Illustrative image.
On November 12, heavy clashes broke out between militants of the Ahrar al-Sham Movement and others from the Hamzah Division in the town of Kurkan in the southern part of the Turkish-occupied Syrian area of Afrin.
The clashes broke out when militants of Ahrar al-Sham attacked the Hamza Division’s positions in Kurkan following a disagreement over stolen goods. Ahrar al-Sham took over the town. However, Hamaz Divison militants are still present in its outskirts.
According to Syrian opposition activists, a militant of Aharar al-Sham and another of the Hamza Division were killed during the clashes in Kurkan. Up to eight other militants from both groups were wounded.
عفرين
مق.تل مسلحين2 وجرح 1 جراء إشتباكات بين عصابات الحمزة وعصابات أحرار الشام المواليين لتركيا في مدينة عفرين شمال حلب. pic.twitter.com/2X11CBoT1A
— ملك السلطنه (@jamlyyyyy_) February 12, 2022
The Ahrar al-Sham Movement and the Hamza Division are both key factions of the Syrian National Army, which was established in 2017 with direct support from Turkey.
Such confrontations are quite common in Turkish-occupied areas in northern and northeastern Syria. In most cases, personal disagreements over criminal activities, such as looting, ransom kidnaping and drug trafficking, are behind these confrontations.
Turkey has been doing nothing to secure and stabilize the Syrian areas occupied by its forces and proxies. Ankara’s only concern in Syria appears to be Kurdish forces.
The best news