Preface: On November 8, 2017, military confrontations and clashes broke out between Hayat Tahrir al-Sham-HTS[1] and Nour al-Din al-Zenki movement[2] in in several cities and towns in countryside of Aleppo including Tqad, A'wejel, Kufr-Naha, Urem Al-Kubra’s vicinity and al–Abzimu). The confrontations, which have developed into the use of heavy and medium weapons, were a consequence of sharp differences between the two parties, and the will of each one to extend its control over larger areas. According to Syrians for Truth and JusticeSTJ) reporter, these military confrontations have caused the death and injury of dozens of civilians in several cities and towns in Aleppo’s western countryside, such as Al Atārib and Urem Al-Kubra.
The confrontations have also accompanied abductions of people working in civilian institutions. On November 2, 2017, Nour al-Din al-Zenki movement kidnapped Mohammad Mustafa, Director of the Free Education Directorate in Aleppo province and Hasan al-Mahameed, director of the Media Office Directorate, in addition to al-hasan Ahmed Mustafa, the directorate’s driver. According to STJ reporter, Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement released Al-hasan Ahmed Mustafa and Hasan al-Mahameed, on November 25, 2017, whereas Mohammad Mustafa is still detained until the date of preparation of the present report.
Against the background of these confrontations, and specifically on November 10, 2017, many of Urem Al-Kubra locals, demonstrated asking the conflicted parties to spare civilians, but unidentified gunmen fired live bullets at the demonstrators, injuring seven of them, one of them was seriously injured in the head.
On Tuesday, November 14, 2017, several residents of Al-Atarib town demonstrated, demanding the removal of a military checkpoint of HTS, which was stationed at the entrance of the town, but the demonstrators were shot with live bullets by the checkpoint agents, which resulted in the injuring of 6 demonstrators, according to STJ reporter.
On November 16, 2017, the military confrontations between Nour al-Din al-Zenki movement and HTS were terminated following signing an agreement to cease fire between the two parties.
According to STJ reporter, these confrontations ended with a wider control of HTS at the expense of the Nour al-Din al-Zenki movement, when HTS controlled -during the outbreak of these confrontations- several towns that were controlled by Nour al-Din al-Zenki movement in the western countryside of Aleppo, such Kafr 'Ammah, Kafr Taal and al–Abzimu.
Military and Political Context:
On May 4, 2017, the sponsoring states of Astana Talks (Russia, Turkey and Iran) signed memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of de-escalation zones in Syria, which included Idlib province and some parts of northern Homs province; in addition to some parts of the adjacent provinces (Latakia, Hama, and Aleppo), Eastern Ghouta in Damascus countryside, and some parts of southern Syria.
Despite this agreement, several activists from the western countryside of Aleppo said they had no information on whether the area was included in the de-escalation zones or not.
Furthermore, several armed factions control the towns and villages of the western countryside of Aleppo, including HTS, which controls the towns (Khan Al-Asal, Urum al-Sughra, Ash-Sheich Ali, Rif al-Muhandiseen, Kafr Aleppo, Kafr Nouran, Kafr Taal, al–Abzimu, Kafr 'Ammah, Kafr Karmin, Kafr Nasih, Tadel, Babka, Babtou and Abian Sam'an).
Nour al-Din al-Zenki movement also controls other areas in Aleppo’s western countryside such as (Qubtan al-Jabal, Bishqatin, Bsartoun, Tqad, Kfar Dael, Anjara, Kafr Naha, Jam`iyat al Kahraba, A'wejel and A'ajel)
There is also Faylaq al-Sham faction[3], which controls Urem Al-Kubra and the road link it with Kafr Naha town.
A map illustrates Nour al-Din al-Zenki-controlled areas and HTS-held areas in the western countryside of Aleppo
First: Causes of the Dispute between HTS and Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement in Aleppo Western Countryside
On July 20, 2017, Nour al-Din al-Zenki movement announced its defection from HTS because the latter had decided to fight Ahrar al-Sham al-Islamiyya movement. Nour al-Din al-Zenki movement rejected this and announcement its leaving the ranks of the fighting alongside HTS while retaining its previously controlled areas where most of them are located in the northern western countryside of Aleppo, like the towns of Anjara, Kafr Naha Khan Al-Asal, along with some military positions that were under the control of the Syrian regular forces, such as the Regiment (111), located in Sheikh Suleiman area, west of Aleppo city.
