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Bozan

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If Zakur escaped to Azaz and is now under the protection of special forces and MIT, could it be that previously the people HTS was in a firefight with to capture Zakur was MIT/special forces defending him/relocating him?

Funny to think he's that important to MIT but they just left him out there in Azaz for HTS to take.
 

Sanchez

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We were talking about Pakistanization the other day. If we don't find a way to solve HTS issue, Pakistanization of 2023 will happen.

A Turkey that can't manage Idlib and Euphrates Shield area cannot possibly imagine to control east of Euphrates in the future.
 

Kartal1

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If Zakur escaped to Azaz and is now under the protection of special forces and MIT, could it be that previously the people HTS was in a firefight with to capture Zakur was MIT/special forces defending him/relocating him?

Funny to think he's that important to MIT but they just left him out there in Azaz for HTS to take.
The situation was very tense. For the first time I see TSK and MIT intervene so harshly. Just as it must be!

There was no Turkish close protection team on site and he was protected by Baqarah tribesmen.

One of the leaders of the Levant Front was on a meeting with HTS 3 day prior to this operation. Sources are talking that the leader agreed on the operation and the HTS entered Azez with their aproval. The HTS convoys entered Azez with the pretext of a meeting. After regrouping in Afrin, they headed to Azez. HTS arrested one of Baqarah tribe chiefs Yusuf Arbash in order to pressure Baqarah tribesmen protecting Zakkour to stop resisting. He called the Baqarah to fight HTS.

Yusuf Arbash:

1703030706928.png


HTS went to the hideout of Zakkour and heavy fighting started. Due to the heavy injury of his brother, the threats of the HTS special team that they will blow up the building with them inside he surrendered. After capturing him the HTS team started moving towards Idlib, but the convoy was intercepted by MIT/Turkish Special Forces team together in coordination with Amsha/Hamza fighters. The Turkish SOF team forcefully got Zakkour out of the vehicle and exfiltrated him to Hawar Kilis. From there they most probably brought him to Turkiye. Some sources report that one of the HTS convoys was hit (I am not sure if the same one in which Zakkour was in), 2 HTS fighters died and 2 were injured.

After this movie level action it is reported that Joulani is furious and demanded a mobilization of HTS. Currently there is a debate between HTS military commanders if they must start an attack on Turkish controlled areas or not. Meanwhile TSK, Amshat-Hamza deployed around the city of Azez and are on high alert.
 

Kartal1

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After the last night's action we see further developments.

The Baqarah tribe in Idlib posted a statement in which they condemn HTS and wish recovery to Zakkour and his companions. Looks like together with the Baqarah chief Yusuf Al-Arbash they arrested 22 young men.

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Zakkour after getting to safety started talking. He shared a voice recording in which he reportedly insults Julani and commanders close to him calling them dogs and liars. He also accused HTS of the Atme border crossing bombing between Turkiye-Syria in 2016 where at least 30 TSFA fighters and civilians lost their lives.

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Meanwhile in order to ensure the security of Turkish controlled areas and prevent unauthorized military/paramilitary traffic, TSK deployed forces at Deyr Balut and Ghazawiya. Only civilian traffic is allowed.
 

Kartal1

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HTS leaking things on Zakur, supposedly in contact with western intelligence
This is actually a voice message of Zakkour and he is saying that Joulani had contacts with the US and British intelligence (a well known fact actually). Media close to Joulani is accusing Zakkour of being a CIA-Russian-Turkish agent 😅

Joulani is a survivor. A man that established the most powerful paramilitary force in Syria by surviving. At first tied to Al-Qaeda, then rebelled. Started working with the Coalition intelligence so they hunt Al-Qaeda HVTs for him and he finished off the leftovers. Then in the same way he started hunting for ISIS. Almost everybody from the core Al-Qaeda in Syria died while he is still alive. People like Qahtani and Zakkour played an important role in all this, but Joulani do not accept alternatives. Whoever he sees as a threat no matter if religious figure, military leader or media representative, he first outcasts him and then he is either arrested, killed at the spot or first arrested and then killed. He is doing everything so he can survive, but the last series of arrests and killings are concerning for his allies because nobody knows who is next and with what pretext.

Zakkour is accusing HTS of betrayal to the Revolution and says that HTS did/is doing the same things that ISIS did, but Zakkour talks only after his life is threatened and his interests damaged. I don't believe he is anybody's agent. He is a financier and a "sheikh". A man looking in perspective for survival also based on personal interests.

HTS is accusing many of the recent commanders and important figures that were arrested of visiting Hmeymim etc. These accusations will continue in order to discredit them and minimize the damage. Joulani is losing important support in military, religious and economic circles and this will influence the coming process that started. I expect a major infighting which will result in a lot of blood spilled and many commanders leaving HTS with their forces and join the SNA. Unfortunately this will not improve the situation, but quite on the contrary. Joulani will strengthen his position by de-facto eliminating any possible opposition. After this happens there is where people like Zakkour, the recently arrested Baqarah tribe chief and religious figures like Abdul Razak al-Mahdi will play an important role in provoking popular uprisings and protests. This is also the moment where we will see increased "ISIS" activity in both Turkish controlled areas in Syria and in Turkiye, clashes within the SNA with HTS supporters and shady small cells attacking the HTS core in Idlib. The only solution of the HTS problem is unified SNA and popular support. The popular support is the easier part if you ask me...
 

