Tribal leaders in Syria’s Manbij reject politicizing role of tribes
MANBIJ, Syria (North Press) – Tribal leaders and notables of Manbij and its countryside in northern Syria condemned in a statement on Saturday attempts by external parties to politicize the role of the tribes following the recent attacks on Deir ez-Zor.
On Aug. 27, the SDF launched a military operation called “Security Reinforcement” with the support of the US-led Global Coalition on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River, specifically in Deir ez-Zor, “to eradicate Islamic State (ISIS) sleeper cells, pursue criminals responsible for perpetrating injustices against the local population, and to track down smugglers who exploit the populace’s livelihoods.”
On Aug. 30, the SDF announced the dismissal of commander of Deir ez-Zor Military Council, Ahmad al-Khabil, known as Abu Khawla, from duty, for his involvement “in multiple crimes and violations, including communication and coordination with external entities hostile to the revolution, committing criminal offenses and engaging in drug trafficking, mismanaging of the security situation, his negative role in increasing the activities of ISIS cells,” according to the SDF.
The operation led to the eruption of clashes between the SDF and gunmen affiliated with the dismissed leader and with Nawaf al-Bashir, leader of al-Baggara tribe and a pro-Iranian figure whose groups are active in the western bank of the Euphrates which is under the control of the Syrian government forces and Iranian-backed militias.
The statement was read by Khaled al-Ajour, one of the notables of al-Bobanna tribe in Manbij, with several tribal leaders and notables in attendance in the building of the Civil Administration of Manbij.
The notables condemned the shelling and attacks on villages in the northern countryside of Manbij by the Turkish-backed armed opposition factions, aka the Syrian National Army (SNA), which resulted in the killing of five children.
Al-Ajour said the recent attacks that killed five children are condemnable by all international customs.
On Friday, SNA militants launched an attack against the northern and western countryside of Manbij region in northern Syria and killed five children.