On November 1, 2017, these disputes evolved and reached the abductions of leaders and agents from both sides. HTS accused Nour al-Din al-Zenki movement of kidnapping a group of its fighters on their way to the battlefronts to fight Syrian regular forces in northern countryside of Aleppo since the only way to reach those fronts is through "Haijan" district, located in northern countryside of Aleppo, which is held by Nour al-Din al-Zenki movement. HTS also accused Nour al-Din al-Zenki movement of being responsible for the abduction of Mohammad Mustafa, Director of the Education Directorate in Aleppo province on November 2, 2017.
For its part, Nour al-Din al-Zenki movement has charged HTS with assassinations and the liquidation of its leaders by explosive devices and other means.
These developments sparked confrontation between the two sides, on November 8, 2017, both sides used heavy weapons to pave the way for the sites to be stormed. HTS attacked villages and towns controlled by Nour al-Din al-Zenki movement in order to take them over, such as Kafr Naha, A'wejel, Tqad, Bsartoun and al–Abzimu.
Images show the statement issued by HTS on November 10, 2017, in which it clarified causes for disagreement with Nour al-Din al-Zenki movement, it also referred to the abduction of the Director of the Education Directorate in Aleppo province "Mohammad Mustafa” by Nour al-Din al-Zenki movement.
Photo credit: Ebaa News Agency.
Image shows a statement issued by Nour al-Din al-Zenki movement on November 10, 2017, in which it responded to HTS and stressed on its lack of seriousness in resolving the disagreements between them
Photo credit: Nour al-Din al-Zenki movement’s Telegram channel.
Second: The Abduction of the Director of the Education Directorate in Aleppo:
On November 2, 2017, several employees of the Free Education Directorate in Aleppo province were kidnapped including the director "Mohammad Mustafa, and the Media Office Director, Hasan al-Mahameed, in addition to the driver, Al-hasan Ahmed Mustafa. Unidentified gunmen abducted them as they were leaving the Education Directorate located in Qubtan al-Jabal town in the western countryside of Aleppo, which is under the control of Nour al-Din al-Zenki movement.
According to STJ reporter, identities of the kidnappers had not been identified until November 8, 2017, when Nour al-Din al-Zenki movement had claimed responsibility for this abduction. One of its leaders, identified as "Hussam Atrash”, posted in his Telegram channel saying that "Mohammad Mustafa” the director of Education Directorate is in their custody being accused of acts of corruption and treason. He also stated that Mohammad Mustafa would be prosecuted in courts affiliated to Nour al-Din al-Zenki for his intention to make Aleppo’s Directorate of Education follow the “Salvation Government” which was formed by HTS.
Image shows Hussam Ibrahim Atrash’s accusation to Mohammad Mustafa of intending to make Aleppo’s Directorate of Education affiliated to ”Salvation Government” formed by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham(HTS) – formerly al-Nusra Front.
Photo credit: Hussam Ibrahim Atrash’s Telegram Channel
In turn, Free Education Directorate in Aleppo province stated in a statement it issued on November 8, 2017, that Nour al-Din al-Zenki movement is fully responsible for the abductees’ well-being, and all the charges against the director of Education Directorate are false and it was not based on any legal actions.
Image shows the statement issued by the Education Directorate in Aleppo province on November 8, 2017, in which it stated that Nour al-Din al-Zenki movement bears full responsibility for the well-being of the abductees
Photo credit: the Education Directorate in Aleppo province’s Facebook page.
Ahmed Hamaher, the Media officer of Nour al-Din al-Zenki movement, said in a statement he made to Baladi News Network On November 25, 2017 that the movement has released the Directorate’s Media officer “Hasan al-Mahameed”, as well as the Directorate’s driver Al-Hasan Ahmed Mustafa ", who were both with the director of Education Directorate. Noting that the later was still in their custody and the judiciary will decide when to release them.
Image shows Mohammad Mustafa, the director of Education Directorate in Aleppo prior to his abduction by Nour al-Din al-Zenki movement on November 2, 2017.
Photo creditthe Education Directorate in Aleppo province’s Facebook page.
