Defections threaten Ahrar al-Sham jihadist movement in Syria

Once considered by some Western observers as a formidable opposition movement, Ahrar al-Sham is experiencing major defections and facing survival challenges.
Rebel fighters from the Ahrar al-Sham brigade inspect the interior of a damaged building in the rebel-held besieged town of Harasta, in the eastern Ghouta region on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Nov. 16, 2017.
Rebel fighters from the Ahrar al-Sham brigade inspect the interior of a damaged building in the rebel-held besieged town of Harasta, in the eastern Ghouta region on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, Nov. 16, 2017. - Abdulmonam Eassa/AFP via Getty Images
sultanalkanj.jpg
Sultan al-Kanj
@AlkanjSultan

IDLIB, Syria — The owner of the well-known @MzmjerSh Twitter account of a jihadist from Syria revealed in a thread June 22 that Ahrar al-Sham is experiencing major defections within its ranks. 

@MzmjerSh focuses on jihadist affairs and the man behind it is believed to be a former jihadist leader in Jabhat al-Nusra.

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