Idlib terrorist factions fight over stolen arms

Aya Ezz

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.