Ahrar al-Sham, once Syria's powerful Islamist group, has faced a big blow this week when an alliance led by al Qaeda's former Syria branch expanded its control territory in northern Idlib province, reaching a strategic border crossing with Turkey on Friday.
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.
Experts and local activists say the truce is eliminating the moderate Ahrar al-Sham from northern Syria, giving the upper hand to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
Imad el-Din Mujahed, media officer of HTS, told Zaman al-Wasl Ahrar al-Sham agreed to not launch any counter attacks to recapture ground fell to favor of Tahrir al-Sham during the three-day infighting and two weeks of tensions.
HTS and Ahrar al-Sham agreed a ceasefire on Friday to end days of infighting after al Qaeda-linked militants surrounded the other rebels near Bab al-Hawa border crossing, an important supply route for Turkish-backed rebels fighting under the Free Syrian Army (FSA) banner.
Ahrar al-Sham said in an online statement that under the ceasefire, it and other rebel factions would "leave the Bab al-Hawa crossing and turn it over to civilian administration".
HTS turned the main group to manage bab al-Hawa crossing border with Turkey amid Turkish resentment. A new administration to be announced soon, Mujahed said.
The clashes have been the heaviest yet between the two sides who have long vied for influence in the only province in Syria that is entirely under rebel control.
Tahrir al-Sham had on Friday advanced in several areas, including towards Bab al-Hawa,
The agreement for Ahrar and its allies to withdraw from Bab al-Hawa is yet another setback.
A resident of Atmeh, a town north of the crossing, who is in touch with local officials and rebels said earlier Bab al-Hawa had effectively been encircled from the Syrian side.
Tahrir al-Sham "has taken control of the hills around Bab al-Hawa", bringing them to within 1 km (mile) of the crossing, he said. "Just the crossing remains" under the control of Ahrar al-Sham, he said.
A source in Ahrar al-Sham also said Tahrir al-Sham had surrounded the crossing, but vowed not to give it up.
Tahrir al-Sham later released a statement urging Ahrar al-Sham fighters at Bab al-Hawa to surrender, saying they would not be harmed if they did.
"To our brothers in Ahrar al-Sham leadership, come out strong and dignified - we will give you security and peace and sit together to come up with a project that unifies us," it said.
Ahrar al-Sham sided with FSA groups fighting against the Tahrir al-Sham alliance.
Rebels say the infighting takes the focus away from the battle against Assad's forces and weakens insurgents.
