Turkish-backed factions withdraw from northeastern Syria
It appears that fear of accountability for past violations is pushing faction members to flee, highlighting the scale of crimes committed by these groups against civilians and fighters
April 10, 2025, 7:17 pm

Turkish-backed factions withdraw from northeastern Syria

الجيش الوطني السوري \ تعبيرية \ متداول

Observers from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that successive groups from the factions of "Ahrar al-Sharqiya," "Hamzat," "Sultan Murad," and "Malik Shah" left Ras al-Ain in the countryside of Hasakah aboard buses, heading toward Tell Abyad and then into Turkish territory.

These sudden movements reveal internal instability within these militias, long accused of systematic abuses against civilians in their areas of control, including looting, extortion, and imposing levies.

The buses are transporting fighters from both the first and second ranks of these military formations, with uncertainty surrounding the real motives behind these urgent relocations and their final destination, which remains unknown.

These rapid withdrawals highlight a crisis of trust between these factions and their Turkish backers, suggesting fundamental shifts in Turkey's policy toward its military proxies in northern Syria.

Simultaneously, Tell Abyad is witnessing continuous withdrawals of "Syrian National Army" members along with their families toward Turkish territory, with no clear reasons disclosed.

What raises further questions is the timing of these withdrawals, especially amid reports of regional negotiations happening behind closed doors, which might lead to a redrawing of influence zones in northern Syria.

According to information obtained by the Syrian Observatory, a segment of these fighters is heading towards SDF-controlled areas before moving on to their original hometowns.

This behavior reflects the failure of the "Syrian National Army" project in establishing a cohesive military force, as its factions have turned into opportunistic groups acting based on narrow self-interests, causing them to lose credibility among the local population.

Yesterday, Syrian Observatory monitors reported that 14 officials and members of Turkish-backed armed factions left the "Peace Spring" zone in northern Syria, heading to their hometowns inside Syria through Turkish territory.

These consecutive developments confirm the existence of deep fractures within these militias, which have relied on external support while lacking a clear national vision beyond submission to regional agendas.

According to sources, these commanders and fighters were fearful of entering SDF-controlled areas due to their involvement in previous violations, including the killing of several SDF members in the region.

Revelation of Israeli-Turkish Talks in Azerbaijan Refusing to return… Jaafari chooses asylum in Russia instead of going back to Damascus

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”