Betrayal and Corruption Plague Syrian Opposition Army
Accusations against the al-Muatasim Brigade suggest a shift from a revolutionary military faction to a private security company, building a colossal financial empire through the smuggling and sale of high-quality American weapons
The military council affiliated with the Syrian National Army in northern Syria issued a statement late Thursday announcing the removal of the commander of the “al-Muatasim Brigade,” Mustafa Sijri, accusing him of “treason, corruption, abuse of power, theft of revolution funds, and public money,” and his arrest and referral for internal investigation, in a new conflict between military factions in northern Syria, which has recurred multiple times over the past years.
The commander of the military brigade, Mustafa Sijri, stated in the removal statement that the decision was made after “discovering the largest financial and moral corruption file in the history of the Syrian revolution, involving the named Abu al-Abbas (al-Muatasim) and his brothers.” However, later, it was posted on his Telegram account a post indicating a reversal of the situation and the release of Abbas, with a reverse warrant for the arrest of Sijri and his companions.
Alaa al-Din Ayyoub, also known as “Al-Farouq Abu Bakr,” another leader in the military council, stated in an audio recording that al-Muatasim turned the brigade into an investment company, fabricating charges against his rivals, in addition to looting real estate and properties under the banner of the “revolution.”
He added that al-Muatasim attempted to facilitate the entry of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which militarily controls Idlib, into the city of Maraa, ignoring advice that the entry of “Hayat Tahrir al-Sham” would be disastrous, and attempted to receive a million US dollars from the leader of “Hayat Tahrir al-Sham,” Abu Muhammad al-Jolani, but Abu Bakr and Sijri prevented and hindered that.
Abu Bakr also stated that al-Muatasim attempted to coordinate with “Tahrir al-Sham” to carry out assassinations of military leaders and civilians from Maraa under the pretext that they were evil and corrupt, claiming he had witnesses and a list of the planned executions. He clarified that the attempt to rectify what al-Muatasim and the brigade had done had failed, noting that al-Muatasim planned to eliminate “Al-Farouq Abu Bakr” and Mustafa Sijri.
The accusations came after the decision to depose Abbas, his arrest, and referral to the “Second Division” (his detention is unconfirmed), and the seizure of all funds, properties, lands, and real estates belonging to him and four commanders, registered after 2011.
Limited clashes erupted between the two conflicting parties, resulting in the injury and arrest of the brigade commander and the death of his brother, as well as injuries to other members of his team.
-
International aid must start flowing to Turkey and Syria to save survivors from the rubble – Details
The “al-Muatasim Brigade” is one of the most prominent factions affiliated with the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army, and its influence is mainly concentrated in the city of Maraa in northern Aleppo countryside. It experienced tension between its two rival wings, represented by its leader and the leaders of the “Military Council,” due to financial corruption issues a few months ago.
Sijri stated that the recent action against the “al-Muatasim Brigade” came for five reasons: firstly, the discovery of the largest financial and moral corruption file in the history of the Syrian revolution, involving al-Muatasim and his brothers.
Secondly, the transformation of the “al-Muatasim Brigade” from a revolutionary military faction into a private security company owned by the Abbas family in Maraa, and the construction of a fortune and colossal financial empire by smuggling and selling large shipments of high-quality American weapons and Russian weapons and ammunition from Syria to Libya, estimated at millions of dollars. Thirdly, the concealment and theft of all financial revenues of the brigade, estimated at millions of dollars. Fourthly, the looting and theft of fighters’ salaries coming from Turkey and monthly allowances from internal and external crossings and economic projects, estimated at hundreds of thousands of dollars monthly. Fifthly, the adoption of a policy of illegitimate gain through smuggling points in Maraa, Afrin, and Ras al-Ain, including managing networks of human trafficking and banned substances, and archaeological excavation projects, estimated at millions of dollars monthly.
According to circulating voice recordings on Telegram channels (widespread in the region) of al-Muatasim, he stated that what happened was a coup and betrayal, and after a month of discussions about the issue of financial corruption, the leaders Abu Bakr and Sijri handed over all files related to that.
He added that he was surprised after arriving at the brigade’s building with the official of the “Interim Government” relations Yasser al-Hajji, by the intrusion of members into the building and firing on him, injuring him in the hand, and injuring his brother.
He added that he was detained for four hours before being released, adding, “They betrayed me (Sijri and Alaa al-Din Ayyoub)… to take command.”
The Syrian National Army Alliance controls vast areas in northern and eastern Aleppo countryside. It also controls a pocket in the northeast of the country, extending between the cities of Ras al-Ain and Tell Abyad in the countryside of Raqqa province.
Although it appears as a unified military alliance, clashes often erupt between its military factions for several reasons, with intentions of seizing control and extending influence prevailing.