Bozan

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This is actually a voice message of Zakkour and he is saying that Joulani had contacts with the US and British intelligence (a well known fact actually). Media close to Joulani is accusing Zakkour of being a CIA-Russian-Turkish agent 😅

Joulani is a survivor. A man that established the most powerful paramilitary force in Syria by surviving. At first tied to Al-Qaeda, then rebelled. Started working with the Coalition intelligence so they hunt Al-Qaeda HVTs for him and he finished off the leftovers. Then in the same way he started hunting for ISIS. Almost everybody from the core Al-Qaeda in Syria died while he is still alive. People like Qahtani and Zakkour played an important role in all this, but Joulani do not accept alternatives. Whoever he sees as a threat no matter if religious figure, military leader or media representative, he first outcasts him and then he is either arrested, killed at the spot or first arrested and then killed. He is doing everything so he can survive, but the last series of arrests and killings are concerning for his allies because nobody knows who is next and with what pretext.

Zakkour is accusing HTS of betrayal to the Revolution and says that HTS did/is doing the same things that ISIS did, but Zakkour talks only after his life is threatened and his interests damaged. I don't believe he is anybody's agent. He is a financier and a "sheikh". A man looking in perspective for survival also based on personal interests.

HTS is accusing many of the recent commanders and important figures that were arrested of visiting Hmeymim etc. These accusations will continue in order to discredit them and minimize the damage. Joulani is losing important support in military, religious and economic circles and this will influence the coming process that started. I expect a major infighting which will result in a lot of blood spilled and many commanders leaving HTS with their forces and join the SNA. Unfortunately this will not improve the situation, but quite on the contrary. Joulani will strengthen his position by de-facto eliminating any possible opposition. After this happens there is where people like Zakkour, the recently arrested Baqarah tribe chief and religious figures like Abdul Razak al-Mahdi will play an important role in provoking popular uprisings and protests. This is also the moment where we will see increased "ISIS" activity in both Turkish controlled areas in Syria and in Turkiye, clashes within the SNA with HTS supporters and shady small cells attacking the HTS core in Idlib. The only solution of the HTS problem is unified SNA and popular support. The popular support is the easier part if you ask me...

You're correct, I misread
 

Kartal1

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Al Baqara tribe made a public statement in Idlib while protests were going on in Azez.


While tensions continue we see new revelations by Zakkour. It was reported that Joulani offered him a right to return and the right to create a faction in the North if he returns to HTS. He was also offered the release of all his relatives and prisoners related to the recent event. Also a chat was shared where both are talking to each other nicely calling themselves "brothers" etc. Reportedly Zakkour refused the offer.



According to various sources Joulani is preparing a coup in the Amshat and Hamza forces (Turkiye's main proxies in the region).
 

Kartal1

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HRE/PKK is using the tension and started intense infiltration attempts.

There are intense infiltration attempts by HRE/PKK terrorists in the Tel Rifat region. It may be the biggest infiltration attempt of the year. There is leakage from every point. There was an attempt at the Azez/Shat checkpoint. SMO supporters claimed that HRE was making progress on some points. There are simultaneous infiltration attempts through Malikiye, Azez, Kafr Hashir, Kafr Kalpin, Kalcibrin and Tuveys lines. HRE bombed civilian residential areas in the village of Tuveys. There is a conflict between SMO and HRE on the Tuveys axis. Turkish Armed Forces targeted the villages of Beluniye, Semuke, Ayn Dakne, Tel Zivan, Şeyh İsa, Tel Cican and Şaale. There is intense mutual bombardment.

 

Lool

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Iam honestly way too confused in this fiasco tbh
So who is the good guy? Joulani or Zakkour or whom exactly?
 

Kartal1

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Iam honestly way too confused in this fiasco tbh
So who is the good guy? Joulani or Zakkour or whom exactly?
Non is a good guy. We are talking about personal interests here. When it comes to Turkiye's interests, Zakkour is a guy that played and will continue to play a role, but again, not because of the interests of the Revolution, but because he would gain more power. Zakkour is a panicked guy, trying to survive by earning popular support trough his media. He is discrediting the HTS leadership because this is the only thing he can do right now, but I expect further moves by both Joulani and Zakkour resulting in rewriting the structure of both HTS and SNA.
 

Ryder

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All these militias and warlords all need to fcking go.

If Syrians want whatever governance let them decide. If they want Sharia let them if they want communism let them.

If they want nationalism socialism let them.

All those warlords, extremists and other thugs need to go if any kind of proper nation building.
 

Kartal1

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