Factional infighting escalates in northern Syria
Infighting continues among the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army factions in light of a power and influence struggle, conflict over crossings and smuggling corridors, and the lack of a unified military institution.
ALEPPO, Syria — Clashes and confrontations are taking place almost daily between the armed factions in the areas controlled by the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) in northern Syria. The instability ensuing from the infighting often take place inside cities and towns and between their residential neighborhoods, mainly in the cities of Jarablus, al-Bab, Afrin, Ras al-Ain, Azaz and others, has made their residents fearful.
On April 7, a number of civilians were wounded in the town of Bulbul, in the Afrin district in the northern countryside of Aleppo, as a result of sporadic clashes between a group affiliated with Faylaq al-Sham and another group affiliated with the Hamza Division, both FSA-affiliated.
Also on April 7, a clash erupted between a group affiliated with the Sultan Suleiman Shah Division and another group affiliated with the Hamza Division in the city of Ras al-Ain in the northern countryside of Hasakah, but no civilian casualties were reported.
On April 5, similar confrontations flared up between members of Faylaq al-Sham in the town of Maidanki, in the countryside of Afrin.
