Int’l Coalition Forces Cordon Tanf Base, Amid Divisions in Ranks of Jaysh Maghawir Al-Thawra

A photo distributed by the international coalition to celebrate the appointment of Colonel Farid al-Qassem as the new leader of the Jaysh Maghawir al-Thawra armed faction at al-Tanf base on Sunday, October 2, 2022. (International Coalition)
A photo distributed by the international coalition to celebrate the appointment of Colonel Farid al-Qassem as the new leader of the Jaysh Maghawir al-Thawra armed faction at al-Tanf base on Sunday, October 2, 2022. (International Coalition)
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Int’l Coalition Forces Cordon Tanf Base, Amid Divisions in Ranks of Jaysh Maghawir Al-Thawra

A photo distributed by the international coalition to celebrate the appointment of Colonel Farid al-Qassem as the new leader of the Jaysh Maghawir al-Thawra armed faction at al-Tanf base on Sunday, October 2, 2022. (International Coalition)
A photo distributed by the international coalition to celebrate the appointment of Colonel Farid al-Qassem as the new leader of the Jaysh Maghawir al-Thawra armed faction at al-Tanf base on Sunday, October 2, 2022. (International Coalition)

The international coalition forces cordoned off Tanf base in the 55-kilometer deconfliction zone and ordered, via loudspeakers, all fighters, except their forces in the base, to leave without weapons, amid coalition aircraft flights over the area, a war monitor reported on Monday.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights had previously revealed that international coalition forces announced Farid Hossam al-Qassem as the new head of Jaysh Maghawir al-Thawra.

This comes amid a dispute among the faction members in the zone over assigning Qassem to his new post.

Members of Jaysh Maghawir al-Thawra, some leaders who rejected Qassem’s appointment and some civil protestors are present at the base.

The international coalition announced on Sunday Qassem’s appointment, replacing Colonel Muhanad al-Tallaa.

However, the faction’s military council immediately announced its rejection of the decision, stressing in a statement that it rejects any foreign intervention in the appointment of its revolutionary leadership.

It further made it clear that Qassem does not belong to Jaysh Maghawir al-Thawra faction.

The SOHR reported Monday that protests continue near Tanf base against the coalition’s appointment decision.

Its sources reported several protests in the past few days staged by dozens of civilians and combatants of the armed faction near the coalition’s base that is stationed near the Syria-Jordan-Iraq border triangle in the 55-kilometer deconfliction zone in the Syrian desert.

On the other hand, a large number of civilians and faction members supported the coalition’s decision and rejected reappointing Tallaa, whom they accused of “being involved in many corruption cases.”

On September 29, SOHR sources reported that dozens of residents gathered near Tanf base to protest the coalition’s decision and called on its command to appoint any other officer from the faction instead of Qassem.

On September 27, the war monitor quoted sources as saying that an international Coalition warplane flew over Tanf garrison and broke the sound barrier to disperse the protestors as they approached the base, where US and other Western forces are deployed.



Palestinians Trickle Out of War-Ravaged Northern Gaza

A boy rests as displaced Palestinians flee Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, through the main Salah al-Din road on the outskirts of Gaza City, on November 5, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. (AFP)
A boy rests as displaced Palestinians flee Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, through the main Salah al-Din road on the outskirts of Gaza City, on November 5, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. (AFP)
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Palestinians Trickle Out of War-Ravaged Northern Gaza

A boy rests as displaced Palestinians flee Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, through the main Salah al-Din road on the outskirts of Gaza City, on November 5, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. (AFP)
A boy rests as displaced Palestinians flee Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, through the main Salah al-Din road on the outskirts of Gaza City, on November 5, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. (AFP)

Dozens of Palestinians trickled southward from war-ravaged northern Gaza, recounting how they had hardly eaten in days with aid long cut off to the area under heavy Israeli bombardment and military campaign.

Leaving the far northern town of Beit Lahia, the families -- mostly women and children -- dragged rucksacks and satchels with belongings as they walked down a street entering Gaza City, where every building had been completely flattened or partially destroyed.

“We came barefoot. We have no sandals, no clothes, nothing. We have no money. There is no food or drink,” said Huda Abu Laila.

Israel launched a fresh offensive in northern Gaza in early October, focusing on Jabaliya, a densely populated, decades-old urban refugee camp where it says Hamas had regrouped. Other areas also hit include Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun, situated just north of Gaza City, like Jabalia.

The UN estimated last week that some 100,000 people remain in the affected area. It has said no aid has reached the far north of the enclave for weeks.

On Monday, the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza said that there are no ambulances or emergency crews currently operating north of Gaza City.

Israel has repeatedly issued evacuation warnings for the entirety of northern Gaza, including Gaza City, where several hundred thousand more Palestinians remain.