining parts of Idlib city not already under their control, with Ahrar evacuating the city, heading towards the southern parts of Idlib Governorate;[26] on the next day, both sides agreed to renew the ceasefire. Nevertheless, HTS and Turkistan Islamic Party fighters also evicted Ahrar al-Sham from the Khirbat al-Joz border crossing and clashed with it in Jisr al-Shughur's western countryside.[17] A car bomb explosion in Idlib city also killed between 13 and 52 people, including up to 50 HTS members and 2 civilians.[27][28]

References
  1. agencies, The New Arab &. "Opposition infighting between Ahrar al-Sham and Tahrir al-Sham kills 14 in Syria's Idlib".
  2. Thompson, Chris. "Ahrar Al-Sham, Al-Qaeda agree to make peace in Idlib".
  3. "Calm prevails Idlib since the start of the agreement and Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham during the clashes controls about 30 cities, towns and villages in Idlib province,". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 22 July 2017.
  4. ""Liberation of the Sham" declares control of the village of Otm border with Turkey north of Idlib after clashes with "Ahrar Sham" (media body)". SMART News Agency. 21 July 2017.
  5. "Media agency tied to Tahrir al-Sham claims the group took control of the city of Isqat near the border with Turkey. Ahrar al-Sham withdrew - Map of Syrian Civil war/ Global conflict in Syria - Syria news - syria.liveuamap.com". syria.LiveUAmap.com. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  6. "Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham is now in full control of Sarmada. Reports of them working their way up to Aqrabat, Qah and Atmah. This will leave Bab al-Hawa. - Map of Syrian Civil war/ Global conflict in Syria - Syria news - syria.liveuamap.com". Map of Syrian Civil war/ Global conflict in Syria - Syria news - syria.liveuamap.com. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  7. "Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham announced full control over the city of Saraqib after Ahrar al-Sham retreated from the city. - Map of Syrian Civil war/ Global conflict in Syria - Syria news - syria.liveuamap.com". Map of Syrian Civil war/ Global conflict in Syria - Syria news - syria.liveuamap.com. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  8. "Same channel claims the cities of Salqin and Saraqib are also fully under HTS's control - Map of Syrian Civil war/ Global conflict in Syria - Syria news - syria.liveuamap.com". Map of Syrian Civil war/ Global conflict in Syria - Syria news - syria.liveuamap.com. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  9. "Hay'at Tahrir al Sham Commits Wide Violations in Idlib Governorate" (PDF). Syrian Network for Human Rights. 21 October 2017.
  10. "Ahrar al-Sham and FSA took over al-Atareb, Aleppo and surrounding checkpoints and raised the revolution's flag - Map of Syrian Civil war/ Global conflict in Syria - Syria news - syria.liveuamap.com". Map of Syrian Civil war/ Global conflict in Syria - Syria news - syria.liveuamap.com. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  11. "Rival Groups Clash in Syria's Rebel-Packed Idlib". Associated Press. 15 July 2017.
  12. "Turkey-backed rebel reinforcements arrive in Idlib for Nusra fight: rebels". 20 July 2017 – via Reuters.
  13. "Turkish Army mobilizes for invasion of Idlib in support of Ahrar Al-Sham". 20 July 2017.
  14. "Turkey, Russia may deploy soldiers to Syria"s Idlib for monitoring: Spokesperson - DIPLOMACY". Hürriyet Daily News - LEADING NEWS SOURCE FOR TURKEY AND THE REGION.
  15. "HTS coalition loses major Islamist faction to Ahrar al-Sham". 20 July 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  16. "Al-Qaeda wins the upper hand in Idlib as jihadist groups unleash hell upon one another". 20 July 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  17. "Following the renewed fighting … Ahrar Al-Sham and Tahrir Al-Sham reconcile". SOHR. 24 July 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  18. "Two largest jihadist factions slaughter one another in Idlib after truce falls apart". 18 July 2017.
  19. "Fighting in Syria's Idlib province spreads to Turkey border crossing".
  20. "Clashes erupt between rebels, al-Qaida in northwest Syria". AP via Boston Herald. 19 July 2017. Archived from the original on 9 August 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  21. "Syrian revolutionary flag sparks latest round of Idlib infighting". Syria Direct. 19 July 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  22. "Al-Qaeda wins the upper hand in Idlib as jihadist groups unleash hell upon one another". AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 2017-07-20. Retrieved 2017-07-22.
  23. "(Zanki) return to their headquarters after the withdrawal (Sham Corps) of the separation forces". All4Syria. 21 July 2017.
  24. Mohammed al-Haj (22 July 2017). "Activists: "Ahrar Sham" withdraw from towns in Idlib and "Liberation Sham" enter without a fight". SMART News Agency.
  25. "Ahrar Al-Sham, Al-Qaeda agree to make peace in Idlib". AMN - Al-Masdar News | المصدر نيوز. 2017-07-21. Retrieved 2017-07-22.
  27. "Individuals killed in the explosion of a car bomb driven by a suicide bomber in Idlib city on July 23". Syrian Network for Human Rights. 23 July 2017.
  28. "Car explosion kills 50 Al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front militants in Syrian city of Idlib". firstpost. firstpost. 2017-07-24.
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