Abu Mariya Al-Qahtani was one of the biggest advocates for the split from Al-Qaeda. His guesthouse in Sarmada was attacked with an IED, but at the time it was not confirmed that he died in result of the attack.
Al-Qahtani was arrested by Joulani on charges that he had contacts with the Coalition and he organized a coup against Joulani with the support of MIT. He was released a couple weeks ago after a major standoff where one of his most trusted men Zakkour left the organization and took refuge with some members of the Baqara tribe in Azez which ended with HTS Intelligence raiding his compound and kidnapping him. The Military Police and MIT intercepted the convoy and forcefully took Zakkour to a safe house. This continued with the arrest of many prominent military, political, religious and tribal figures who were either released soon before the release of Al-Qahtani or are still behind the bars. Everyday major protests all around Idlib are organized by critics of Joulani waving the Opposition flag. Joulani raised the taxes on goods coming from the Euphrates Shield area, supported armed groups in Turkish controlled areas, gave directives for malign actions and sabotage of which most were prevented.
After Al-Qahtani was released it was known that he was planning something. HTS knew it and took control over his Telegram page. As we know Joulani is a survivor and is ready to survive no matter the cost.
IED was placed in the compound of Abu Mariya Al-Qahtani in his guesthouse in Sarmada and Al-Qahtani was among the casualties of the explosion. It was later confirmed that he died. HTS was fast to put the blame on Islamic State, but all of the signs and the circumstances pointed at HTS attack. In the same timeframe an IED was detonated in Azez in which at least 7 died and tens more were injured. The 3rd Corps of SNA claimed that the explosion was an PKK/HRE attack and the attackers were arrested while another version pop out a couple of days later claiming that the perpetrator was in fact an Ahrar Awlan operative (HTS linked group, their HQ was raided by TSK and local forces, explosives, weapons and military maps were seized before) and the perpetrator was arrested, sharing his personal information and a picture.
Despite all of this guess who took the body of Abu Mariya Al-Qahtani and who went on his funeral.