Cross checking with pro-Russian and pro-Iranian channels, this is indeed true.
This is something that I have brought up months ago during the Israeli invasion of Lebanon. That Arabic National Armies have a horrendous track record in the history of modern warfare. Syria had almost collapsed in 2013-2015 if it wasn't for Hezbollah, Iran, and Russia coming to their rescue. Unfortunately in 2024, the same story is starting to repeating itself, but to a lesser extent. It seems like the way Arabs know how to fight best is through irregular militant groups like HTS, FSA, and Hezbollah.
I've seen photos of a captured t-90 and tor AA. This is not the first time that arab armies with heavy vehicles routed against a bunch of dudes in sandals and pickup trucks. With the mass proliferation of low end UAVs the gap between run of the mill militia groups and professional military has only closed.
In the long-run we're all dead. I don't support HTS or any sort of opposition forces for the very reason you mentioned, I don't believe that the jihadist elements are controllable in the long-term for any nation-state. That said, I don't believe Turkey believes otherwise, they are merely using them to harm their geopolitical enemies in the region.
