North of Rayhaniya, Rayhaniya Governorate, Khataiy
ISIS executing an HTS fighter
Syrian rebels moved into Eastern Khataiy earlier last year amid destabilization in the country after the Khataiyi government seized land from the country's Kurdish minority in the East to be used for industrial purposes leading to a near civil-war like conflict, stability was later restored after negotiations were made with the Kurds to allow for self-management in the East and another deal was struck between the government and Syrian rebel groups in Khataiy to let them do as they wish in the Eastern region as well on a model based on Pakistan's Waziristan Accord with the Taliban as Khataiay had sponsored many rebel groups against the Syrian government and Iranian militias and saw them as a good counter-balance to the Kurdish threat in the country.
The rebel groups made Rayhaniya Khataiy's second largest city a new capital and alternative to Idlib however many instances of infighting have occurred and elements loyal to ISIS also moved into the area attacking Kurdish and at times Rebels alike, however tensions between ISIS and HTS hit a new high in Khataiy after HTS arrested and executed several ISIS members in neighboring Syria causing ISIS to retaliate by executing several HTS members in Khataiy, HTS has also had tensions with various National Liberation Front (FSA) groups such as Ahrar al-Sham and is accusing them of harboring ISIS members so they can destroy HTS after recent fighting between the two in Syria purging most of the FSA and NLF from Idlib to Rayhaniya and Turkish-controlled Afrin.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham arrested 4 allegedly ISIS linked individuals and 2 Ahrar al-Sham officials in Rayhaniya accusing Ahrar of handing over HTS prisoners to ISIS. Later that day an IED went off in Rayhaniya near a mosque run by HTS and by nightfall a cell allegedly belonging to ISIS attacked an office that HTS was using as their HQ in Rayhaniya, HTS blamed Ahrar al-Sham and ISIS for the attack and Ahrar al-Sham responded by attacking an a village outside the city where HTS stored several weapons and vehicles.
The Khataiyi government has issued a statement from the interior ministry on the situation:
The Arab State of Khataiy
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Interior Ministry
PUBLIC STATEMENT
The ongoing clashes between Hayat Tahrir Sham and allegedly Daesh are being monitored, we see no risk to public safety, national security or international security in light of the clashes between these organizations. We would like to see calm return to the region and action is being discussed at a high level if it is deemed need however it currently is not likely, we are aware of the factions in the self-management sector and Rayhaniya, dialogue may take place between legitimate opposition factions for a solution. In accordance with our treaty we do exercise the right to close the Rayhaniya border station with Syria and this shall be done until further notice to ensure that the fighting remains isolated and equipment and men will not be sent from Syria into Khataiy to further inflame the current conflict.
Kurdish militias in the area have threatened to get involved in the fighting between HTS and the other rebels if the fighting spreads to Kurdish areas or if they see an opportunity to do so
