Faction mobilization in Syria’s Afrin due to defections and weapons smuggling
ALEPPO NORTHERN COUNTRYSIDE, Syria (North Press) – The Sheikh Hadid district of Afrin countryside, northern Syria, witnessed widespread mobilization, yesterday, against the backdrop of the defection of a group affiliated with the Turkish-backed faction of Sultan Suleiman Shah, known as al-Amshat, due to a dispute over the sharing of weapons smuggling profits.
An informed source told North Press that the reasons for the defection were due to a dispute over the weapons and drug trade and the sharing of its profits between the group and the faction leadership represented by Muhammad al-Jassem known as Abu Amsha.
Weapons and drugs are smuggled into Turkey and Libya through the Syrian-Turkish border, according to the source.
The areas held by the Turkish-backed factions, north of Aleppo, are witnessing frequent defections from armed opposition blocs and factions due to differences among them.
The city of Afrin and its villages have been controlled by Turkish forces and the affiliated factions since March 2018.
The Afrin region has been witnessing cases of killing, kidnapping and arrest, in addition to frequent bombings, amid the inability of the factions controlling it to settle the security in the region.