2022 Ahrar al-Sham–Levant Front clashes: Difference between revisions
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| date = 18 June 2022<ref name= |
| date = 18-20 June 2022<ref name=balad_fragile>{{cite web|url=https://syrianobserver.com/news/76080/negotiations-and-mediations-fragile-calm-hangs-over-areas-north-of-aleppo.html|title=Negotiations and Mediations: Fragile Calm Hangs Over Areas North of Aleppo|work=Baladi News|date=20 June 2022}}</ref><ref name=arab_7dead>{{cite web|url=https://english.alaraby.co.uk/news/seven-dead-clashes-erupt-northern-syria|title=Seven dead as clashes erupt in northern Syria|work=[[The New Arab]]|date=19 June 2022}}</ref><br>({{Age in years, months, weeks and days|month1=6|day1=18|year1=2022|month2=6|day2=20|year2=2022}}) |
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| place = [[Aleppo Governorate]], [[Turkish occupation of northern Syria|Turkish-occupied]] northern [[Syria]] |
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*Ahrar al-Sham and Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) capture Basouta, [[Jindires]], al-Muhammadiya, al-Ghazawiya and its crossing, Qarzihil, and [[Ain Dara, Aleppo Governorate|Ain Dara]] from Levant Front and Sham Legion<ref name=sohr_orders>{{Cite web|url=https://www.syriahr.com/en/256441/|title=At Turkish orders - HTS withdraws from Afrin to areas in Idlib|work=Syrian Observatory for Human Rights|date=19 June 2022}}</ref> |
*Ahrar al-Sham and Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) capture Basouta, [[Jindires]], al-Muhammadiya, al-Ghazawiya and its crossing, Qarzihil, and [[Ain Dara, Aleppo Governorate|Ain Dara]] from Levant Front and Sham Legion<ref name=sohr_orders>{{Cite web|url=https://www.syriahr.com/en/256441/|title=At Turkish orders - HTS withdraws from Afrin to areas in Idlib|work=Syrian Observatory for Human Rights|date=19 June 2022}}</ref> |
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*HTS withdraws from Ain Dara park and Qarzihil<ref name=sohr_orders/> |
*HTS withdraws from Ain Dara park and Qarzihil<ref name=sohr_orders/> |
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*HTS withdraws from all recently captured settlements after Turkish negotiations<ref>https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/truce-ends-clashes-among-turkey-backed-rebels-northwest-syria-2022-06-19/</ref> |
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| result = [[Status quo ante bellum]] |
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| combatant1 = {{flagicon image|Flag of Ahrar ash-Sham.svg}} [[Ahrar al-Sham]] |
| combatant1 = {{flagicon image|Flag of Ahrar ash-Sham.svg}} [[Ahrar al-Sham]] |
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Revision as of 16:43, 20 June 2022
| 2022 Ahrar al-Sham–Levant Front clashes | |||||||||
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| Part of the inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian civil war | |||||||||
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 Sham Legion[4] | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
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4-5 fighters killed[1] Dozens of fighters wounded[1] 4 civilians killed[8][3] 11 civilians injured[8] Total: 8-9 killed, 11+ wounded | |||||||||
Clashes took place between Ahrar al-Sham and the Levant Front, two factions of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army, across the Turkish-occupied areas of the Aleppo Governorate in June 2022. Ahrar al-Sham was supported by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) from the latter's territories in the Idlib Governorate, while the Sham Legion and Jaysh al-Islam backed the Levant Front.
Clashes
The purported casus belli was the defection of the 32nd Division, part of Ahrar al-Sham's eastern branch, from the Levant Front-dominated Third Legion of the SNA. Following this defection, the Levant Front, including reinforcements of tanks and artillery from Azaz city,[1] attacked Ahrar al-Sham positions in the al-Bab District countryside on 18 June,[1] besieging the Ahrar al-Sham-held Kurdish-majority villages of Tel Battel and Abla before proceeding to storm and capture Ahrar al-Sham's headquarters in the villages. The two fighting factions then withdrew to the outskirts of the villages.[5] At least one Ahrar al-Sham fighter was killed,[9] and four civilians, including two children, were killed, and 11 civilians wounded during the clashes in the al-Bab countryside, which had spread to the villages of Sousian, al-Hadath, [8] Alwan, and Sheikh Alwan.[1]
In response to the clashes, the Sham Legion and the Syrian National Army closed the al-Ghazawiya and Deir Ballut crossings which link the SNA and HTS areas of control between Afrin District and the Idlib Governorate.[10] However, HTS then captured the al-Ghazawiya crossing after the Sham Legion withdrew. The HTS and Ahrar al-Sham convoy, consisting of technicals with heavy machine guns, artillery, and armoured personnel carriers, advanced north into the Jindires and Afrin subdistricts, capturing Jindires and the villages of Basouta, al-Muhammadiya, al-Ghazawiya, Qarzihil, and Ain Dara. Qarzihil saw the heaviest fighting.[5]
Turkey then brokered a ceasefire between the fighting factions.[3] The agreement stipulated that the HTS convoy withdraw from the areas it captured in Afrin, and the return of Ahrar al-Sham's headquarters in al-Bab. All HTS fighters left Qarzihil village and Ain Dara park and regrouped in Basouta and Deir Ballut, near Darat Izza.[6] Despite the truce, Ahrar al-Sham attacked Levant Front bases in Tel Battel.[11] By the morning of 19 June, fighting had ceased in all of the areas with the exception of Sousian village in al-Bab.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Seven dead as clashes erupt in northern Syria". The New Arab. 19 June 2022.
- ^ a b c "Negotiations and Mediations: Fragile Calm Hangs Over Areas North of Aleppo". Baladi News. 20 June 2022.
- ^ a b c Suleiman Al-Khalidi (19 June 2022). "Truce ends clashes among Turkey-backed rebels in northwest Syria". Reuters.
- ^ "Following clashes with Ahrar Al-Sham and HTS - Al-Sham Corps withdraw from Al-Ghazzawiyah crossing between Idlib and Afrin". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 18 June 2022.
- ^ a b c "Factional rivalry and infighting - Tahrir Al-Sham and Ahrar Al-Sham control several areas in "Olive Branch" areas amid negotiations to restore the status quo ante". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 19 June 2022.
- ^ a b c "At Turkish orders - HTS withdraws from Afrin to areas in Idlib". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 19 June 2022.
- ^ https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/truce-ends-clashes-among-turkey-backed-rebels-northwest-syria-2022-06-19/
- ^ a b c "Death toll update - Four people, including little girl and child, killed and 11 civilians injured in ongoing fierce clashes among Ankara-backed factions in"safe zone" in Aleppo countryside". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 19 June 2022.
- ^ "Afrin - Clashes renew between "3rd Corps" and "Ahrar Al-Sham" in Al-Bab countryside in light of deployment of "Tahrir Al-Sham and Ahrar Al-Sham" militiamen". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 19 June 2022.
- ^ Farouq Hamo (18 June 2022). "SNA Factions Close Crossings Link Their Areas Of Control To Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham Areas". North Press Agency.
- ^ "After HTS withdrawal - Ahrar Al-Sham attacks Al-Jabha Al-Shamiyah bases in Al-Bab". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 19 June 2022.
