afrinpost – Special
Our correspondent in Afrin reported that intense clashes broke out today between the Turkish-backed militias “Ahrar al-Sharqiya” and the “Hamza Division” in the occupied city of Afrin and the village of Hammam in Jindires district, Afrin countryside. The fighting resulted in the deaths of three members of “Ahrar al-Sharqiya” and one member of the “Hamza Division.”
According to our correspondent, the clashes started due to disputes over the seizure of real estate properties belonging to Kurdish citizens near the new local council building. “Ahrar al-Sharqiya,” led by commander Mustafa al-Kahm, stormed the headquarters of the “Hamza Division,” led by commander Abu Malik al-Diri, after a group from “Ahrar al-Sharqiya” defected and joined the “Hamza Division,” refusing to hand over the properties.
Supported by the militia “Sultan Suleiman Shah Division – Al-Amshat,” the “Hamza Division” managed to take control of “Ahrar al-Sharqiya” headquarters in Afrin after receiving significant military reinforcements. They also seized the gas station checkpoint at the Amara junction on the Afrin-Rajo road and sent large reinforcements to Hammam village to storm “Ahrar al-Sharqiya” positions, leading to fierce clashes that ended with the joint force’s control of the Hammam crossing with Turkey.
Tensions also spread to the Rajo district, where “Ahrar al-Sharqiya” mobilized its forces and instructed residents of the villages under its control to stay indoors, while the Hamza forces shelled an “Ahrar al-Sharqiya” checkpoint at the entrance of Rajo town.
The clashes further extended to the occupied city of Jindires, where the militia of Jaish Al-Sharqiya, allied with “Ahrar al-Sharqiya,” directly engaged a military convoy from the “Sultan Suleiman Shah Division” heading to support the “Hamza Division” in Afrin. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) intervened in the clashes in favor of the Al-Amshat forces.
In Afrin city, the fighting led to the closure of shops and markets amidst escalating violence between the warring militias, who used mortar shells and RPGs in combat. This resulted in a fire in a residential building near the amusement park, injuring four civilians.
It is worth noting that HTS forces are reportedly moving towards Al-Ghazawiya crossing to intervene in the ongoing conflict.
Additionally, the towns of Jarablus and al-Rai in northeastern Aleppo countryside saw significant military mobilization by “Ahrar al-Sharqiya” and Deir ez-Zor tribes, who are sending large reinforcements to Afrin to support their factions.
