The struggle for allegiances is escalating... What is the role of the tribes in the upcoming battle between Damascus and "QSD" (SDF)?

Arabian Sea Newspaper - Special

**Arab Sea - Follow-ups:** **Private Syrian sources said that competition is intensifying between the Syrian authorities and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to win over the Arab tribes and clans, each to its side, in preparation for any upcoming clash between the two parties. The sources indicated that the indicators show that this confrontation between Damascus and the SDF is not far off, despite all the American and French attempts to push them to implement the March 10 agreement.** **A tribal source familiar with the nature of the relationship between the clans and each of the competing parties (the new Syrian authorities and the SDF) told "Arab Sea" that Damascus is working to win over the Arab clans because it knows that they can be "a powerful tool in its hands in light of the limited ability of the new security forces to cover all Syrian territory," which makes the clans a decisive tool for the government to extend its influence, pointing out that the large security vacuum in the country is pushing Damascus to the option of supporting and strengthening the clans.** **Sensitive positions** **The source, who belongs to the Deir Ezzor clans, points out that Damascus has adopted many measures and plans to ensure the loyalty of the clans, including the appointment of many clan members to sensitive and important political positions. In this regard, he points out that the appointment of Hussein al-Salama, a native of Deir Ezzor, who belongs to the large "Akeedat" tribe, as head of Syrian intelligence, was only within these calculations.** **Also, the appointment of Minister of Culture Muhammad Yassin al-Saleh (from the Buhamid clan, which belongs to the large Bushaaban clan in Deir Ezzor) comes for the same purpose, as al-Saleh plays a major role, not in cultural work as it is supposed, but in winning the friendship of the Arab clans to the side of the authority in Damascus, according to the source.** **He points to the major role played by al-Saleh in the reconciliations that took place between Damascus and some of the clan sheikhs who were loyal to the Assad regime and Iran, such as Sheikh Farhan al-Marsoumi, sheikh of the Marasma clan, who transferred his loyalty to the new authorities after a visit by the Minister of Culture, accompanied by the brother of the Syrian President, Jamal al-Shara, to the Marsoumi's guesthouse, where the visit sparked widespread controversy because of the man's past in smuggling, arms trade, and forming a military militia in favor of Iran.** **Indeed, the role played by al-Marsoumi did not take long, as members of his clan appeared in the attack on Suwayda, as a gesture of loyalty to the authority in Damascus.** **Among the names that trace their lineage back to the clans, the Minister of Health in the Syrian government, Musaab Nazzal al-Ali, who belongs to the Far'an clan in Deir Ezzor, which also belongs to the Akeedat tribe, stands out.** **Military positions** **The other thing that the Syrian authorities adopted to attract the clans, according to the source, was granting ranks and military positions to the sons of the clans, where ranks are distributed to gain loyalties. In this context, the source reveals that the rank of Brigadier General was granted to one of the notables of his clan, even though he had retired before the outbreak of the Syrian crisis and has been living in Saudi Arabia since that time.** **On the other hand, the source points to military appointments as a decisive measure in gaining the loyalty of the clans, as Ahmed al-Muhammad, known as (Abu Muhammad Shoura), who is from the city of Raqqa, was appointed commander of the 66th Division in the Syrian army, while Ahmed al-Aboud, nicknamed "Abu Shehab Tiyana," was appointed commander of the Special Tasks Brigade in the same division.** **Ahmed Hassan Fayyad al-Hayes, nicknamed (Abu Hatem Shaqra), who is also from Deir Ezzor, was also appointed commander of the 86th Division.** **The source points out that the authorities are also seeking, through their recent decision to increase the number of People's Assembly seats from 150 to 210, to satisfy the clans, so that they can obtain additional seats in the council, because the file of representation is very important for the clans, according to him.