October 2016 Idlib Governorate clashes
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The October 2016 Idlib Governorate clashes are violent confrontations between the Salafist jihadist group Jund al-Aqsa and the Salafist Syrian rebel group the Ahrar al-Sham, supported by several other rebel groups. The two groups were previously allied during the 2016 Hama offensive, but sporadic clashes also occurred time by time.[14]
The clashes
Tensions between the two groups initiated on 4 October when Ahrar al-Sham captured a Jund al-Aqsa member accused of being a cell for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. In response, Jund al-Aqsa militants kidnapped an Ahrar al-Sham member, beaten his wife, and shot his brother. Both sides called for the release of their captured members and threatened military action.[14]
The conflict escalated on 6 October as clashes broke out throughout the Idlib Governorate and the northern Hama Governorate. Jund al-Aqsa captured all Ahrar al-Sham positions in the town of Khan Shaykhun and attacked them in northern Hama, while Ahrar al-Sham expelled the former from Maarat al-Nu'man and 4 other villages in Idlib.[3] 800 fighters from Ahrar al-Sham and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham defected to Jund al-Aqsa during the clashes.[11]
As a reaction to the clashes, several other rebel groups signed a statement announcing that they will side with Ahrar al-Sham against Jund al-Aqsa in the conflict. The signatory groups were:[15] Jaysh al-Islam, Suqour al-Sham Brigade, Sham Legion, Army of Mujahideen, Fatah Halab and Fastaqim Union.
On 8 October, clashes between the two groups spread to a village in Jabal Zawiya,[16] and a senior military commander of Ahrar al-Sham was killed.[8] The next day, in an attempt to end the conflict and find protection, Jund al-Aqsa pledged its allegiance to the formerly al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front (also known as Jabhat Fateh al-Sham). However, clashes continued in Idlib after Ahrar al-Sham rejected the move and vowed to continue fighting Jund al-Aqsa.[4]
Two days later, a ceasefire agreement was signed between Jund al-Aqsa, Ahrar al-Sham, and al-Nusra.[1] However, clashes between the two groups soon erupted again in Idlib.[17] In addition, Jund al-Aqsa, along with al-Nusra, reportedly attacked a base of Ahrar Al-Sham in the town of Tahtaya.[18] Meanwhile, 150 Jund al-Aqsa fighters reportedly defected to ISIL as result of the rebel infighting and their group's pledge to the al-Nusra Front.[6]
On 13 October, the general commander of Ahrar al-Sham announced the "end" of Jund al-Aqsa.[2]
Aftermath
On 22 October, Jund al-Aqsa as part of Jabhat Fatah al-Sham attacked Ahrar al-Sham's headquarter in Sarmin.[19]
See also
References
- 1 2 hxhassan (10 October 2016). "The agreement between Ahrar al-Sham, Jund al-Aqsa and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham to end clashes between the former two" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- 1 2 General Commander For Ahrar Al-Sham: We Announce Today The End Of “Jund Al-Aqsa Gangs”
- 1 2 3 "Jihadist civil war boils up as jihadists trade blows in Hama and Idlib". Al-Masdar News. 7 October 2016.
- 1 2 "Syria extremist group joins al-Qaida affiliate". AP. 9 October 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016.
- 1 2 "Combat of Jund al-Aqsa against Military Factions :causes ,details & prospects". El-Dorar Al-Shamia. 14 October 2016.
- 1 2 3 Fadel, Leith (12 October 2016). "150 rebels defect to ISIS in northern Syria: reports". al-Masdar News.
- ↑ "News of the day: Abu Yahya al-Hamwi: Jund al-Aqsa work brings to mind a scene of state regulation". El-Wehda. 8 October 2016.
- 1 2 "How kill "jungle pin" hands on "Jund al-Aqsa?"". Enab Baladi. 8 October 2016.
- ↑ "Ahrar Rebel commander Dabus Al Ghab killed by Jund Aqsa.". 9 October 2016.
- ↑ "Ahrar al-Sham commander in Khan Sheikhoun "Ali Hilal al-Ahmad" was among those executed by Jund al-Aqsa today.". 7 October 2016.
- 1 2 3 "Source: hundreds of fighters to leave their factions (Jund al-Aqsa) within two month". All4Syria. 7 October 2016.
- ↑ Rebel Infighting Further Complicates Solution for Syria
- ↑ Syria: Tens of Terrorists Killed in Further Infighting between Jund al-Aqsa, Ahrar al-Sham in Idlib
- 1 2 "Ahrar al-Sham and Jund al-Aqsa alliance in northern Hama showing cracks". Al-Masdar News. 6 October 2016.
- ↑ "News of the day: the major factions of the resistance of the Syrian military announced that it stands with the Ahrar al-Sham in the face of Jund al-Aqsa". El-Wehda. 7 October 2016.
- ↑ "Casualties for Ahrar al-Sham during the control of Jund al-Aqsa on a village in the countryside of Idlib". Syria HR. 8 October 2016.
- ↑ InsideSourceInt (10 October 2016). "#Syria // #Idlib // Clashes re igniting between JAL and Ahrar now in Idlib after relative calm." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ↑ Jihadist civil war escalates in Idlib as more groups join the battle
- ↑ "Tension return between Jund al-Aqsa and Ahrar al-Sham in the countryside of Idlib and shooting in al-Suwaidaa". Syria HR. 22 October 2016.
