2020 M4 Highway shootout
The 2020 M4 Highway shootout was an incident that occurred between members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and the Turkish army on the M4 Highway, near the town of Nayrab, that is controlled by Syrian rebel groups. The shooting occurred after demonstrations were taking place on the highway, facilitated by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and Turkish-backed rebel groups against Turkish and Russian military patrols on the highway. Fighters believed to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham opened fire on members of the Turkish military attempting to breakup the protests, no Turkish soldiers were injured during the shooting, shooting has also been the first reported aggressive incident between Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and Turkish forces in Idlib since the Turkish military entered Idlib in 2017, following the shooting the HTS members involved were reprimanded by an HTS commander.
Shooting
On 13 April 2020, Members of HTS shot at Turkish soldiers that were patrolling the highway, and dispersing protestors that were protesting the Turkish-Russian cease-fire agreement that called for joint patrols on the M4 Highway running through opposition held portions of the Idlib Governorate, during the Turkish military breakup of the protests, HTS fighters reportedly present began shooting at the Turkish soldiers. Pro-government media claimed that members of HTS were present wearing civilian clothing and were encouraged to do so by the group the itself.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed Turkish forces dismantled tents belonging to protestors doing a sit-in on the highway, and formed a human chain to block protestors, the observatory also claimed that Turkish soldiers were beating protestors and that when gun shots were fired no armed group was present in the area, Turkish riot police were also reportedly present. Following the incident Hayat Tahrir al-Sham arrested several members of Turkish backed rebel groups including the National Front for Liberation, the Syrian National Army, and Faylaq al-Sham which is a member of both bodies.
Shooting
On 13 April 2020, Members of HTS shot at Turkish soldiers that were patrolling the highway, and dispersing protestors that were protesting the Turkish-Russian cease-fire agreement that called for joint patrols on the M4 Highway running through opposition held portions of the Idlib Governorate, during the Turkish military breakup of the protests, HTS fighters reportedly present began shooting at the Turkish soldiers. Pro-government media claimed that members of HTS were present wearing civilian clothing and were encouraged to do so by the group the itself.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed Turkish forces dismantled tents belonging to protestors doing a sit-in on the highway, and formed a human chain to block protestors, the observatory also claimed that Turkish soldiers were beating protestors and that when gun shots were fired no armed group was present in the area, Turkish riot police were also reportedly present. Following the incident Hayat Tahrir al-Sham arrested several members of Turkish backed rebel groups including the National Front for Liberation, the Syrian National Army, and Faylaq al-Sham which is a member of both bodies.
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