** **SDF competes with Damascus** **In contrast, the source believes that the SDF is trying to attract the clans to gain their support, or at least ensure their neutrality in any upcoming confrontation with Damascus. The SDF is keen to have popularity by showing that it has a support base in the areas it controls, and does not rule by force alone, so it sometimes holds conferences for some clans, and tries to win over others.** **The co-chair of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), the political arm of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Mahmoud al-Maslat, said in a speech in mid-August that the Syrian clans will not be fuel or firewood for internal, regional or international conflicts.** **Al-Maslat's speech came in a message he addressed to the Syrians and to the Syrian clans in general, in which he stated that "the Arab clans were the safety valve in protecting the land and preserving stability, and today everyone is more in need of their great role in preserving the unity, security and safety of the homeland," according to the message.** **Military and political presence** **According to the source, the SDF attracts the Arab clans through many measures, and has been gaining their loyalty for years until today, relying on many policies, the first of which is granting the clans a prominent role in the civil administration of the Autonomous Administration and the military within the ranks of the SDF. The source points out that the "Deir Ezzor Military Council," which consists exclusively of clans, is considered one of the most prominent military councils in the ranks of the SDF.** **Also, "Al-Sanadid," a military unit belonging to the Shammar tribe led by Mahidi Daham al-Jarba (he died and his son replaced him), is one of the tribal military units affiliated with the Syrian Democratic Forces.** **Economic privileges** **On the other hand, according to the source, the SDF provides great privileges to the sheikhs of the clans in the areas it controls, and this includes granting oil wells to some sheikhs of the clans, such as the sheikh of the Shammar tribe, who has an oil well for his own account.** **The source explains that the economic aspect in the areas controlled by the SDF plays a major role in the continued loyalty of the clans, and says that the standard of living and services in the SDF areas are much better than the areas controlled by the government.** **Distribution of Arab clans in Syria** **According to some estimates, tribes constitute more than 65% of the population of Syria, which shows the great weight they enjoy, which makes them the key to any political or military file.** **The clans are distributed in particular in the Jazeera region (Deir Ezzor, Hasakah and Raqqa), in Aleppo and its countryside, the countryside of Damascus, Daraa, Hama, Homs and Idlib. The most prominent clans in Syria:** **-The "Akeedat" clan, one of the most prominent clans, consists of 13 clans, and is based in Deir Ezzor and extends to the countryside of Homs, Aleppo and Damascus, and has an extension in Iraq.** **The "Baqarah" tribe consists of 11 clans, including "Al-Ubaidat" and "Al-Mashhour," and is based in western Deir Ezzor, Hasakah, the Jabal Abdul Aziz area, and Aleppo, and has an extension in Jordan and Iraq.** **-"Al-Jabour" is one of the large tribes in Hasakah, consisting of nine clans, including "Al-Bukhattab" and "Al-Mahasen," and is spread in Hasakah and Al-Shaddadi, and has a presence in Aleppo.** **-"Tai": one of the large clans in Qamishli, which is an alliance of 14 tribes, most notably "Al-Assaf" and "Al-Maamara," and has influence in Qamishli and is spread in Aleppo, Idlib and southern Syria.** **-"Al-Bushaaban": It is also one of the prominent Syrian tribes, and includes 11 clans, most notably "Al-Jaabat" and "Al-Shaher," and is spread in Aleppo, Idlib, Raqqa, the Syrian Badia regions, the countryside of Deir Ezzor, and southern Syria, and has a spread in southeastern Turkey.** **-"Al-Mawali": It is one of the tribes that has a long history in the region, and includes 13 clans, most notably "Al-Dawla" and "Al-Jamajim," and is spread in the countryside of Hama, the Syrian Badia, Aleppo, Idlib, and the countryside of Raqqa.** **-"Qais": one of the large Syrian tribes, and includes ten clans, most notably "Banu Ajl" and "Banu Othman," and has a wide spread on various Syrian lands.** **-"Al-Naim": The tribe has a wide spread in northern and southern Syria and the Badia, and includes five clans, most notably "Al-Shatihat" and "Al-Buraidat."** **There are other tribes such as: Shammar, Al-Dulaim, Bani Khaled