The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

Feuding factions in Afrin | Clashes among Turkish-backed factions leave three civilians dead, including children

Aleppo Province – The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights:

The city of Afrin, which is under the control of Turkish-backed factions, is witnessing fierce clashes between “Al-Hamzat Division” and members of “Ahrar al-Sham” from Damascus’ Al-Ghouta. The clashes escalated as each side brought in military reinforcement, while Turkish-backed factions have cut off roads to Afrin and prevented the entry or exit from the city.

On the other hand, Al-Ghouta militants from “Ahrar al-Sham”, “Jaish al-Islam” and the 1st Division, in collaboration with other gunmen, were able to take over one of the headquarters of “Al-Hamzaat Division” and arrest its members. Meanwhile, these factions are still besieging several headquarters of Al-Hamzat in the area.

A gunman from Al-Ghouta was killed and others injured, while three members of “Al-Hamzaat Division” were killed.

Moreover, three people, including two children, were killed and six civilians, including three women, were injured in clashes and indiscriminate shootings.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitored earlier a fierce armed fight in the town of Afrin in north-western Aleppo countryside, between gunmen from “Al-Hamzaat Division” and displaced gunmen from eastern Al-Ghouta.

According to Observatory sources, the fighting followed an attempt by a military group affiliated with “Al-Hamzat Division” to rob a shop, the owner of which hails from the area of Irbin in eastern Ghouta. The gunmen tried to take some foodstuffs without paying, then escalated into clashes with machine guns, between the eastern Ghouta’s gunmen backed by some members of the Islamic faction “Ahrar al-Sham”, against members of “Al-Hamzat Division”, near Raju street in Afrin.