Free Syrian Army Commander: Attacks on Tanf Base Aimed at Sparking Side Conflicts

Commander of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) Mohammed Farid al-Qassem during a field tour of the al-Tanf region. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Commander of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) Mohammed Farid al-Qassem during a field tour of the al-Tanf region. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Free Syrian Army Commander: Attacks on Tanf Base Aimed at Sparking Side Conflicts

Commander of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) Mohammed Farid al-Qassem during a field tour of the al-Tanf region. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Commander of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) Mohammed Farid al-Qassem during a field tour of the al-Tanf region. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Commander of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) Mohammed Farid al-Qassem sad the strikes against the al-Tanf base on the Syrian-Iraqi-Jordanian border are aimed at sparking “side conflicts”.

The FSA is deployed at the al-Tanf alongside troops from the US-led anti-ISIS international coalition.

The base occasionally comes under drone attacks that are blamed on pro-Iran factions.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Qassem said his unit is the only one deployed in the 55-km region, which is a security belt or buffer zone that the American set up around al-Tanf.

He accused militias loyal to Iran of carrying out attacks against the base, but acknowledged that there was no evidence to back his claim.

The attacks are aimed at “dragging the region into side conflicts that do not help the Syrian people,” he added.

Such conflicts will make the area an open arena to carry out “destructive agendas.”

The area, he explained, is strategic because it is where the Syrian, Iraqi and Jordanian borders meet.

Moreover, Qassem stressed that the FSA is a “Syrian force that is opposed to the regime. The interference of the regime’s allies in the Syrian conflict forced the FSA to build international alliances that would meet their aspirations to build a new Syria.”

“We are open to working with all Syrian parties that want to become part of an alliance or share united Syrian agenda against the regime and ISIS,” he added.

On the drugs and arms smuggling operations taking place across the Syrian-Jordanian border, Qassem said the FSA and the international coalition have heavily deployed patrols along the border with Syria, Iraq and Jordan to crack down on the illicit operations.

The patrols have helped reduce the smuggling, he added, saying this was a priority for the forces in the area.

Qassem said the forces have “reached very positive results in combating smuggling in the past four months”. The latest drug smuggling operation was busted “just days ago.”



UN Security Council Calls for Syrian-led Political Process

17 December 2024, US, New York: A view of the Security Council during a meeting. Photo: Bianca Otero/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
17 December 2024, US, New York: A view of the Security Council during a meeting. Photo: Bianca Otero/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
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UN Security Council Calls for Syrian-led Political Process

17 December 2024, US, New York: A view of the Security Council during a meeting. Photo: Bianca Otero/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
17 December 2024, US, New York: A view of the Security Council during a meeting. Photo: Bianca Otero/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

The UN Security Council has issued its first statement on Syria following the overthrow of President Bashar Assad's government, calling for a Syrian-led political process leading to elections, and urging all nations to respect the country’s sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity.

The council said Syrians should “peacefully, independently and democratically determine their own futures” based on key principles in a 2015 council resolution that sets out a roadmap to peace calling for a new constitution and UN-monitored elections. It said the process should be facilitated by the United Nations and backed efforts being taken by UN envoy Geir Pedersen.

The statement released Tuesday night makes no mention of the Dec. 8 ouster of Assad by opposition group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.

The Security Council reiterated support for the UN peacekeeping force known as UNDOF monitoring the Israel-Syria border following the 1973 Mideast war. It stressed the obligation of all parties to the 1974 Disengagement Agreement that established a demilitarized buffer zone between the countries to abide by its terms and reduce tensions.

The council statement, approved by all 15 members, underscored the importance of combatting terrorism in Syria and preventing ISIS from re-establishing its stronghold in the country.

The Security Council also reiterated Syria’s obligation to respect human rights and international humanitarian law. This includes the right to seek justice and allow and facilitate humanitarian access to millions in need, the statement said.