ALEPPO — The developments unfolding in Idlib and its surroundings affect several heated issues in northern Syria. Earlier this month, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) launched attacks against Free Syrian Army (FSA) positions in Aleppo’s western countryside and Idlib. After reaching a cease-fire Jan. 10, HTS expelled the FSA fighters, which withdrew to Afrin.

These events might threaten the implementation of the Astana agreement between Turkey, Russia and Iran and impact stability in Idlib. Meanwhile, HTS’ advances are impeding the efforts of Turkish-backed factions, which are preparing for an offensive against the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) east of the Euphrates River in northeastern Syria.

The FSA believes that HTS' actions in Idlib and Aleppo’s western countryside benefit the Syrian regime and its allies and weaken the Turkish position. The official spokesperson for the FSA-affiliated National Army in Aleppo’s countryside, Maj. Yusuf Hamoud, accused HTS (formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra) of obstructing the FSA factions’ efforts to prepare for the East Euphrates battle against the SDF.

Hamoud told Al-Monitor, “HTS attacked FSA locations in Aleppo’s western countryside, Idlib and Hama’s western countryside between Jan. 1 and 9, 2019. HTS succeeded in controlling wide stretches that were in the grip of the factions. HTS’ advances serve the regime and its allies, Russia and Iran, harm the interests of the FSA and impede our efforts and those of our Turkish allies to clean the Eastern Euphrates areas from the SDF.”