Al-Qaeda’s branch in Syria may implode after large fighting force threatens to leave

YemenExtra

M.A.

 On Monday, one of the largest factions within Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) declared it would not fight for the Al-Qaeda affiliated group before infighting between rival rebel groups was halted indefinitely.

The Al-Tamkeen Brigade, once the backbone of Ahrar Al-Sham but now an integral part of HTS, said it in an online bulletin that rival groups should forget about their differences and unite against a mutual enemy, namely the Syrian Arab Army (SAA).

It is unknown yet how the HTS leadership will respond to the Al-Tamkeen Brigade’s statement.

HTS and Ahrar Al-Sham have been at odds with one another for some time in the Idlib governorate, causing a surge in the number of arrests and car bombs across the northwestern province. HTS has also combated repeatedly with Jaish Al-Islam in the East Ghouta.

The Al-Tamkeen Brigade left Ahrar Al-Sham last since and since joined HTS when a coalition of rebel groups combined in January, 2017.