Northern Aleppo clashes (October 2022)
Part of the inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian civil war

Map of HTS's advance in Afrin
Date10–19 October 2022
(1 week and 2 days)
Location
Aleppo Governorate, Syria
Result Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and allies victory
Territorial
changes
Belligerents

Tahrir al-Sham[1]
Hamza Division[1]
Sultan Suleiman Shah Division (al-Amshat)[2]

Ahrar al-Sham[2]

Third Legion[1]

Liberation and Construction Movement[1]

Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement remnants[2]
Casualties and losses

28 killed[6]
1 killed[7]

The flag of the Syrian Islamic resistance army 2 killed 1 injured		 19 killed[6][8]
10 civilians killed

Clashes occurred between the Levant Front and the Hamza Division, two factions of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army, across the Turkish-occupied areas of the Aleppo Governorate on 10 October 2022, as part of the on-going civil war in Syria.[1] On 12 October, the Sunni Islamist group Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) joined the fighting on the side of the Hamza Division, entering the Afrin region.[2]

Background

See also: 2022 Ahrar al-Sham–Levant Front clashes

On 7 October, gunmen shot and killed media activist Muhammad Abdul Latif, also known as Abu Ghannoum, and his wife in the city of al-Bab. The Third Legion, led by the Levant Front, found on 10 October that a group of Hamza Division fighters was responsible for the killing, sparking the clashes.[1]

Clashes

The Third Legion launched an attack on the Hamza Division on the evening of 10 October, expelling the Hamza Division from al-Bab and capturing the group's headquarters on the outskirts of the city. The next day, additional groups joined the fighting, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the Sultan Suleiman Shah Division (al-Amshat), and Ahrar al-Sham on the side of the Hamza Division,[1] and the Liberation and Construction Movement and remnants of the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement on the side of the Third Legion. The Sham Legion opened the road between Afrin and the Idlib Governorate, allowing HTS to enter Afrin, taking control of Jindires on 12 October and entering Afrin city itself on 13 October. The Levant Front withdrew from Afrin towards Azaz.[9]

Also on 13 October, HTS captured the villages of Sennarah, Anqalah and Marwaniyah in Sheikh Hadeed in the Afrin countryside and attacked the village of Kafr Jannah, but were beaten back by fighters of the Levant Front. 5 HTS fighters were killed in the attack.[10] Furthermore, a fighter of Ahrar al-Sham was killed in clashes with Jaysh al-Islam in Susyan town in Al-Bab countryside.[7]

On 17 October, the temporary truce between HTS and the Thirds legion broke down and heavy clashes resumed near both Afrin and Azaz, where HTS managed to capture more ground.[11] On the same day, a fighter of the Levant front was killed and another was injured in clashes with HTS fighters near the village of Al-Khalidiyah, near Sharran in the Afrin countryside.[12] By 18 October, at least 58 people had been killed in the clashes.[13]

On 19 October the clashes ended as both sides reached a ceasefire agreement.[14]

Reactions

Protests and demonstrations were held across multiple opposition controlled towns in northern Syria against the entry of HTS to the region.[15][16]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Walid Al Nofal (12 October 2022). "'Accountability, or fall': Syrian National Army's Hamza Division under fire after assassination of opposition activist in northern Aleppo". Syria Direct.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "After Al-Sham Legion opened road for HTS, HTS takes control over Jinderes in Afrin with the support of Al-Amshat". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 12 October 2022.
  3. ^ "HTS Takes Full Control Of Jindires District In Syria's Afrin". North Press Agency. 12 October 2022.
  4. ^ "Syria: HTS captures Afrin from Turkish-backed rebels". The New Arab. 14 October 2022.
  5. ^ "Hardline Syria rebels sweep across north, 27 killed in clashes". Reuters. 14 October 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Factional infighting | Death toll jumps to 60 combatants and civilians in Aleppo countryside". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 13 October 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Ongoing clashes | Woman and member of Ahrar Al-Sham killed in Al-Bab city". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 13 October 2022.
  8. ^ "Latest developments | Death toll of violent factional infighting in Aleppo countryside jumps to 27 civilians and combatants". SOHR. 13 October 2022.
  9. ^ Wladimir van Wilgenburg (13 October 2022). "HTS enters Afrin for first time: SOHRA". Kurdistan 24.
  10. ^ "Failed attack | Five HTS members killed and three others captured in attempt to capture key village in Afrin countryside". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 13 October 2022.
  11. ^ "Clashes Resume in Flashpoint Town in Northwest Syria". VOA News. 17 October 2022.
  12. ^ "Ongoing clashes | Al-Jabha Al-Shamiyyah leader killed in clashes with H-T-S in Aleppo countryside". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 17 October 2022.
  13. ^ "Nearly 60 killed in 10 days of Syria rebel clashes: monitor". France24. 18 October 2022.
  14. ^ "To approve project H-T-S figures meet Turkish-backed factions". Sohr. 19 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  15. ^ "With protests against H-T-S "Syrian Coalition" issues statement demanding an end to aggression in Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch areas". Sohr. 18 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  16. ^ "Third consecutive day Protests erupt against entry of H-T-S to Aleppo countryside". Sohr. 18 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
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