HTS takes over opposition police stations in northern Syria
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has told officers of the Free Syrian Police in northern Syria to hand over their stations and join the Islamic police, or find new jobs.
The so-called Syrian Salvation Government (SSG), linked with extremist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has stripped the opposition-affiliated Free Syrian Police officers of their jobs, breaking its promise not to interfere after HTS took control of western Aleppo province in mid-January.
The SSG had promised it wouldn't intervene in the work of any civilian entity, according to Brig. Gen. Adib Shallaf, the Free Syrian Police chief.
"It all turned out to be untrue,” Shallaf told Al-Monitor.
“After reassuring us, the SSG asked us either to work under its umbrella or hand over our stations and equipment. This is what eventually happened; we handed over everything, including all machinery, equipment and vehicles, and received official delivery receipts in return,” he said.
