The Turkish-backed Syrian Council of Tribes and Clans has replaced four of its representatives at the National Coalition for Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces (commonly known as the Syrian National Coalition). The request coincides with the upcoming internal elections of the Syrian National Council in July. 

The council decided June 12 to replace Amer al-Bashir, Hakem al-Shayesh, Mohammed al-Saleh and Rami al-Dush with four new members, Faisal al-Sultan, Jihad al-Mar’i, Hamida al-Tahry and Ibrahim Ibrahim Basha.

According to the Syrian National Coalition’s bylaws, any component of the coalition has the right to appoint or replace its own representatives within the coalition.

The Syrian Council of Tribes and Clans recently intensified its activities as it held two General Assembly meetings in the past six months, pointing to a growing Turkish interest in it. It seems Turkey is seeking to push the council’s current head, Salem al-Maslat, to become the new president of the Syrian National Council in the upcoming elections. This comes as the current head of the Syrian National Coalition, Nasr al-Hariri, announced June 2 that he will not be running for a second term.