2018 to 2021: Idlib Cooperation Damascus and HTS

In 2018 a series of reports were published at my old residence:

Via the wayback machine

This thought line was considered heretical to many. Not quite sure why, really? Other then so many idealized an all out blood bath because of their own blood lust/ideas of retribution they couldn’t or wouldn’t consider an alternative. Me, being much more of a pacifistic kind of person saw potential in an alternative way of Idlib’s return.

There was more information then the above flashback but hopefully the linked info will give you enough information to understand the hoped for diplomatic/real politik resolution that seemed possible.

The news below via Kurdish media seems to indicate that cooperation has been ongoing.

Opening Government-Opposition Crossing Part of Russian-Turkish Deal: Politician

The Kurdish media is spinning this cooperation as a negative between Damascus and HTS. And it is, of course, cooperation but is it negative?

The opening of a crossing between areas controlled by the HTS and those controlled by the regime are clear signs of the complicity between these two, according to North Press.
Wednesday September 22nd, 2021 by NORTH PRESS (Kurdish agency)

The opening of a crossing between areas held by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, formerly al-Nusra Front) and those of Damascus government “negatively and morally affects the revolution and the revolutionary movement in the region,” official in the Green Idleb Council said on Monday.

That’s good right!

On August 30th, three trucks carrying international relief aid from the World Food Programme from government-held areas entered opposition-controlled areas in Idleb through the Ma’aret al-Na’san-Miznaz crossing.

Opening the crossing “morally frustrates the revolutionary movement, especially after the government used all possible weapons and means to subdue the opposition to it and failed until early 2015,” according to Haytham al-Abdullah, co-chair of Green Idleb Council.

Morally frustrating the revolutionary movement? I’m okay with that!

““There is an agreement between Russia, the regime, and Turkey to eliminate the revolutionary factions,” Abdullah believes.

Yah, that’s been obvious for some time now. In fact it’s openly discussed. On repeated occasions. It was certainly discussed multiple times at my former residence.*see above

“Having the region run by Turkish-backed armed Syrian Islamic factions caused many liberated parts to fall under Damascus government control and they were content with running a small spot in the city of Idleb, which is one of the reasons for opening the crossing to complete the chain of complicity between the regime and those factions,” according to him.

Whaaat the Islamic factions were content to run small spots in the city of Idleb? Well that runs contrary to many presented narratives!

There is no dispute between HTS and Turkey because policies and actions conducted in the region are “with the knowledge and supervision of Turkey, militarily and intelligence and opening the crossing is part of a deal between Russia and Turkey rather than a settlement with Turkey,” Abdullah indicated.

This cooperative opening of the crossing is based on a deal between Turkey and Russia.?! Huh.