The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

After releasing him from SDF prisons by mediation of the International Coalition, the commander of Thowwar al-Raqqah Brigade, Abu Issa, denies his arrest in conjunction with preparations for handing him over the command of a military regiment

Al-Raqqah Province, the Syrian Observatory for Human rights: the founder and commander of Thowwar al-Raqqah Brigade, Abu Issa, which fights under the banner of the Syria Democratic Forces; came out in a video, a copy of which was received by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, declaring that he was not arrested by the Syria Democratic Forces in al-Raqqah city, without mentioning the arrest of hundreds of members of his Brigade in a security operation by the SDF Forces in al-Raqqah city and around it, where Abu Issa, the commander of Thowwar al-Raqqah Brigade denied that after more than 72 hours of being released by forces of the Syria Democratic Forces, through mediation by officials in the International Coalition Forces.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights published on the 3rd of July 2018 that the commander of Thowwar al-Raqqah brigade, known also Abu Issa, days after arresting him, the reliable sources confirmed to the Syrian Observatory that the release of Abu Issa followed a mediation by officials in the International Coalition Forces, where preparations are under way for handing over the command of a military regiment in al-Tabaqa are to Abu Issa, al-Tabaqa area is located in the western sector of the countryside of al-Raqqah, also Abu Issa participated with Thowwar al-Raqqah in clashes alongside the Syria Democratic Forces in several areas east of Euphrates River, before he have differences with the command of the Syria Democratic Forces, while the fate of about 700 members of Thowwar al-Raqqah brigades who were arrested by SDF remains uncertain, after a SDF mobilized their members and started a security operation inside al-Raqqah city and in farms surrounding it.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights published on the 24th of June 2018 that about 5000 members of the security forces, the Syria Democratic Forces, and intelligence members arrived during the hours of last night to al-Raqqah, and surrounded the city and spread in its roads, public squares, and alleys, and then this morning they started to carry out raids, after which they have arrested more than 200 members of Thowwar al-Raqqah Brigade, after carrying out raids on headquarters and houses inside al-Raqqah city and on its outskirts, while the raids and clashes resulted in the death of 4 fighters of the Syria Democratic Forces, while 7 others were injured in these clashes.

While the Syria Democratic Forces justified its alert and curfew they imposed; by saying that they received information that sleeper cells have entered al-Raqqah city to launch an attack and carry out retaliatory operations inside the city and spread chaos, while this alert came after the series of targeting by unknown gunmen for the Syria Democratic Forces; inside al-Raqqah city, its surroundings and its countryside, through bombings and shootings that targeted their members, which killed and injured several them, while the Syrian Observatory published yesterday morning, Sunday, that Thowwar al-Raqqah Brigade issued a statement and the Syrian Observatory received a copy of it, it says:

“Our headquarters in al-Raqqah city and its surroundings are under a treacherous operation by the militia of SDF, during which SDF militia have surrounded our headquarters with members and heavily armed vehicles, we calling upon the International Coalition Forces and especially the United States of America to intervene immediately to stop this treacherous aggression, and we hold them fully responsible for any consequences caused by this operation, and we call upon our people in al-Raqqah to take a real and serious stand with their brothers in Thowwar al-Raqqah Brigade to stand up against SDF and against their repressive and oppressive practices.”, while the Syrian Observatory published on the 27th of May 2018 that areas in Al-Raqqah city have been witnessing tension between the Syria Democratic Forces supported by the International Coalition on one hand, and Liwaa Thowwar Al-Raqqah on the other, since today evening, Sunday the 27th of May 2018, amid mobilizations by each party in the area, accompanied by the sound of sporadic gunfire, amid a demonstration which went out in al-Rumaila neighborhood in the city, in an attempt to prevent the SDF from arresting a commander in Thowwar al-Raqqah Brigade, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights learned that the International Coalition’s forces have intervened to settle the ongoing dispute between the SDF and Thowwar al-Raqqah Brigade.