National Army denies knowledge of forming new armed group in Syria’s Afrin
AFRIN, Syria (North Press) – A military source from the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) denied on Saturday, the validity of the coordination between the Army and the newly-formed group of Ahrar Souriya Movement (Free Syria Movement).
“The General Staff or the SNA groups have no knowledge of the matter at all,” the source said.
Hasan al-Kelle, leader of the SNA Soqour Didan group, announced on Friday, the formation of a new armed group under the name of Ahrar Souriya Movement in Afrin, northwestern Syria.
In a statement published on media, al-Kelle said that the new group was formed in coordination with the SNA leaders.
“The group is independent, does not belong to the National Army and supported by Turkey, and it includes all sects of Syrians in the region.”
“Any group formation outside the framework of the National Army is considered a breach and cannot be allowed as a matter of public interest and the requirements on the ground at the present time,” he added.
The Ahrar Souriya Movement includes several brigades, the most important of which are Sultan Bayazid Brigade, Sultan Ghazi Brigade, Bayanoun Martyrs Brigade, and the Soqour Didan Brigade, which is the core of the movement.
The group consists of approximately 28,000 fighters from all the formations that have defected from the SNA and joined the Movement.
The Movement also includes female members.
In a statement on May 6, the dissident Brigadier General Zaher al-Saket announced that a new formation “will appear in northwestern Syria.”
The Turkish invasion of Afrin in March 2018 led to the displacement of more than 300,000 indigenous people, and the settlement of thousands of families of the Syrian opposition groups in their homes and lands.
Afrin is one of the most important Syrian regions for olive growing, where the number of olive trees until the end of 2017 reached more than 18 million, 16 million of which were productive, according to the approved toll by Autonomous Administration in Afrin at the time.