Two Syrian media activists assassinated in Idlib's Kafr Nabl, HTS accused

Two of the biggest activists against Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria have been assassinated by an anonymous entity in Idlib’s Kafr Nabl that is controlled by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), formerly known as Nusra Front.

The two activists are Raed Fares and Hamoud Junaid; both of whom were previously detained by HTS.

In 2014, Fares faced a similar assassination attempt by two masked men in his town which was known for its demonstrations against Assad.

Fares was the head of Radio Fresh and one of its founders, and he was also head of the Union of Revolutionary Bureaus (URB), while the other assassinated activist was a video journalist working for the same organization.

Syrian activists opposing Assad accused HTS of being behind the assassinations.

A page on Facebook called “Jabhat Nusra Violations” revealed that “armed Nusra Front fighters shot them” which immediately caused their death, posting pictures of their bodies.

Activists in Idlib, one of the last armed rebel bastions, have voiced the many violations that HTS, in addition to other extremist factions, subject them to.

HTS arrested civilian activist and lawyer Yasser al-Salim in Kafr Nabl on Sep 21st, following his public support to Suwayda’s kidnapped women who were detained by ISIS. Salim demanded their freedom after his participation in a demonstration against Assad’s regime in his town.