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.”



Lebanon’s New PM Sees Positive Atmosphere in Cabinet Formation Talks

This handout picture provided by the press office of the Lebanese presidency shows Lebanon's Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam speaking to the media at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut on January 17, 2025. (Lebanese Presidency / Handout/ AFP
This handout picture provided by the press office of the Lebanese presidency shows Lebanon's Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam speaking to the media at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut on January 17, 2025. (Lebanese Presidency / Handout/ AFP
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Lebanon’s New PM Sees Positive Atmosphere in Cabinet Formation Talks

This handout picture provided by the press office of the Lebanese presidency shows Lebanon's Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam speaking to the media at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut on January 17, 2025. (Lebanese Presidency / Handout/ AFP
This handout picture provided by the press office of the Lebanese presidency shows Lebanon's Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam speaking to the media at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut on January 17, 2025. (Lebanese Presidency / Handout/ AFP

Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam said on Friday the formation of a new government would not be delayed, indicating a very positive atmosphere in discussions over its composition.

Salam was nominated by a majority of lawmakers on Monday to form the new government, although he did not win the backing of the Shiite parties Hezbollah and the Amal Movement, led by parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

"The atmosphere is more than positive among all the blocs and today from Speaker Berri," Salam said, speaking to reporters after a meeting with President Joseph Aoun, who was elected by parliament on Jan. 9.

Berri, a close Hezbollah ally, said on Friday he held a "promising meeting" with Salam.

The Iran-backed Hezbollah and Amal had wanted the incumbent Prime Minister Najib Mikati to stay in the post, but a majority of lawmakers opted for Salam, who formerly served as president of the International Court of Justice.

Government formation discussions are often protracted in Lebanon, due to bartering among its sectarian factions over cabinet positions.