Turkey has launched a fresh effort to reorganize allied rebels in northern Syria and is reportedly using threats and ultimatums to discipline the disorderly factions that have backed Turkish forces in the Olive Branch and Euphrates Shield pockets in the Aleppo countryside.

Turkey is apparently using Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) — the jihadi outfit controlling the northwestern province of Idlib — as a stick in its efforts to push the factions to form a joint military command and a joint administrative structure. 

Taking advantage of feuds between Turkey’s allies from the Syrian National Army (SNA), HTS last month marched into Afrin and ousted the SNA’s Third Legion, which is led by the Levant Front, and tried to advance to the border town of Azaz. In talks overseen by Turkey, HTS reached a deal with the Third Legion on Oct. 14, reportedly imposing terms on unifying military commands and civil administrations. Turkey reportedly gave HTS until Oct. 21 to retreat to Idlib. Some claim HTS continues to keep some of its forces in Afrin under camouflage.

Since the truce, Turkish intelligence and military officials have held talks with both HTS and the SNA. Their most recent meeting on Nov. 2 in the Turkish border province of Gaziantep was with the commanders of SNA factions, including the Hamza Division and the Suleyman Shah Division, which have sided with HTS, the Third Legion and others. Some rebel commanders reportedly refused to attend, and images were circulated of a group protesting the Turkish officials.