Fighters of the al-Qaeda-led Wa Harid al-Muminin operations room, Illustrative image.
Al-Qaeda-affiliated Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) is preparing to send 30 terrorists of Horas al-Din, who were recently released from its prisons in the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib, to Ukraine, Sputnik reported on April 7.
Local sources told the Russian news network that the terrorists, most of whom are foreigners, were released upon direct orders from HTS leader Abu Mohamad al-Julani.
“A few days ago, al-Julani held a meeting with Horas al-Din leaders and Turkish intelligence officers, during which it was agreed to release the 30 militants on the condition that they will be transferred to Ukraine to fight against the Russian military,” one of Sputnik’s sources said.
The terrorists, who are Iraqis, Chechens, Moroccans and Uzbeks, were arrested in Greater Idlib by HTS over the last few months.
HTS’ suggestion to move the terrorists to Ukraine was accepted by the leaders of Horas al-Din. The terrorists also affirmed their readiness to fight against the Russian military there.
“After the release of the militants, they were transferred to the town of Sarmada, on the Syrian-Turkish border … so that they can move from there into Turkish territory, then to Ukraine as soon as possible,” Sputnik quoted one of its sources as saying.
A previous report by Sputnik revealed that 87 Iraqi, French, Tunisian and Chechen terrorists from HTS, Horas al-Din and Ansar al-Tawhid had left Greater Idlib to go fight against the Russian military in Ukraine. Al-Julani reportedly played a key role in encouraging the foreign terrorists to go fight in Ukraine.
HTS’s attempts to funnel terrorists to Ukraine will likely lead to a harsh response by Russia, who maintains a large military presence in Syria.
The Russian Aerospace Forces have carried out a number of airstrikes on the terrorist group’s positions in Greater Idlib since the beginning of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine. A more serious response can be expected.
