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Army Chief Says Algeria’s African Cup Victory is ‘Strong Response to the Gang’

Algerian fans celebrate in Algiers after their team won the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations final against Senegal. (AFP)
Algerian fans celebrate in Algiers after their team won the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations final against Senegal. (AFP)
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Army Chief Says Algeria’s African Cup Victory is ‘Strong Response to the Gang’

Algerian fans celebrate in Algiers after their team won the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations final against Senegal. (AFP)
Algerian fans celebrate in Algiers after their team won the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations final against Senegal. (AFP)

Algeria’s army chief of staff Lieutenant General Ahmed Gaed Salah stated on Monday that the country’s national football team’s claiming of the 2019 African Cup of Nations title was a “response” to corruption.

“The Algerians responded to the gang and all those doubting the unity of the people,” he said in remarks that bewildered observers, who failed to see the connection between a sports victory and corruption among the country’s political class.

A number of prominent politicians and businessmen have been detained in the North African country in wake of the resignation of president Abdelaziz Bouteflika under popular and military pressure in April. Salah has since emerged as the de facto ruler.

Algeria won the African cup on Friday.

Salah congratulated the team and military on Monday. He had previously ordered military planes to transport Algerian fans to Egypt to watch the final match.

Observers interpreted Salah’s remark on “the people’s unity” as a reference to the Amazigh flag that some protesters have been raising at popular protests.

The rallies have continued even after Bouteflika’s resignation, with the people demanding the removal of the political class.

The Amazigh flag was notably absent from celebrations marking the national team’s football victory.

Dozens of people have been detained for raising the flag, with authorities accusing them of “threatening national unity.”

Salah, in turn, said those carrying the flag are “remnants of the gang”. Protesters rejected his statement and responded with greater rallies and demands for his resignation.

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Clashes Erupt between Local Factions, Armed Tribal Groups in Syria’s Suwayda

Scenes of normal life in the town of Ashrafiyat Sahnaya (SANA)
Scenes of normal life in the town of Ashrafiyat Sahnaya (SANA)
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Clashes Erupt between Local Factions, Armed Tribal Groups in Syria’s Suwayda

Scenes of normal life in the town of Ashrafiyat Sahnaya (SANA)
Scenes of normal life in the town of Ashrafiyat Sahnaya (SANA)

Intense clashes erupted in southern Syria between local factions in Suwayda province and armed tribal groups from the surrounding countryside, stoking fears of renewed sectarian violence between communities in Suwayda and neighboring Daraa.

The fighting broke out in the western countryside of Suwayda, just a day after Druze religious leaders and community elders announced the start of an agreement intended to bring stability to the area. Conflicting reports have emerged about the reasons behind the escalation.

Local Telegram channels reported what they called a “military escalation” as armed Bedouin groups, described as “outlaws,” were accused of attempting to break a siege around Bedouin-inhabited villages in the western countryside. Mortar exchanges and machine gun fire were reported between the two sides.

In particular, the village of Al-Dara, home to Bedouin tribes, was reportedly shelled from the nearby town of Al-Thaala. In response, tribal fighters launched a counteroffensive, leading to clashes that involved the use of heavy weaponry.

The independent news outlet Suwayda 24 reported that Al-Thaala itself came under attack from unknown groups firing mortars and machine guns from the western outskirts of the town. The incident triggered a gun battle between local defenders and the attackers.

Rumors further fueled tensions, with some claiming that local factions attempted to destroy a mosque and targeted civilian neighborhoods. Meanwhile, Al-Rasid, another outlet covering Suwayda, noted a sharp increase in provocative videos and audio messages alleging that Suwayda factions were besieging tribal areas and setting fire to mosques.

Officials have denied these claims. Religious leaders reaffirmed that mosques remained protected by local factions. Despite this, armed groups from eastern Daraa, reportedly not locals, began shelling Suwayda villages.

Sources in Daraa told Suwayda 24 that these groups, arriving on motorcycles and in vehicles equipped with mortars and heavy weapons, have been trying to provoke unrest for days. Videos and messages circulated on WhatsApp were allegedly aimed at inciting local communities.

The clashes have already had humanitarian consequences. Mortar attacks on villages including Haran, Al-Thaala, Rasas, and Ara resulted in the death of one civilian and injuries to eight others. Dozens of families, particularly women and children, have fled to safer areas.

Local sources say the violence is a deliberate attempt to sow discord between the Druze and tribal communities. They urged residents of both Suwayda and Daraa to resist incitement and work together to de-escalate the situation.

Meanwhile, Syria’s Interior Ministry announced the release of 22 detainees from the towns of Sahnaya and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya in Damascus Countryside, stating they were not involved in bloodshed during recent unrest.

Separately, the Israeli military announced it had raided and destroyed a former Syrian regime command post on Mount Hermon. Israeli forces reportedly uncovered weapons caches and military infrastructure during the operation and seized the materials.