Jihadi group takes on Salafist opponents in Idlib

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which controls Syria’s northwestern province of Idlib, has stepped up its security measures as protests escalate. 

HTS is particularly targeting its Salafist opponents, who have exploited a number of security incidents carried out by HTS to fan the flames of popular anger against it.

Tension still prevails in the displacement camps in the town of Atmeh, north of Idlib, after HTS members shot Fatima al-Hamid in the head as she was reportedly trying to smuggle small quantities of fuel from Afrin to Idlib. 

In response to the public outrage over the murder, HTS issued a statement confirming its keenness to apply Sharia law in the case, saying that it had already made arrests.