Why Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s flags appear on Turkish tanks

Mohamed Yosri

The situation in Syria, especially in the northern city of Idlib, has been escalating on the back of various military affiliations taking sides with Russia, Turkey and the United States.

Most remarkably, the pro-Turkish armed groups in Idlib have put their flags on Turkish tanks, revealing the strong ties between Ankara and these terrorist groups.

In early February, Turkey’s Defense Minister Hulusi Akar threatened the Syrian regime, calling on the Syrian Arab army to withdraw from Idlib. Akar said that Ankara had two plans to deal with the Syrian presence in Idlib, giving Damascus one month to withdraw from Idlib, following the Syrian army’s victories in the north against Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, formerly known as al-Nusra Front.

On Feb. 9, Turkey sent forces to Syria and 200 pieces of heavy equipment such as tanks, armored personnel carriers, and artillery. The number of Turkish soldiers deployed in Idlib and Aleppo totaled 6,000. The Turkish forces bombed locations of the Syrian Arab army in east Idlib.

The Syrian forces destroyed a Turkish military convoy.  In its attacks on the Syrian forces, Turkey is depending on the backing of terrorist militias, especially Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which is designated as a terrorist group.

Syrian activists posted photos of Turkish tanks used by members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. The activists said members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham are being trained by SADAT International Defense Consultancy, which is owned by Adnan Tanriverdi, an adviser to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and Turkey are seeking to blow up the Sochi and Astana agreements. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham is intensifying attacks on the Syrian Arab army for the sake of Turkey.

Syrian observers have warned against such attacks for months, especially after Mohammed al-Joulani delivered a speech at the end of December 2019. In that speech, al-Joulani called for freeing Syria from the Russian and Iranian presence without saying anything about the Turkish presence in the country.

On February 12, Russia held Turkey responsible for the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Idlib, citing that Turkey’s armored vehicles and arms in Syria would escalate the situation in Idlib.