Syrian army continues strikes on Turkistan Islamic Party in Idlib
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The Syrian Arab Army targets positions of the Turkistan Islamic Party terrorist group in the town of Bsanqul in southern Syria.
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Heavy smoke rises following airstrikes carried out by Syrian fighter jets on terrorist group positions in southern Idlib, Syria, on Friday, March 8, 2024. (Social media)
The Syrian Armed Forces conducted several airstrikes on Thursday, targeting areas where the Turkistan Islamic Party is active in the outskirts of the town of Bsanqul, south of Idlib in northern Syria.
Syrian state-owned news agency SANA reported "intensive flights of Syrian fighter jets over the Idlib province."
Repeated terrorist attacks by the Turkistan Islamic Party have resulted in the martyrdom of many Syrian officers and soldiers.
Last month, four soldiers were killed in an attack by the group's militants on a military checkpoint in the village of Umm al-Miyazen, in the eastern countryside of the Daraa governorate.
Read more: Funeral processions of Homs attack martyrs commence
Syria's Defense Ministry confirmed on Wednesday that the armed forces operating in Idlib and al-Quneitra countryside had managed to shoot down three drones that attempted to attack military positions and civilian populations in proximate villages and towns.
The Syrian army continues to strike terrorist organizations in various locations as part of a wider operation to liberate lands occupied by foreign-backed militants.
On February 25, the ministry published scenes of operations carried out by the army against terrorist sites and fortifications in Idlib and northern Latakia countryside.
At that time, it clarified that the operations were in response to repeated violations and continuous attacks launched by the militant groups on army bases and sites, as well as "on safe civilian villages and towns."
Rebellion on al-Jolani
Terrorist attacks on Syrian Arab Army positions by extremist groups such as Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the Turkistan Islamic Party in Syria continue to occur in the de-escalation zone in Idlib.
Meanwhile, the airstrikes come at a time when residents of Idlib and parts of Aleppo are demonstrating against the leader of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham HTS, Abu Muhammad al-Jolani, demanding his overthrow along with his security apparatus.
Al-Jolani completed the largest arrest operation in early February, targeting security, military, and political leaders within the HTS, accusing them of "planning a military coup against him in collaboration with foreign intelligence."
The operation led to the imprisonment of over 400 military, security, financial, and political leaders affiliated with HTS, including al-Qahtani.
This has caused public outrage against the ruling of the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham leader.
Attempting to contain the inhouse rebellion, the judicial committee appointed by al-Jolani decided on Thursday to release the second man in the terrorist organization, Maysar al-Juburi, known as Abu Maria al-Qahtani, after 8 months of detention.
Read more: Turkish Intelligence summons 8 military leaders loyal to HTS for talks
Figures opposed to al-Jolani said that this move was "an attempt by the HTS' leader to exploit al-Qahtani's position within the organization to re-establish control over the state of division and chaos within the military body," which is witnessing tensions between supporters of al-Jolani and his internal opponents.
But they pointed out that al-Qahtani's release might be "in favor of the popular movement against the leader of the organization," in case he refused to return to work within the ranks of the HTS as "revenge" for being detained.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported on Thursday that the security apparatus of the terrorist group set up several checkpoints in Idlib, aiming to prevent protests against the HTS chief in the Syrian province.
Multiple calls circulated on social media platforms earlier this week urging all regions to protest to demand the overthrow of al-Jolani and his security arm.
