The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

SOHR exclusive | Corruption in former command of Magahwir Al-Thawra behind conflict between supporters and opponents of decision discharging “Muhanad Al-Tallaa”

Protests continue near Al-Tanf garrison against the International Coalition’s decision, according to which “Mohamad Farid Al-Qasim” was appointed as the leader of Jaysh Maghawir Al-Thawra instead of Colonel “Muhanad Ahmed Al-Tallaa.” In this context, SOHR sources reported several protests in the past few days staged by tens of civilians and combatants of the faction near the Coalition’s base near the Syria-Jordan-Iraqi border triangle in the 55 kilometre de-confliction zone in the Syrian desert.

 

On the other hand, a large number of civilians and members of the faction support the decision and have expressed their rejection of retaining “Al-Tallaa” in his position, as the leader of the faction, accusing him of “involving in many cases of corruption.”

 

Reliable SOHR sources have reported that the former command of Jaysh Maghawir Al-Thawra, led by “Muhanad Ahmed Al-Tallaa,” is accused of “committing crimes against civilians, including arbitrary arrests, imposition of levies, setting fire to houses and trigger panic among the area’s residents. SOHR sources have confirmed that most of those who oppose the decision of discharging “Al-Tallaa” are drug dealers, who had dealt with “Al-Tallaa,” as he sold narcotics to those dealers and, ironically, arrested drug abusers.

 

According to SOHR sources, one of the individuals organising protests against the Coalition’s claims that he is the head of a “local council,” although there are no any local councils in this area. This man was implicated in an earlier murder, when he killed an employee in charge of water affairs, who worked for “Better World Foundation,” with the aim of enabling the faction to dominate water sources in the area and receiving a salary.

 

SOHR sources have also confirmed that everyone in that region is aware of the corruption practiced by the former command. However, no one dared to talk about this corruption because of the predominance of the former command which might have punished everyone opposing the faction or attempting to disclose crimes and violations it had committed.

 

Observatory sources have clarified that there are some people opposing the decision of appointing “Mohamad Farid Al-Qasim” as the leader of Jaysh Maghawir Al-Thawra, but they also do not want “Al-Tallaa” to be maintained in this position. The sources added that most of those people, mostly from Al-Qaryatayn city which is the hometown of “Al-Qasim,” have had personal disputes and factional rivalries with “Al-Qasim.”

 

On September 29, SOHR sources reported that tens of residents gathered near Al-Tanf garrison at Syria-Iraq-Jordan border triangle in the 55 kilometre de-conflicting zone, through which protestors expressed their rejection of the Coalition’s decision and called upon the command of the International Coalition in the base to appoint any other officer from Jaysh Maghawir Al-Thawra instead of “Mohamad Farid Al-Qasim.”

 

While on September 27, SOHR sources reported that an International Coalition warplane flew over Al-Tanf garrison of US forces, at the Syrian-Jordanian-Iraqi border, breaking the sound barrier to disperse the protestors as they approached Al- Tanaf base, to protest against the appointment of the new commander of Jayish Maghaweer Al-Thawrah, in place of Colonel Muhannad Ahmad Al-Tallaa.

 

Also, on September 24, reliable sources informed SOHR that the US Central Command discharged the commander of Jaysh Maghawir Al-Thawra, Colonel “Muhanad Ahmed Al-Tallaa,” and appointed “Mohamad Farid Al-Qasim” as successor to “Al-Tallaa.”