Sheikh Abdul-Karim al-Fahal, Head of the Coalition of the Syrian Tribes, said that the 10,000-strong tribal army is ready for deployment east of the Euphrates River to fill the vacuum which will be caused left by the expected US withdrawal from Syria.
In an interview with al-Jazeera, Al-Fahal said that the tribal army was raised to fight terrorist organizations, sectarian militias and even “the regime until it is overthrown.”
Al-Fahal pointed out that the liberation of the town of Manbij is the top priority of the tribal army which will then move east to liberate the predominately Arab regions. He added: “Together with the local people of the region we will be a legitimate alternative to the American presence.”
With regards to the conference held by the Syrian Arab tribes in the town of Izzaz in Aleppo in early January, Al-Fahal said that the conference brought together more than 1,200 people representing all Syrian tribes. It was also attended by representatives of the Free Syrian Army groups, civil groups, and relief organizations. The conference was held in coordination with Turkey.
Al-Fahal went on to say that the conference “discussed ways to beat up the new challenges facing the Syrian revolution, the establishment of civil administration in the liberated areas, and the provision of security and services to citizens and the displaced people.”
When asked about his vision for the future of the revolution and Syria, Al-Fahal stressed that everyone turned their back on the Syrian people and left them to die by the Assad regime’s barrel bombs aircraft and the bombs of his Russian ally and the sectarian militias. He also stressed the need to unify all rebels groups into a national army whose task will be to liberate the country from all forms of occupation and to protect the freedom and security of civilians. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
