The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

Committed heinous violations and recruited mercenaries | Al-Hamza Division establishes new military post near Syria-Turkey border

Aleppo Province – Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: Al-Hamza Division which operates under the banner of the Turkish-backed “Syrian National Army” has held an opening ceremony of a new military post dubbed “Martyr Yasser Abu al-Sheikh” in the “Special Forces” centre in Hawar Kilis area on the Turkey border in northern the countryside of Aleppo. It is worth noting that both the head and the defense minister of the “Syrian Interim Government” attended the opening ceremony.

 

During the opening ceremony, the National Army celebrated the graduation of a new military batch comprising 150 fighters in the presence of commanders of the Turkish-backed National Army and the leader of Al-Hamza Division, Saif Abu Bakr. According to SOHR sources, the new military post is the first one of its kind in areas under the control of Turkish forces and their proxy factions in the northern and eastern countryside of Aleppo.

 

The recent-established post is tasked of graduating batches of “Special Forces” after fighters undergo training courses of raids inside cities and buildings. The post also contains a military training faculty with all types of military equipment available.

 

Al-Hamza Division is the most influential formation of the Turkish-backed factions in Afrin, while the division’s headquarters are concentrated in Beza’a town and Al-Bab city in the north-eastern Aleppo.it is worth noting that Al-Hamza Division had committed heinous violations against civilians in the areas of “Euphrates Shield”, “Peace Spring” and “Olive Branch”, where the division’s members kidnapped civilians and asked for ransoms in return for releasing them, in addition to looting civilians’ properties in these areas.

 

Moreover, the Turkish-backed Al-Hamza Division has recruited hundreds of fighters, turning them into mercenaries in order to fight on the side of the Turkish government in Libya and Azerbaijan.