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Turkish-backed factions wary of jihadi group in north Syria

The opponents of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham are accusing it of trying to wrest control over the areas of the Turkish-backed factions in north Syria, in light of its recent rapprochement with some of these factions.

ABDULAZIZ KETAZ/AFP via Getty Images
April's pink super moon rises behind a fighter of the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army in the rebel-held southern countryside of Syria's northwestern province of Idlib on April 28, 2021. — ABDULAZIZ KETAZ/AFP via Getty Images

Tensions between Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which controls Syria’s northwestern province of Idlib, and Turkish-backed Syrian factions are escalating once again. The Azm Operations Room, which brings together a number of Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army factions, accuses HTS of planning to enter FSA-held areas in north Syria. 

Most recently, Sheikh Ahmed al-Helwi, a member of the body's Grievance Response Committee, released an audio message in which he criticized the leader of the FSA-affiliated Suleiman Shah Brigade for corruption-related issues.

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