Turkey seeks to sow discord between Arabs, Kurds in Deir ez-Zor – MFS
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – An official of the Syriac Military Council (MFS), affiliated with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), said on Monday that Turkey wants to sow discord between Arabs and Kurds in Deir ez-Zor Governorate, eastern Syria and spread fear among the people in northeast Syria.
Mattai Hanna, spokesperson of the MFS, said in a statement to Syriac Press that the Turkish-backed armed opposition, aka the Syrian National Army (SNA), escalated attacks on Manbij and the countryside Tel Tamr in tandem with the clashes that occurred in Deir ez-Zor Governorate, eastern Syria.
“Turkey is actively seeking to sow discord and create fear among the residents of North and East Syria. Concurrently, both Turkey and the Syrian regime are attempting to introduce subversive elements into areas controlled by the SDF in a bid to create divisions between Arabs and Kurds,” Hanna said.
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 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.
Hanna added that the MFS and the Tel Tamr Military Council repelled attempts by the SNA factions to infiltrate villages in the western countryside of Tel Tamr, northeastern Syria.
He stressed that the SDF consists of all communities of the region and added, “This unity has reinforced the values of interethnic solidarity and coexistence, enabling the defense of the region against ISIS terrorism through the sacrifices of martyrs from all backgrounds.”
The Syriac Military Council (MFS) is an Assyrian/Syriac military organization in Northeast Syria and part of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). It was founded in 2013 and aims to protect the Assyrian people and preserve their national rights in Syria. It operates in the densely populated Assyrian areas of Hasakah Governorate. The MFS is considered the military wing of the Syriac Union Party.