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Standoff between rival groups locks down north Syria crossing

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has arrested several members of the Sham Legion affiliated with the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army and the crossing point between north Syrian areas held by the two groups remains closed.
RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images

IDLIB, Syria — Tensions are high at the Ghazawiya crossing, which separates the town of Darat Azza in the western countryside of Aleppo under the control of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the Afrin area, under the control of the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA). 

On April 15, the FSA-affiliated Sham Legion arrested an HTS member as he tried to enter the Olive Branch area, which is under control of the FSA. In response, HTS arrested 22 members of the Sham Legion who were returning from the HTS-held Idlib area at the Darat Izza-Ghazawiya crossing.

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