Syria: Hayat Tahrir al-Sham arrests four women in campaign against jihadist group

Four women were arrested by security personnel from the hardline Islamist militia Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) in northern Syria's Idlib province on Monday.

The women were arrested in the village of Deir Hassan on charges of conducting an incitement campaign against the HTS, on behalf of jihadist group Hizb ut-Tahrir's Syria branch.

The women had been protesting the arrests of their husbands ten days earlier under the same charges, following protests in the village against previous HTS raids in search of members of Hizb ut-Tahrir, local news site North Press Agency reported.

The arrests come amid a crackdown on Hizb ut-Tahrir by the HTS that began on 7 May.

The HTS campaign has drawn backlash from across opposition-held Syria, with protests against the group in the town of Atarib and city of Azaz, as well as at camps for displaced Syrians. Women have been front and centre at many of the demonstrations.

The HTS operation has centred on the village of Deir Hassan, the scene of an alleged confrontation between HTS and Hizb ut-Tahrir that lead to the death of one HTS member and the injury of another.

HTS checkpoints have been established in the village, with some houses being forcibly seized, Deir Hassan residents told Enab Baladi.

HTS controls about half of the Idlib province and other surrounding areas, alongside other Turkish-backed rebel factions.