State of alertness and tension in Afrin | Al-Jabha Al-Shamiya withdraws its military columns, north-west of Aleppo

Aleppo Province – Syrian Observatory for Human Rights:

Reliable sources have informed SOHR that the Turkish-backed Al-Jabha Al-Shamiya has withdrawn the military columns it has brought in during the last hours to the town of Afrin in north-western Aleppo countryside. The columns were withdrawn, but a state of alertness continues significantly by the faction. This comes in light of the ongoing military alert of many factions loyal to Ankara in the region.

Yesterday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitored a high military alert by Turkish-backed factions, and military reinforcement of the Al-Jabha Al-Shamiya, Ahrar al-Sham and Ahrar al-Sharqiya in the area of Janderas, against the groups of Sultan Murad, Al-Amshat and al-Hamza Division, whose forces were also mobilized in Deir Sawan area in Afrin countryside, amid preparations for factional clashes, coinciding with tension in the region for hours.

Reliable sources in the Turkish-controlled canton of Afrin have informed SOHR that several Turkish-backed factions, including Ahrar Al-Sham, Sultan Murad, Ahrar Al-Sharqiyyah and Al-Jabha Al-Shamiyyah, are planting Hashish in Afrin countryside in north-western Aleppo.

According to SOHR sources, the planting of Hashish is taking place in large spaces in Maydan Ikbis, Kharab Saluk and Sawarka all of which are affiliated to Raju district with no body to deter these factions.

SOHR activists monitored earlier Turkish-backed factions in “Olive Branch” and “Euphrates Shield” areas were being put on high alert, following announcement by Minister of Defence of the “Interim Government” about a large-scale security campaign with the aim of tearing out the “terrorist cells”, as it described. Factions of the “National Army” established a large number of military checkpoint at the entrances of Al-Bab, Azaz and Afrin cities, amid hectic movements by patrols and militiamen in the region.

Yesterday, SOHR sources monitored large armed military columns belonging to Turkish-backed factions, roaming the streets of cities and towns of the north and east Aleppo countryside.