The intensification of the media discourse between Ahrar al-Sham Movement and Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham coincided with the Hay’at setting up a checkpoint near Ahrar al-Sham strongholds at the Bab Al-Hawa border crossing. The Hay’at also set up a checkpoint near the Central Division faction, subordinate to the Free Syrian Army, headquarters.
The escalating discourse between the two sides and maneuvers on the ground come after several media reports indicated Turkish military intentions of intervening in Idlib countryside as part of the ‘reduced escalation’ agreement signed in Astana several weeks ago.
Speaking to Ammar Johmani, a local source in the Bab al-Hawa area said that the Hay’at set up several provocative checkpoints close to the Movement’s headquarters in Bab al-Hawa border crossing as well as in the square of the old border crossing point.
According to Omar Khattab, the military spokesman for the Movement, the Hay’at set up earth barriers and checkpoints close to a sensitive headquarter belonging to the movement in the Bab al-Hawa border crossing.
A local source, who declined to give their name, said the Hay’at positioned several rocket launchers in the hills close to the Bab al-Hawa border crossing in Babisqa and other nearby areas. The source did not know the reasons behind the move. This information was denied by both Omar Khattab, Ahrar al-Sham Movement military spokesman, and a commander in Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham.
For his part, Mohammad Abu Zeid, the official spokesman for the Ahrar al-Sham Movement, said in a statement, “Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham is inciting and mobilizing its military forces in sensitive areas overlooking the Movement’s headquarters and its vital locations in northern Syria on the basis (they support the Turkish intervention) which has troubled people and created an atmosphere ideal for igniting sedition.”
In his statement, Abu Zeid demanded that those who call themselves “reformers” in the Hay’at take over from those trying to create internal strife in the revolution before the situation gets out of control.
The Hay’at’s movements in northern Syria do not appear to be aimed at gaining greater influence in the Bab al-Hawa area. According to sources, the Hay’at completely rejects the Turkish intervention in Idlib countryside, and it is demonstrating this by strengthening its checkpoints with large dirt barriers and increasing its number of fighters. These moves on the ground reported by local sources were corroborated by Abu al-Zabir al-Shami’s, a commander in the Hay’at, statement on social media sites that “The Hay’at’s military maneuvers are aimed at launching and fortifying the border areas to repel any attack by the corrupt Pentagon factions.”
Abu al-Zabir al-Shami’s announcement was accompanied by a statement from an unidentified commander in the Hay’at, that the Hay’at intends to kill any Turkish soldier who crosses the border with Syria. This statement was denied by Emad al-Din Mujahid, the public relations manager in Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham.
In a statement to Ammar Johmani, Mujahid said the Hay’at’s movements along the border is “normal” and part of Hay’at headquarters where their forces have been present for the past two years.
Mujahid refuted Ahrar al-Sham’s accusations about the Hay’at’s intention to attack the Movement’s headquarters in the north saying, “The Hay’at has no intention of attacking the Ahrar al-Sham Movement. They [the Movement] have relied in this on delusions, or perhaps they have listened to some of the saboteurs working in their ranks, and they ignored speaking to or officially communicating with the Hay’at.”
Mujahid described the relationship with the Central Division as “good,” and considers that any claims that the relationship is otherwise are aimed at sedition and some people’s attempts to spread lies to distort the Hay’at’s reputation.
Despite the official talk by both two sides about the latest escalation between them, the facts on the ground indicate deep differences regarding their positions towards the forecasted Turkish intervention in Idlib countryside. Ahrar al-Sham Movement is trying to present itself to the Turks as a major player in Idlib countryside while the Hay’at refuses the Turkish intervention in Idlib countryside.
These positions come as the factions within the Hay’at have different approaches. At the same time, as news is circulated that Turkey may depend on factions al-Nusra, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham formerly, expelled from Idlib such as the Hazm Movement and Syrian Revolutionaries Front in the event the Hay’at continues to refuse Turkish intervention in Idlib
