Escalating factional infighting | New armed fight erupts among Turkish-backed factions in Tal Abyad
Syrian Observatory sources have reported that a new armed fight broke out this afternoon in areas under the control of Turkish forces and their proxies in “Peace Spring” area. Fierce clashes are underway between “Al-Majd Corps” and “Al-Jabha Al-Shamiyyah”, near the agricultural bank in Tal Abyad city in the northern countryside of Al-Raqqah. Reasons behind this fight have yet to be known.
Observatory activists monitored earlier this morning tense calm prevailing in Ras Al-Ain city and countryside (Sere Kaniye) following yesterday’s factional fight. The tense calm coincided with growing tension between the Turkish-backed factions of “Al-Hamzat” and “Sultan Murad”, as the members of both factions were on high alert.
Meanwhile, a state of discontent was prevailing among people in the city and its countryside over the repeated infighting among Turkish-backed faction which mainly affected on civilians there.
Yesterday, SOHR sources said that clashes were taking place among Turkish-backed factions in Ras al-Ain countryside. The clashes resulted in the cutting off electricity supplies to Aluk station, while Turkish forces were seen on high alert there.
The lights were turned off at the border near Sherik village, from which military patrols are launched, to Arrad village in Abu Rasin countryside. Turkish forces also blocked roads near Tal Halaf village.
On the other hand, clashes were underway among Turkish-backed factions in several areas in Ras al-Ain countryside. According to Observatory sources, the clashes broke out after Turkish forces requested the handover of Aluk station to the regime and Russian forces, but their request was rejected by some factions, leading to the outbreak of clashes in several areas.
SOHR sources said that the clashes between Turkish-backed factions stopped hours after they erupted, as Ahrar al-Sharqiya brought in reinforcement and blocked all roads and entrances to Ras al-Ain city to stop clashes between Al-Hamzat and Sultan Murad factions.
SOHR sources said earlier that four Turkish-backed armed militiamen were killed in clashes between Al-Hamzat and Sultan Murad factions in Ras al-Ain (Sere Kaniye). Meanwhile, Turkish forces and civil police failed to stop this fight which renewed after both factions refused the conciliation.
According to Observatory sources, the dispute erupted over the seizure of a displaced person’s house in the city, which resulted in the killing of a “collaborator” with Al-Sultan Murad faction. The dispute evolved into armed clashes which left human and material losses. The clashes also resulted in cutting off the power line at the Aluk station as well as the damage of electrical conductors. SOHR activists also documented the killing of a girl due to fierce clashes between these factions.