Idlib terrorist factions fight over stolen arms
New tensions are
erupting between Tahrir al-Sham and Guardians of Religion, two terrorist groups
active in northern Syria. These new tensions compound the conflicts brewing
between the two organizations already.
Members of
Tahrir al-Sham had apparently stolen arms from the warehouses of the organization.
However, Tahrir
al-Sham is accusing Guardians of Religion of stealing these arms. It said it
had found some of these weapons in the warehouses of the organization.
Beginning
The crisis began
when three people stole anti-aircraft weapons from Tahrir al-Sham. They stole
the weapons from one of the offices of the organization. Soon after stealing
the weapons, the three people fought hiding inside one of the offices of
Guardians of Religion.
Tahrir al-Sham
then new the place where the weapons were hid and arrested some the people who
stole them.
However,
Guardians of Religions prevented Tahrir al-Sham from arrested the other members
of the gang, which caused a gunfight to erupt between the two sides.
Soon, however,
Guardians of Religion agreed to hand over all the stolen weapons as well as the
thieves.
Denial
Guardians of
Religion denied accusations that it had stolen the weapons of Tahrir al-Sham.
It also denied that it had agreed to hand over the stolen weapons and the
members of the gang stealing those weapons.
Guardians of
Religion even accused Tahrir al-Sham of lying. It said all the weapons in its
warehouses belong to it, not to Tahrir al-Sham.
Tahrir al-Sham
countered by saying that all the weapons in the warehouses of Guardians of
Religion belongs to it. It said it has documents proving its claim.
Two
weak parties
Political
science professor Abdel Khabir Attallah said tensions between the two terrorist
organizations reflect their weak condition.
"They now
depend on stolen arms to maintain presence in the battlefield," Attalah
told The Reference.
He added that
this shows that Turkey had started reducing logistical and financial support to
the terrorist groups fighting in Idlib.