Third: Unidentified Gunmen Firing at Protest Demonstrations in Urem Al-Kubra town:
On November 10, 2017, protests took place in several towns in Aleppo’s western countryside, including Al Atārib and Urem Al-Kubra[4] towns, condemning the military confrontations that broke out between HTS and Nour al-Din al-Zenki movement. The demonstrations demanded the cessation of military confrontations as well as sparing civilians from the battlefields. However, during the protest of Urem Al-Kubra locals and specifically on Friday noon November 10, 2017, an armed group opened fire directly at demonstrators, injuring seven of them, one of whom was seriously injured in the head, as was confirmed by STJ reporter.
Image shows a side of the protests took place in Urem Al-Kubra town on November 10, 2017, in condemnation of the fighting between the Nour al-Din al-Zenki movement
Photo credit: Halab News Network’s Facebook page.
Image shows an injured demonstrator, who was shot by an armed group during protests in Urem Al-Kubra town on November 10, 2017
Photo credit: activists from Urem Al-Kubra.
A video footage published by Thiqa News Agency on November 10, 2017, showed the moments of shooting at demonstrators in Urem Al-Kubra town by an armed group and the injury of a number of demonstrators.
Abdul Karim Barakat, a demonstrator who was present in the protest the time of shooting by an unidentified militant group, spoke to STJ about what happened saying:
"On Friday afternoon, many of Urem Al-Kubra locals demonstrated against the fighting between HTS and Nour al-Din al-Zenki movement. While we were marching in one of the roads, unidentified persons targeted us with live bullets. However, the weird thing is that we did not hear the sound of the shooting; this indicates that either the militants used weapons with silencers or they sniped protesters from a remote and a high location. Shooting resulted in the injury of (7) demonstrators, one of whom was the young man "Yusuf", 18 years old, who was seriously injured in the head, while the injury of the majority of others was in the leg."
In a cross-checked testimony obtained from another demonstrator identified as Mohammad Jihad, who was there at the front of the demonstration, and witnessed the moment of the shooting, confirmed that the demonstrators were directly targeted without hearing any sound of gunfire, which suggests that the gunmen were stationed in a distant place. In this regard he continued:
"I think that shooting demonstrators was from two sides, since the injuries varied in place between legs and one in the head. All I remember is that we were utterly terrified, since we were in the crossfire of the gunmen who were not identified, and thank God, I did not get hurt, but I rushed to help the injured people who were bleeding; some of them were in critical condition. We have been assaulted as we demanded our simplest rights."
Third: Civilian Casualties from Military Confrontations Between HTS and Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement:
According to STJ reporter, many civilians have died as a result of the military clashes between HTS and Nour al-Din al-Zenki movement, particularly from crossfire and indiscriminate missiles exchanged between them.
In Urem Al-Kubra town, specifically on November 11, 2017, two children from the same family were killed, one of them was identified as Hasan, 11 years old, and his victim brother was 5 years old. Whereas the rest of the family injured as a result of indiscriminate shells between the two parties.
Images show some of the children who were victims injured in Urem Al-Kubra town, as a result of the military clashes that erupted between HTS and Nour al-Din al-Zenki movement, specifically on November 11, 2017
Photos credit: Halab News Network’s Facebook page.
Another image shows the two children who were killed in Urem Al-Kubra town as a result of the military clashes that erupted between HTS and Nour al-Din al-Zenki movement, specifically on November 11, 2017
Photos credit: Halab News Network’s Facebook page.
A video footage published by Event News Agency on November 11, 2017, also showed killing of two children in Urem Al-Kubra town as a result of the military clashes between HTS and Nour al-Din al-Zenki movement at the same date.
Besides killing dozens of civilians, the military confrontations between both sides caused considerable material damage to civilians’ houses, as well as the destruction of the infrastructures of the towns. In this regard, Ali al-Mohammad, who hails from Kufr-Naha, spoke to STJ, saying:
"Most power cables were destroyed as a result of the crossfire and missile attacks between both parties, even the minaret of the town's mosque was destroyed. Not to mention water tanks on tops of the houses, and cars that have been completely burnt, one of which was my relative’s car which was burnt as a result of shells and explosive bullets, and there was a large sum of money inside it in addition to the family’s official documents such as passports and family identity cards."
Forth: HTS Shots demonstrators in Al Atarib town:
According to STJ reporter, the local council of Al-Atarib town has been managing the city since 2015, as there are not any military headquarters within the city, except for a military checkpoint of HTS, which had been installled at the entrance of the city from the eastern side[5], since the end of January 2017.
