Meet the former US-supported FSA, now Turkish-backed FSA, who are committing the same war crimes in Syria they’ve been for years.
The Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) has neutralized one of its formations, the so-called 23rd Division, Syrian opposition sources reported on August 8.
The SNA’s 3rd Corps led a large attack on the 23rd Division headquarters and positions in Afrin city and the town of Azaz in northern Aleppo. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the division’s leaders, including the General-Commander, were arrested by the SNA.
Opposition sources said the offensive was carried out by the al-Shamiya Front, a formation of the 3rd Corps. However, this was denied by the SNA.
Serageldin al-Omar, head of the 3rd Corps’ media office, told Enab Baladi that the 23rd Division was neutralized on the basis of an executive order by the corps.
“The Corps decision was the result of lawsuits against the 23rd Division and some administrative corruption,” al-Omar told Enab Baladi.
The SNA’s 3rd Corps and the al-Shamiya Front themselves are infamous for their corruption and involvement in criminal activities in Turkish-occupied areas in northern and northeastern Syria. This rises serious questions about the real motives behind the neutralization of the 23rd Division.
Disagreements related to criminal activities are behind most of the SNA’s conflicts. The Turkish-backed coalition often attempts to present these conflicts as a “war on corruption” in its ranks.
Regarding the pic in the article, I see this distinctive style of blade being sported in the middle east fairly often… anyone know what it’s called?
Al-Shamiya Front was sent in to finish the job properly were they, and they have the famous head choppers Nour al Zinki heading the operations, maybe that’s why they have the photo of the terrorist brandishing a sinister looking blade, maybe it’s a stern warning to all the dissenters. And who knows, maybe it’s the same sort of blade [or maybe even the very same blade] they used to chop the 10 year old Palestinian boys head off way back in 2016, I could check the video to find out but it was way too gruesome to watch the first time so I don’t think I’ll try. Turkey/SNA denied Nour al Zinkis [3rd corps] involvement in the operation and I think I know why they did, Nour al Zinki don’t make very appealing adverts, the adverts Nour al Zinki make are way too gruesome for most people and actually put them off, not make them want to join, that’s unless you like watching a bunch of fully grown men laugh maniacally as they chop a 10 year old boys head off, OMG. If you’re not totally loyal to Erdogan and the Turkish backed Syrian Interim government, Nour al Zinki is coming to chop your head off now.
HTS gave Nour al Zinki a good thrashing back in january and booted them out of all their territory, now they’re allied to Turkey and the Syrian interim Government, so Erdogan pays them now. The Saudis and US used to fund/support/ supply them until they started amassing way too many atrocities to cover up, and they were dumped/sacked, but Erdogan has no such qualms, he’s more than happy to take up exactly where the Saudis and US left off.
The independent terrorist organizations only have 2 choices left, it’s either the HTS supported Salvation Government or it’s the Turkish backed Syrian Interim Government, their options are very limited. And both those groups are now telling all the independents/undecided to pick a side, so that’s exactly what Nour al Zinki are doing now, telling the 23rd corps to pick a side. I’m hoping the 23rd corps all go straight to HTS instead buckling in to the Turkish backed Syrian Interim Government, that’d really piss Erdogan off.