Syrian jihadist group expands control in areas outside Idlib
The government run by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Idlib imposed more measures to isolate its areas of influence in northwestern Syria.
ALEPPO, Syria — Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) seems to be running an independent emirate in Idlib by imposing more measures that restrict the movement of goods and individuals.
HTS has been designated a terrorist group by the United States and in UN Security Council resolutions.
HTS and it's so-called Syrian Salvation Government, which controls Idlib province, northwest of Syria, is trying to take over the various civil sectors and isolate its areas of influence from the areas controlled by the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) in the countryside of Aleppo.
In this vein, on Aug. 19, HTS members at the checkpoints on the confrontation line with the FSA factions in the Afrin area in Aleppo countryside prevented civilians from bringing in vegetables to Idlib.
