Member of opposition faction wounded in infighting in Afrin, north Aleppo

ALEPPO, Syria (North Press) – A member of the Turkish-backed Hamza faction was seriously wounded in violent clashes with gunmen from al-Mawali tribe in the city of Afrin, north of Aleppo.

“The reason for the clashes is due to a dispute between members of the Hamza faction and armed men from al-Mawali tribe over a farmland seized by al-Hamza faction in the village of Kfardali, of Jindires district, in the countryside of Afrin,” a private source told North Press.

Gunmen from al-Mawali tribe tried to seize a farmland planted with wheat, but members of al-Hamza faction prevented them to do so. The gunmen then fired explosive shots at the farmland, which set it on fire, the source added.

Following the incident, members of al-Hamza faction arrested armed gunmen from al-Mawali tribe, which was met by the mobilization of members of the tribe who established checkpoints at the western entrance to the city of Afrin, and arrested members of al-Hamza faction.

According to the source, a clash took place between the two parties, which led to the injury of a member of al-Hamzah faction seriously. He was transported to the Afrin Military Hospital.

Turkey has occupied the city of Afrin and its countryside since March 2018, following a military invasion by the Turkish forces and their affiliated SNA factions called “Olive Branch”. Since then, the region has gone through killing incidents, trees’ cutting and arrests.

Reporting by Farouq Hamo