Rising tension | HTS storms Ahrar Al-Sham’s headquarters in Jabal Al-Zawiyah, handing it in to “Hassan Soufan”

Reliable SOHR sources have confirmed that Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Sham stormed the headquarters of Ahrar al-Sham Islamic movement in Jabal Al-Zawiyah in southern Idlib, forcing the members stationed there to hand in the headquarters to the movement’s defected commander “Hassan Soufan” who is also backed by HTS.

On October 1, Ahrar al-Sham Islamic movement was experiencing security tension between the defected military wing on one hand, and the legitimate leadership of the movement, headed by Jaber Ali Pasha, and most of the brigades and battalions operating under the banner of Ahrar al-Sham on the other.

The movement’s defected military wing had announced the appointment of “Hassan Soufan” as the movement Commander-in-Chief, while this declaration was rejected by the legitimate leadership of the movement, and announced its rejection of the decision.

“Soufan” has justified the announcement by describing the state of paralysis and failure experienced by Ahrar al-Sham in the recent period, after he announced his approval of the mandate from the military wing.

“Soufan” also called on Ahrar al-Sham members and their cadres to put differences aside and to work together.

It is worth nothing that the military wing comprises nearly 200 members, most of whom operate in the Latakia countryside, and are loyal to Hassan Soufan, who is close to HTS organization.

On October 23, Observatory activists monitored growing security tension among members of Ahrar al-Sham movement, following disagreements within the movement between the movement’s current leader “Jaber Ali Pasha” and the former leader “Hassan Soufan” who is supported by HTS. Meanwhile, HTS brought in military reinforcement to Ariha city and Al-Fou’a town, under the pretext of defusing the conflict between the two parties.