On April 14, the Qatari-owned Al-Quds al-Arabi daily carried the following report by its correspondent in Istanbul Abdullah al-Omari: “A source in the Syrian opposition said in exclusive statements to Al-Quds al-Arabi that the “assassination of Abu Sakkar, one of the most prominent military men in An-Nusra Front, by elements affiliated with the Ahrar ash-Sham Movement in the city of Harem in Rif Adlib, had led to the eruption of fierce disputes between the Movement and the Front, but also within the Movement itself.” The source revealed that the assassination took place “after the victim was chased while crossing a checkpoint,” believing it “fell in the context of a series of provocations against An-Nusra Front by a wing within the Ahrar ash-Sham Movement, to get it to accept the political solution or fight.” He continued: “There is a wing in the Movement which believes that An-Nusra Front’s presence on the Syrian arena is obstructing the political solution.”

“He assured that these assassinations “also affected leaders in Ahrar ash-Sham Movement, through internal liquidations aiming to eradicate those rejecting truce with the regime or escalation against and the fighting of An-Nusra Front,” mentioning that this latest provocation was seen “only two days after the assassination Abu Firas as-Suri. And it is only natural for An-Nusra to be mobilized following the killing of the latter in an American raid, which is why any provocation, such as the killing of Abu Sakkar, who was the oldest fighter against the regime in Syria, ought to be met with a violent reaction by An-Nusra.” He added: “The climate in Harem is still tense, though both sides have agreed to resort to a judge from their camp, in the presence of a third judge who would rule in favor of one over the other.”

“The source assured that Ahrar ash-Sham “has so far failed to convince An-Nusra to disengage from Al-Qa’idah, due to the presence of leaders opposed to such a move, namely Abu Firas as-Suri who was assassinated two days ago, and other leaders expected to be liquidated in parallel to the targeting of leaders in Ahrar ash-Sham who are affiliated with the Salafi line that had almost been fully neutralized by the movement’s political wing, which is headed by Labib Nahhas.” The source also believed that the “assassinations and provocations coincide with an instigation campaign, being carried out by individuals affiliated with Ahrar ash-Sham against An-Nusra Front. And this instigation will increase the tensions between the two sides, as seen in the Maarrat an-Nu'man incidents two weeks ago, while trying to change the general mood of Ahrar ash-Sham’s fighters, who are categorically refusing to fight An-Nusra Front.”

“The source concluded by saying: “The group that carried out the assassination is not officially part of Ahrar ash-Sham. It is operating in a region that is controlled by Ahrar ash-Sham, and has filed a request to join it more than once, without ever receiving an official response from the Movement’s command. Therefore, in light of the alliance and joint interests between An-Nusra and Al-Ahrar, this will be considered an individual action, and will be solved in a court formed by both sides. Still, leaders in Ahrar ash-Sham are surprised by An-Nusra Front’s mobilization in all its sectors in Adlib, which forced Ahrar ash-Sham to do the same.””