The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

In the presence of high-profile figures of “Interim Government” and “National Army” | Al-Hamza Division unveils homemade armoured vehicle “Thunder” in northern Aleppo

Aleppo Governorate – Syrian Observatory for Human Rights:

Reliable sources have informed the Syrian Observatory that the so-called Special Forces of al-Hamza Division of the Ankara-backed National Army have completed the manufacture of an “armoured vehicle” called “Ra’ad” (Thunder).

The new National Army’s armoured vehicle was unveiled today, with a ceremony and the presence of high-profile figures from the “Syrian Interim Government”, led by the prime minister and several ministers, as well as political leaders and military leaders of the factions of the National Army. It is worth noting that in July 2019 Al-Hamza Division launched an armored vehicle under the name “Al-Fahd”.

On December 4, Al-Hamza Division which operates under the banner of the Turkish-backed “Syrian National Army” 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.