Popular discontent in Idlib: opening a humanitarian crossing by “Tahrir al-Sham” with Syrian regime

Yamin Al-Khalid / Idlib
The areas under the control of “Tahrir al-Sham” (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra) in Idlib and its countryside are witnessing a state of tension and popular anger, as a result of the opening of a humanitarian crossing by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham with the areas controlled by the Syrian regime, and the entry of humanitarian aid trucks through it, while”Tahrir al-Sham preventing ” the entry of many types of vegetables and foodstuffs coming from the areas controlled by the factions loyal to the Turkish occupation “Syrian National Army”, as these materials are prevented from entering the Al-Ghazawiya crossing between its areas of control and the areas controlled by the National Army factions.

“Miznaz Crossing” separating the areas controlled by “Tahrir al-Sham” in Idlib countryside and the areas controlled by the Syrian regime in the western countryside of Aleppo (from the side of the town of Ma’arat al-Na’san) witnessed the entry of the first three trucks loaded with humanitarian aid coming from areas controlled by the regime, on Monday, last August 30, then followed by many trucks, and the movement of vehicles entering and leaving the areas controlled by “Tahrir al-Sham” continues without any obstacles and with full coordination between the two parties (consensus and coordination between the regime forces and Tahrir al-Sham).
On the other hand, “Tahrir al-Sham” continues to prevent civilians from entering their supplies of vegetables such as peppers, molokhia, onions and garlic through the “Al-Ghazawiya” crossing, which separates the areas controlled by “Tahrir al-Sham” and the areas controlled by the “National Army” factions supported by the Turkish occupation authorities.

This act caused a state of resentment and anger among civilians, who accused “Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham” of trying to revive the regime’s economic crisis, and they are afraid that the international community will give the regime confidence to be a station for receiving and distributing UN aid in Syria, and through many of the civilians I interviewed (testimonials)
Popular anger and opposition at Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham’s attempt to open a crossing with the Syrian regime.

“Marwan Al-Khalid” is displaced from the city of “Khan Sheikhoun” in the southern countryside of Idlib, and lives in one of the camps of the Armanaz area in the northern countryside of Idlib. In his testimony to ASO News Network says that, “at the time we are starving after years of displacement, we are surprised of opening a crossing to revive the regime that displaced us and killed our children by bombing,” considering this a clear betrayal by “Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham” for all the sacrifices of civilians and a transgression that must be put to an end (meaning that the crossing be closed).

Marwan al-Khalid added that Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra) should reverse this action and close the crossing immediately, believing that this would constitute a new revolution against Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Idlib, where more than four million people are confined, and they have been exhausted by high prices and a lack of Job opportunities and lack of support, as he described it.
Al-Khalid stated that “Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham” is a partner with the regime in the displacement of civilians, considering that it is a partner in handing over different areas to the Syrian regime (on a plate of gold) and withdrew from it (this is an accusation of Tahrir al-Sham by a large segment of civilians of handing over areas of the southern countryside of Idlib in 2019 system).

Al-Khalid indicates that preparations for popular demonstrations have been prepared in all regions of Idlib and its countryside in protest against the opening of a crossing with the Syrian regime (but this has not happened so far), which will be benefited financially by the regime and Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham on a daily basis, considering what he described as an opening. Miznaz Crossing” betrayed the blood of the martyrs (meaning the victims of Syria) and undermine the efforts of the revolutionary activists. In the last displacement campaign in 2019, more than one million people were displaced.
Finally, he stresses the refusal of all civilians, especially the displaced camp residents, to open the crossing, and that they would rather die of starvation than receive humanitarian aid from the regime that abandoned them and destroyed their homes and dreams.

Ms. Munira al-Mahmoud, who is also displaced from the town of Kafr Zita in the northern countryside of Hama and lives in one of the Deir Hassan camps, as an English teacher, talks about her opinion on the opening of the crossing in her testimony to “ASO News Network”, saying, “Every day we are surprised more and more by Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham, and it is better to call it “destroying” and not liberating, because with these actions it clearly demonstrates to us clearly, its dealings with the regime.

The lady says in her testimony that we are getting more and more surprised by the practices of the commission, and she stresses the need for everyone to stand against the continued opening of the crossing with the regime, and that the continuation of opening the crossing contributes to granting legitimacy to the Syrian regime internationally and showing it that it deserves appreciation, as it takes into account the introduction of aid to the areas of its opponents, but the truth is that it Intersection of political interests only.

Finally, it stresses that HTS strives to starve civilians within its areas of control, humiliate them, and impose a tight security grip on them, while helping to revive the regime and preventing the entry of any materials from other areas, whether the areas of the Syrian Democratic Forces or the areas of the pro-Turkish factions. Something new and needs clarification from its side (civilians demanded that Tahrir al-Sham issue a statement explaining the reason for opening the crossing).

In turn, the so-called “Salvation Government” affiliated with “Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham” justified the opening of the crossing and the entry of humanitarian aid trucks, as based on coordination with the Office of Humanitarian Affairs in the Turkish city of Gaziantep to transport 12,000 food rations from Aleppo to Idlib within the “World Food Program” and denied that the crossing be an alternative to the rest of the crossings, or an attempt to legitimize the Syrian regime. This was stated in a statement published by the “Salvation Government” on September 1st (a statement issued on this date by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham).

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra), along with some other extremist jihadist groups and factions backed by the Turkish occupation, controls large parts of Idlib and its countryside and other parts of the countryside of Aleppo, Hama and Latakia. Syria (such as Daraa, Homs, Damascus, Aleppo, and others).