So, on Tuesday afternoon, November 14, 2017, only one day after the horrific massacre that occurred in the city and left dozens of civilians dead and wounded, people of Al-Atarib town protested to demand the removal of that checkpoint, but HTS’s checkpoint agents fired live bullets at demonstrators, injuring six from the town, STJ reporter said.
Halab Today TV published a video footage on November 14, 2017, showed agents of HTS checkpoint, at the entrance of Al-Atarib town, while shooting some demonstrators.
According to STJ reporter, less than an hour after the incident of shooting the demonstrators, people of Al-Atarib gathered and headed towards the checkpoint denouncing this act. They succeeded in expelling the checkpoint’s agents, and they raised the revolution flag at the entrance of the city. They also called on the revolutionary and judicial actors to hold accountable those who attacked the demonstrators.
Image shows demonstrators raising the Syrian revolution flag at the entrance of Al-Atarib town on November 14, 2017.
Photo credit: Activists from Al-Atarib town.
According to STJ reporter, an agreement was reached between HTS and Nour al-Din al-Zenki movement on November 16, 2017, in order to end the conflict and stop the military confrontations between them.
Some leaders and well-known personalities such as Abdullah al-Muheseni, the former Mufti of HTS, mediated the agreement which its terms included a cease-fire from both parties, removal of military checkpoints and the release of the detainees, as well as the suspension of media statements between them.
Image shows the agreement signed between HTS and Nour al-Din al-Zenki movement to stop military confrontations between them on November 16, 2017
Photo credit: Activists from Aleppo countryside.
Earlier, STJ had prepared a report highlighting new information, which indicates Nour al-Din al-Zenki movement’s responsibility for the abduction of the Director of the Free Education Directorate in Aleppo province "Mohammad Mustafa”.
[1] On January 28, 2017, Several jihadist factions in northern Syria announced integration under a new name “Hayat Tahrir al-Sham-HTS”, these factions are: Jabhat Fateh al-Sham- formerly al-Nusra Front, Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement, Liwaa al-Haqq, Jabhat Ansar al-Din and Jaysh al-Sunnah. However, following the recent clashes between HTS and Ahrar al-Sham in northern Syria July 15, 2017, Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement declared its separation from HTS on July 20, 2017.
[2] Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement was founded in late 2011, with the beginning of the armed action in Aleppo province. It controls several towns in the northwestern countryside of Aleppo (such as Anjara, Taqad and Qubtan al-Jabal). It has about (5) thousand fighters in its ranks. It has participated in several battles against the Syrian regular forces in the neighborhoods of Aleppo, and contributed to the expulsion of the Islamic State/ISIS from the city. The movement is characterized with many alliances and splits, as it had joined HTS on March 13, 2017 and defected from it on July 15, 2017 because of HTS’s decision to fight Ahrar al-Sham al-Islamiyya Movement in northern Syria.
[3] Faylaq al-Sham: was announced on March 10, 2014, it is one of the largest factions of the Syrian armed opposition, and is one of the largest formations of the opposition military delegation that participated in Astana Talks. Faylaq al-Sham is distributed in several areas, including the southern and northern Idlib countryside, the western countryside of Aleppo and the northern countryside of Homs.
[4] Faylaq al- Sham controls Urem Al-Kubra, but its proximity to Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement’s areas like “Qubtan al-Jabal and Anjara” towns and HTS-held towns like “Kafr Taal and al-Abzimu” made Urem Al-Kubra a clash point between both parties, and dozens of civilian casualties fell as a result of these military confrontations.
[5] Correction, on November 19, 2017 STJ published a report on Al-Atarib massacre which took place on November 13, 2017. Military and political context paragraph stated; “On the other hand, the Civil Administration, elected by the locals and represented by the local council of Atarib, manages the city affairs since the beginning of 2015, and according to STJ reporter, there are no military headquarters in Atarib.” Where the reporter intended to say that there are no military headquarters inside the city, and the editorial team saw the importance of referring to the point of the existence of a HTS checkpoint at the eastern entrance to the city since late January 2017 in order to avoid confusion between the denial of military headquarters inside the city and HTS’ checkpoint at the eastern entrance of the city.