With salary of 25,000 SYL | Tens of people join NDF in Al-Hasakah, fleeing from mandatory conscription in regime military

Al-Hasakah Province – Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: Reliable sources in Al-Hasakah province have informed SOHR that the “National Defence Forces” (NDF) have graduated a new military batch, in the presence of military and local bodies in Al-Hasakah. The new batch comprises nearly 80 fighters who have volunteered in the ranks of NDF, with a monthly salary of 25,000 SYL each. According to SOHR sources, the recently-graduated fighters have been distributed to NDF posts in Al-Qamishli city and countryside. SOHR sources have also confirmed that these fighters have joined NDF in order to avoid being driven to compulsory and reserve service in the Syrian regime’s military, as many of them are wanted for military service.

 

On April 1, SOHR sources reported that the Syrian regime-held areas in both the cities of al-Hasaka and al-Qamishli were witnessing an ongoing Russian-Iranian conflict as part of the cold war between the two sides in various Syrian regions, to wrest absolute control of the territory. SOHR sources reported that recruitment operations of young and adult men by pro-Iranian militias, led by “Liwa Fatemiyoun”, continued in full swing in al-Qamishli and al-Hasaka.

 

According to SOHR sources, the number of recruits since mid-January to date has reached 710, 315 of whom are ex-NDF fighters and commanders, while 395 are civilians and fighters of several tribes, including Al-Ubayd, Yassar, Hareeth, Bani Sab’a and Al-Sharayeen. In order to attract more people, “Liwa Fatemiyoun” offers financial incentives and relatively high monthly salaries in light of the poor living conditions. On the other hand, the new recruits undergo training in camps in Tartab Brigade in southern Al-Qamishli.

 

Moreover, an Iranian person called “Haj Ali” and a former commander of the “National Defence Forces” (NDF) known by his initials as “M.W.” supervise the recruitment operations in the region. It is worth noting that a large number of NDF fighters has joined “Liwa Fatemiyoun”.

 

Meanwhile, Russia is trying to compete with Iranians for influence in the region by attracting tribesmen to counter Iranian influence and weaken SDF.