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Clashes turn tribal between Turkish-backed opposition factions

The Turkish-backed opposition factions are trying to portray their conflicts as tribal in a bid to absolve themselves of the violations committed in the area.

Syrian Kurdish and Arab families are pictured fleeing in the countryside of the town of Darbasiyah.
Syrian Kurdish and Arab families are pictured fleeing in the countryside of the town of Darbasiyah, on the border between Syria and Turkey, towards the town of Hasakah on Oct. 22, 2019. — DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP via Getty Images

Armed clashes with heavy machine guns and RPGs erupted May 24 within the scope of renewed infighting between members of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA). The dispute is traced back to a tribal revenge case in the area that culminated into armed clashes expanding in most of the neighborhoods of Ras al-Ain in the Hasakah countryside. 

The armed confrontation went on until noon May 25. A man named Mohammed Al-Awad Al-Daar from the Al-Akidat tribe was killed. He was shot by Khaled Al-Abdullah, a member of the Al-Mawali tribe, under the umbrella of the SNA-affiliated Thairun Movement in Ras Al-Ain. Abdullah was reportedly avenging his brother, who was killed 10 days ago by a person affiliated with Al-Qaraab clan, a branch of the Al-Akidat tribe.

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