TEL TAMR (North Press) – The regional and international fight for influence in the town of Tel Tamr, 40 km north of the city of Hasakah, northeastern Syria, are clear on the ground, while local residents say they have lost confidence in the rival forces which seek to expand their influence and interests on the Syrian territory.
Tel Tamr has a population of about 25,000 people, and is 30 km away from the Syrian-Turkish border.
It is of strategic importance as it is a junction on the M4 Highway linking the Jazira region in the northeast of the country to Aleppo Governorate in the northwest.
Five armies
In addition to military formations within the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Syrian government-backed points, there are Turkish, Russian, and American military forces in the vicinity of the town.
Residents and observers believe that the intersection of the major forces in this region is aimed at sharing influence, as they have not reached solutions in the near term since its actual entry as mediators or supporters of other forces in the Syrian arena.
“The strategic importance of Tel Tamr made it the focus of attention of all these forces, and it will be a strong pressure card on the negotiating table in favor of the dominant force on the town,” said Stalin Oso, journalist in a local TV channel.
Oso linked the importance of the town with the presence of Christian minorities on the banks of the Khabour River, especially the Assyrian community, “the importance of the presence of Christian minorities for each of these forces, comes to show themselves in front of the public opinion as a protector of minorities.”
Oso believed that the repeated efforts of the Turkish-backed armed opposition groups and Turkish military to control the town, are to secure their control over the Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ain) area, and to cut off supplies coming from Hasakah towards the town of Abu Rasin, in addition to the ability to monitor the aid provided by the US-led Global Coalition to the SDF.
Also, Oso considered that Tel Tamr is “important” for Russia, which wants to have a center of influence on all forces in this “strategic area.”
“The force that will control the town, will almost completely control the entire Hasakah governorate,” Oso added.
Turkey’s moves with its armed groups towards the town started after their incursion into the region in October 2019, following battles with the SDF and the withdrawal of the American forces, which prompted Russian and government forces to position in Tel Tamr after agreements with the other forces.
While the American forces found a foothold in the town through their patrols to limit the Russian expansion in the area, which caused a confrontation between the patrols of the two forces from time to time, in a scene that has become familiar to local residents.
Picture 2: Russian reinforcements on M4 Highway heading towards its main base in Qamishli Airport
Clashes despite coordination
Despite all the issued statements by the American and Russian administrations in northeastern Syria, regarding the bilateral coordination to prevent any possible confrontation, but the scene of curbing patrols by both forces showed clear disputes over sharing influence in the area.
North Press was unable to get any statements from either parties regarding the coordination mechanism between them.
Inside Tel Tamr, local Christian forces are operating in order to protect the area from the risk of any potential offensives by Turkish-backed armed opposition groups.
Aram Hana, the spokesman of the Syriac Military Council, told North Press that they are in good relationships with all parties except for the Turkish army and its backed opposition groups in order to “create a balance and prevent possible clashes.”
Hanna stressed that the Syriac Military Forces that numbered thousands, “are working hard to protect the area from any threat to the security of the residents, and that the region was relatively stable, despite some threats and attacks on the front lines.”
Lack of confidence
In the light of the repeated targeting on the populated villages and the Syrian government points on the frontlines northwest Tel Tamr by the Turkish army and its backed armed opposition groups, the displaced people lost confidence in the American and Russian troops.
Near the Russian base in Mabaqer Station north of the town, Hajji Atono, a displaced from Afrin that has been under the control of Turkey and its backed opposition groups since 2018, was wandering within a greenhouse project, which he was supervising.
“All the opposing forces in Tel Tamr are untrusted, they abandoned the Kurds and left the people of the area alone to face the Turkish offensives,” Atono said.
“We call on the international community to secure our rights of a safe life and put an end to the wars that have taxed us for years,” he added.
Ms. Jinar Youssef, a resident from the town, agreed with Atono about the lack of confidence in the opposing forces in Tel Tamr.
“All are involved in their own interests at the expense of ours. They do not protect us for ourselves,” she said.
Youssef expressed her fears of new confrontations among the forces present on the ground which may lead to new waves of displacement as what happened in other Syrian occupied areas.