ALEPPO — Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which controls Syria’s northwestern province of Idlib, is trying to seize the last pockets of opposing jihadist organizations in the Jabal al-Turkman area, east of Latakia province, and in the western part of Idlib. It launched a large-scale military operation against these groups on Oct. 25.

“The battle is still going on," an HTS military official, who declined to be named, told Al-Monitor. Since Oct. 25, he said, HTS has taken control of Tal al-Mashafa, Tal al-Abraj, Tal Abu Aref and Salour village.

The military operation mainly targets the Jundallah group, he said, in addition to other jihadist groups and new recruits, including former Islamic State members. "We found coins, which [IS] self-declared caliphate issued, in the military barracks and positions they forcibly withdrew from,” he said.

The jihadists are in strategic positions and showing strong resistance, setting booby traps and planting mines, the source said. But, he added, “Our military operations against Jundallah and its extremist allies claimed the lives of many of their members, including prominent leaders such as the general commander of Jundallah, Abu Khalil Azari, its communication officer Talhat Azari, as well as Anas Azari, Ammar Azari, Shueib Azari, and Abdel Azeem Azari.”