The Syrian newspaper Al-Watan revealed that there are major differences between the Turkish government and Syrian factions, stating that Syrian fighters have started to disobey the “High Gate” – a term traditionally used to define the Ottoman empire’s government – headed by Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which the newspaper described as “the grandson of the new Ottomans.”
The Syrian newspaper, affiliated to the Assad regime, quoted a field source saying that the leaders of the “Eastern Army” faction, which is part of the first legion of the opposition-led and Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA), have now refused to follow the example of the Syrian militias of Turkmen origin by sending fighters to Libya.
The source confirmed the refusal of the Eastern Army, whose fighters come from the northeastern Syrian provinces, to fight in Libya in order to implement the agenda of Turkey’s intelligence body (MIT) and the presidency.
The source noted that following the armed groups’ refusal to give in to Turkish pressure by signing contracts to send hundreds of its militants to Libya, Ankara decided to suspend the salaries of the Eastern Army a few days before Eid al-Fitr.
The source also affirmed that the SNA’s dissolution is approaching due to the divisions between its various factions over the fighting in Libya, in addition to their setbacks and significant human losses in the Libyan battles which have further undermined their reputation.
