Clashes erupt between members of Turkish-backed faction over seizing houses
ALEPPO NORTHERN COUNTRYSIDE, Syria (North Press) – Clashes, described as “fierce”, broke out yesterday between two groups of the Turkish-backed opposition Hamza Division after a dispute over seizing houses belongs to some IDPs in the village of Basouta in Afrin countryside, north of Aleppo, north Syria.
The areas held by the Turkish-backed opposition factions north of Aleppo witness continuous infighting between the factions, due to disputes over thefts and expanding power, amid a state of insecurity.
An armed group, led by Hazem al-Mar’i, affiliated with the Hamza Division, was ordered by its leader to cast out all the widows of the faction’s members from homes they had previously controlled after displacing the owners, a local source told North Press.
However, the decision was rejected by the widows’ relatives, who happen to be members of the same faction, which led to infighting in the village and later expanded to al-Ahlam mountain area, as each one of them tried to impose their decision over the other, the source added.
The source noted that the widows’ relatives had accused the group of working as thugs for other members in the same group by casting out families from their homes and give it to their fellow members.
Afrin has been under the control of Turkey and their affiliated armed opposition factions since March 2018.
Since then Afrin and its countryside have been witnessing a security chaos due to the constant infighting among these factions over the stolen goods and the extension of control, which often results in deaths and injuries.