2022 Ahrar al-Sham–Levant Front clashes

Clashes took place between Ahrar al-Sham and the Levant Front, two factions of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army, across the Turkish-occupied areas of the Aleppo Governorate in June 2022, as part of the on-going civil war in Syria. Ahrar al-Sham was supported by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) from the latter's territories in the Idlib Governorate, while the Sham Legion and Jaysh al-Islam backed the Levant Front.

2022 Ahrar al-Sham–Levant Front clashes
Part of the inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian civil war
Date18–20 June 2022[1][2]
(2 days)
Location
Aleppo Governorate, Turkish-occupied northern Syria
Result Status quo ante bellum
Territorial
changes
  • Levant Front captures Tel Battel and Abla from Ahrar al-Sham, then withdraws to their outskirts[3]
  • Ahrar al-Sham and Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) capture Basouta, Jindires, al-Muhammadiya, al-Ghazawiya and its crossing, Qarzihil, and Ain Dara from Levant Front and Sham Legion[4]
  • HTS withdraws from Ain Dara park and Qarzihil[4]
  • HTS withdraws from all recently captured settlements after Turkish negotiations[5]
Belligerents

Ahrar al-Sham

  • 32nd Division[2]
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham

Third Legion[2][1]

Sham Legion[7]
Casualties and losses
4-5 fighters killed[2]
Dozens of fighters wounded[2]
4 civilians killed[8][6]
11 civilians injured[8]
Total: 8-9 killed, 11+ wounded

Clashes

The purported casus belli was the defection of the 32nd Division, part of Ahrar al-Sham's eastern branch, from the Levant Front-dominated Third Legion of the SNA. Following this defection, the Levant Front, including reinforcements of tanks and artillery from Azaz city,[2] attacked Ahrar al-Sham positions in the al-Bab District countryside on 18 June,[2] besieging the Ahrar al-Sham-held Kurdish-majority villages of Tel Battel and Abla before proceeding to storm and capture Ahrar al-Sham's headquarters in the villages. The two fighting factions then withdrew to the outskirts of the villages.[3] At least one Ahrar al-Sham fighter was killed,[9] and four civilians, including two children, were killed, and 11 civilians wounded during the clashes in the al-Bab countryside, which had spread to the villages of Sousian, al-Hadath,[8] Alwan, and Sheikh Alwan.[2]

In response to the clashes, the Sham Legion and the Syrian National Army closed the al-Ghazawiya and Deir Ballut crossings which link the SNA and HTS areas of control between Afrin District and the Idlib Governorate.[10] However, HTS then captured the al-Ghazawiya crossing after the Sham Legion withdrew. The HTS and Ahrar al-Sham convoy, consisting of technicals with heavy machine guns, artillery, and armoured personnel carriers, advanced north into the Jindires and Afrin subdistricts, capturing Jindires and the villages of Basouta, al-Muhammadiya, al-Ghazawiya, Qarzihil, and Ain Dara. Qarzihil saw the heaviest fighting.[3]

Turkey then brokered a ceasefire between the fighting factions.[6] The agreement stipulated that the HTS convoy withdraw from the areas it captured in Afrin, and the return of Ahrar al-Sham's headquarters in al-Bab. All HTS fighters left Qarzihil village and Ain Dara park and regrouped in Basouta and Deir Ballut, near Darat Izza.[4] Despite the truce, Ahrar al-Sham attacked Levant Front bases in Tel Battel.[11] By the morning of 19 June, fighting had ceased in all of the areas with the exception of Sousian village in al-Bab.[1]

Aftermath
Main article: October 2022 northern Aleppo clashes

References
  1. "Negotiations and Mediations: Fragile Calm Hangs Over Areas North of Aleppo". Baladi News. 20 June 2022.
  2. "Seven dead as clashes erupt in northern Syria". The New Arab. 19 June 2022.
  3. "Factional rivalry and infighting - Tahrir Al-Sham and Ahrar Al-Sham control several areas in "Olive Branch" areas amid negotiations to restore the status quo ante". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 19 June 2022.
  4. "At Turkish orders - HTS withdraws from Afrin to areas in Idlib". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 19 June 2022.
  5. Al-Khalidi, Suleiman (19 June 2022). "Truce ends clashes among Turkey-backed rebels in northwest Syria". Reuters.
  6. Suleiman Al-Khalidi (19 June 2022). "Truce ends clashes among Turkey-backed rebels in northwest Syria". Reuters.
  7. "Following clashes with Ahrar Al-Sham and HTS - Al-Sham Corps withdraw from Al-Ghazzawiyah crossing between Idlib and Afrin". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 18 June 2022.
  8. "Death toll update - Four people, including little girl and child, killed and 11 civilians injured in ongoing fierce clashes among Ankara-backed factions in"safe zone" in Aleppo countryside". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 19 June 2022.
  9. "Afrin - Clashes renew between "3rd Corps" and "Ahrar Al-Sham" in Al-Bab countryside in light of deployment of "Tahrir Al-Sham and Ahrar Al-Sham" militiamen". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 19 June 2022.
  10. Farouq Hamo (18 June 2022). "SNA Factions Close Crossings Link Their Areas Of Control To Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham Areas". North Press Agency.
  11. "After HTS withdrawal - Ahrar Al-Sham attacks Al-Jabha Al-Shamiyah bases in Al-Bab". Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. 19 June 2022.
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