Turkish-backed faction blocks fuel en route to Idlib
The Free Syrian Army’s Third Legion is reportedly preventing fuel from reaching Idlib, which is controlled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, after the recent fighting between the two parties.
Syria’s northwestern province of Idlib is suffering from severe fuel shortages amid reports that Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army factions are preventing fuel tankers from entering the area.
Sources in Idlib told Al-Monitor that the FSA-affiliated Third Legion prevented diesel tankers from crossing to Afrin via Azaz and imposed fees for other vehicles.
The Third Legion has reportedly stopped tankers carrying crude oil destined for Idlib to be refined in facilities run by Watad Petroleum, an Idlib-based company affiliated with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
The Third Legion also prevented fuel coming from its areas from reaching Idlib, causing a significant rise in fuel prices amid shortages, as citizens in the HTS-controlled areas queued at gas stations.
