Oct 13, 2017

ALEPPO, Syria — A number of Arab, Kurdish and Turkmen tribes and clans in the areas liberated during the Turkey-led Operation Euphrates Shield formed the Council of Free Syrian Revolutionary Tribes on Sept. 25. A statement issued by the Turkey-backed council affirmed Syria's territorial integrity and ethnic unity and denounced efforts that would divide the country and establish sectarian and ethnic cantons — a pointed reference to Kurdish self-rule in northern Syria, which is being administered by the Kurdish Democratic Union Party and its military wing, the People's Protection Units.

The council was formed after various tribal and clan meetings over the past few months in Arab, Kurdish and Turkmen regions to discuss a unified council or councils of their own, said Khaled al-Jumaa al-Ujaili, a council member and representative of the Ajil tribe who spoke to Al-Monitor. A large number of members from the Bobatosh, an Arab clan, reside in the liberated areas, and on June 5 the clan announced the formation of its own revolutionary council to support the revolution and prevent division among the tribe in the village of Kafra, east of Azaz, in Aleppo’s northern countryside. It did not, however, join the new council. On July 4, the Ajil clan held a luncheon attended by the mayor of the Turkish city of Kilis and a number of dignitaries and military leaders affiliated with the Free Syrian Army (FSA) actions.

The Shamar clan held a meeting attended by its prominent figures on Aug. 12 to form a tribal council to issue unified statements to the other tribes of the liberated areas. On Sept. 8, the Tay and Damalkha tribes held a meeting in the town of Akhtarin, in the Aleppo countryside, as part of an effort to reunite tribes and clans in their areas. Some 200 dignitaries — military commanders from the FSA and Turkish officers — attended. Meanwhile, on Sept. 9, Turkish officers attended a meeting of Bobatosh tribal members to discuss unifying tribes in the northern Aleppo region.

Ujaili told Al-Monitor, “Tribes in the areas liberated during Operation Euphrates Shield began organizing among themselves about four months ago, until they declared the formation of the Council of Free Syrian Revolutionary Tribes. Twenty-nine clans joined the council, including Turkmen and Kurdish tribes.”

According to Ujaili, the council will choose a president in early November, and consultations are already ongoing between the council's clans. “The main objective of the council is to unite all clans of all sects [i.e., Kurds, Turkmens and Arabs] and to work to restore social cohesion among them in the areas liberated during the Operation Euphrates Shield,” Ujaili said. “The plan is also to generate support for the Syrian revolution and confirm that the tribal council is not concerned with addressing sensitive issues among tribes, but rather aims to achieve cohesion in revolutionary society in the liberated areas. We are drafting a charter that brings together all of the council clans.”