BREAKING: Chaos in Jarabulus as Turkish-backed Islamist faction fights Turkish-backed Free Syrian Police

JARABULUS, Syria – On Friday evening, fighting reportedly broke out between a faction of the Syrian National Army (SNA) and the Free Syrian Police (FSP) in the city of Jarabulus along the Syrian–Turkish border. Both groups are backed by Turkey.

Ahrar al-Sharqiya, a member of the SNA, opened fire on the Free Syrian Police in Jarabulus. Although it is unclear what sparked the conflict, it is presumed that, given the scale of the fighting, Ahrar al-Sharqiya is now attempting to take control of the city.

Casualties have been reported but due to the chaos of the ongoing fighting, it is unclear how many and from which faction. It is also unclear if there are any civilian casualties.

A picture supposedly of a burning FSP vehicle began circulating on social media, as well as rumors that one FSP headquarters has been taken over by the SNA factions with the FSP confined to a separate headquarters building.

In a statement released near midnight on Friday, the SNA Military Administration called for the fighting in Jarabulus to cease, stating that it only benefited the regime.

The Syrian National Army is a collection of militias, including several espousing Islamist ideologies, formed and funded by Turkey.

Ahrar al-Sharqiya is responsible for the violent murder of female Kurdish politician Hevrin Khalaf and her bodyguards on 12 October 2019 as they drove down the M4 highway.

The Free Syrian Police are a police force established by Turkey to take over the role of local security from the militias of the SNA in the territory it occupies.

Given the fluidity of the situation, we will attempt to update and correct this story as information becomes available.

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