Fierce clashes continue for hours between Hamza Division (Hamzat) and Jaysh al-Islam (JaI) in Efrîn. 2 civilians dead & several of the fighters.
The fighting is apparently stated over a sum of 300 Syrian lira, $0.16.
The fighting is apparently stated over a sum of 300 Syrian lira, $0.16.
A group of Hamzat fighters walked into a shop in Efrîn run by a man displaced from Ghouta. They asked to purchase something for 300 lira on credit. The owner of the shop refused. In response, the Hamzat shot up the place & tossed a grenade, killing the shop owner & his son
In a pattern of civilians turning to the protection of "their" faction, Jaysh al-Islam (from Ghouta) intervened & attempted to apprehend the Hamzat fighters. The Hamzat fled into the old Asayiş station in the area and barricaded themselves. Then the fighting started in earnest.
I previously documented infighting over a faucet between the Turkish-backed factions and thought that would be an all-time low, but this round of bloody clashes over $0.16 breaks the record.
More on the Turkish-backed factions nybooks.com/daily/2019/11/…
More on the Turkish-backed factions nybooks.com/daily/2019/11/…
Another child was killed due to a stray bullet in the ongoing clashes in Efrîn. 3 civilians dead because of $0.16.
The only visible attempt Turkey has made in ensuring law and order in the areas it occupies in Syria is the creation of the Military Police, but the force is poorly armed, underpaid & is full of criminals itself, according to members of the MP with whom I spoke.
The Hamzat used the old Asayiş building as an illegal detention center. Jaysh al-Islam torched the center & Military Police went in. According to sources in the military police, they found 11 female detainees, 10 of them Kurdish & 6 men, 1 of them elderly.
The detainees were not charged with any crime and the faction denied holding them upon inquiry. At times, such kidnappings are intended to extract ransom from relatives. Female detainees are sometimes raped.
Some of the young Kurdish women held by the Hamzat in their Efrîn black site without trial, while lying to their families and saying they were taken to Turkey to stand trial.
Multiple such black sites of various factions exist across Efrîn. Detainees are routinely tortured.
Multiple such black sites of various factions exist across Efrîn. Detainees are routinely tortured.
