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SYRIAN WAR REPORT – JAN. 10, 2019: AL-QAEDA DEFEATS ANOTHER TURKISH-BACKED ‘OPPOSITION’ GROUP On January 9, Ahrar al-Sham groups in northwestern Hama surrendered and dissolved themselves under pressure from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda), according to local sources. Thus, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) imposed full control over the towns of al-Ankawi and Habit. Ahrar al-Sham is the core of a Turkish-backed coalition of militant groups known as the National Front for Liberation (NFL). However, neither other NFL factions nor Turkey intervened to support Ahrar al-Sham during the incident in northwestern Hama. According to pro-opposition media, the defeated Ahrar al-Sham members will get an opportunity to withdraw to the region of Afrin after they hand over their heavy weapons to HTS. The current focus of HTS attention is southern Idlib.
