Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) is mobilizing troop to overrun Atareb town in Aleppo province, such a move follows a week of fighting moderate Ahrar al-Sham movement and taking most of its territory in northern Idlib province.
People of Atareb went to streets at midnight, protesting against Tahrir al-Sham, an alliance led by al Qaeda's former Syria branch, and its attempt to capture rebel-held town in the western countryside of Aleppo.
HTS took town of Darret Azza on Saturday from Ahrar al-Sham where its fighters still blockading Bab al-Hawa border crossing, an important supply route for Turkish-backed rebels fighting under the Free Syrian Army (FSA) banner.
Once Syria's powerful Islamist group, Ahrar al-Sham faced a big blow this week which sparked concerns over moderate rebels from the extremist group.
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 said the truce means the elimination of Ahrar al-Sham from northern Syria, giving the upper hand to Tahrir al-Sham.
Imad el-Din Mujahed, media officer of HTS, told Zaman al-Wasl that Ahrar al-Sham agreed to not launch any counter attacks to recapture ground lost 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 Tahrir al-Sham militants surrounded the other rebels near Bab al-Hawa border.
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".
Meanwhile, 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.
