Two Turkish-backed factions unite in Syria’s Afrin
ALEPPO NORTHERN COUNTRYSIDE, Syria (North Press) – Two Turkish-backed Syrian armed factions announced, yesterday their integration into one new faction named “Hayat Thaeroon for Liberation”.
Both the Thaeroon Movement and Syrian Front for Liberation integrated in one body, an exclusive source told North Press.
The source said the former leader of Sultan Murad faction, Fahim Issa has been appointed as leader, the leader of al-Mu’tasem, Mu’tasem Abbas as the leader, and the leader of al-Hamza faction Saif Abu Bakr as the deputy of the new faction.
Thaeroon Movement was formed in October 2021, after the integration of Faylaq al-Sham, Sultan Murd , al-Muntaser Billah, Thuwar al-Sham factions, in addition to Liwa al-Shamal, Ninth Squad and Liwa 112.
In September 2021, the Syrian Front for Liberation was formed of the integration of Sultan Suleiman Shah, al-Hamza, al-Mu’tasem, Soqour al-Shamal and Squad 20, factions.
The Turkish-backed factions have united and renamed due to disagreements among them, changes in their bodies or due to escape liability of previous violence actions.
The city of Afrin and its villages, north of Aleppo, have been controlled by Turkish forces and the affiliated factions since March 2018.
Since then, the region has been witnessing ongoing security chaos accompanied by infighting among militants of the Turkish-backed factions, arrests, and kidnappings amid the factions’ disability to settle the security and spread safety.