Infighting among Ahrar al Asham, Jundul Aqsa Terrorist Groups in Syria

Both groups who have been key to the Takfiri terrorist groups atrocities in Hama countryside have now begun to openly to condemn one another. In recent days Ahrar al-Sham have been clearing areas under terrorists’ control in Hama countryside from ISIS cells. These cells are directly linked to ISIS de facto capital, Raqqa directly.
 
Ahrar al-Sham arrested ISIS fighters several days ago, with Jundul Aqsa responding by kidnapping an Ahrar al-Sham fighter, beating his wife and shooting his brother.
 
The discord within the ranks of terrorist groups comes at a time when the Syrian Army is making a serious push to liberate all areas previously occupied by terrorists in Hama countryside.
 
Al Manar TV reported on Saturday that Syrian government forces and their allies recaptured several towns and villages in Hama province, pushing back terrorists who had made significant advances in the area in recent weeks. After hours of intense exchange of fire, Syrian forces liberated several areas including al-Talisiya, al-Qahira and Tel al-Usud, Qarah and Khafsah.
 
Other reports indicate that the two terrorists’ groups have begun to clash with each other in Idlib province.
 
Heavy clashes broke out between the Jundul Aqsa terrorist group and their former Takfiri allies Ahrar Al-Sham in the southern countryside of Idlib at the terrorist’s stronghold of Khan Sheikhoun.
 
Jundul Aqsa are reportedly storming the town and sources suggest that they had already managed to capture several Ahrar fighters. Dozens of terrorists were killed on both sides as a result of those fierce clashes.
 
Saudi, Turkish-backed Terrorists Groups Blame Each Other
 
Both Ahrar Al-Sham and Jundul Aqsa had recently released statements condemning the other side for carrying out acts of aggression. In a statement, Ahrar Sham said it is cracking dwon on on ISIS sleeper cells.
 
Jundul Aqsa also released a statement on social media saying it will continue its campaign against Ahrar al Sham. The differences between these two groups point to the growing rift between Ankara and Riyadh over Syria.
 
The differences have reached their peak in northern part Hama province to an extent of Jundul Aqsa leaving the region.
 
The so called spiritual leader of Jaysh al Fath, Abdallah al-Muhaysini, based in Hama, has been engaged in intense efforts to reconcile all armed terrorist groups but has failed to  resolve differences between these two armed groups.
 
The main mission of al-Muhaysini in Syria, is to resolve the differences among all terrorist groups fighting the Syrian army, except ISIS. Sources say he has failed miserably in his sated mission.
 
The reason for this failure is probably due to the fact that the head of Jundul Aqsa has close ties with ISIS and this has irked Ahrar Sham.
 
Intense Saudi, Turkish Ideological Differences
 
Jundul Aqsa gets ideological and financial support from the Saudis and is known to be fronting Saudi interests in Syria. This group has been ordered to occupy Hama as a way of undermining Syrian army military victory in Aleppo.
 
Ahrar Al Sham is allied to Turkey and Jundul Aqsa to Saudis, and this points to cracks in the Riyadh Ankara alliance in Syria.
 
The mainstream media outlets have been awash with reports of Turkish-Saudi alliance but what is clear is that such a collaboration is based on very short term interests.based on sheer expedience and will not last long.
 
The Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef  was in Turkey recently and met President Recep Tayyip Erdogan but such visits are superficial as the two countries are poles apart ideologically.
 
An outstanding point of divergence between Ankara and Riyadh is the Muslim Brotherhood.
 
The Saudis have all along been opposed against their spread, seeing them as an existential threat, while Ankara has been a major supporter of the group.
 
Erdogan has been a major critic of the military coup by Egypt's current President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi who toppled Brotherhood-linked government of President Mohamed Morsi. This is while Egyptian military ruler Abdel Fattah el Sisi enjoys close ties Saudi King Salman.
 
Turkey’s ruling Justice & Development Party, supports the so-called” Islamic democracy similar to that of the Muslim Brotherhood. Saudis strongly opposes the Muslim Brotherhood and the organization is banned in United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia & Egypt.
 
Therefore, the clashes between Turkish backed Ahrar al Sham terrorists group and Saudi-backed Jundul Aqsa terrorist group in Syria can be viewed as part of a wider ideological struggle between Ankara and Riyadh.