Syrian tribesmen meet in Turkey, mull anti-terror front

By Mohamed Misto and Adham Kako

SANLIURFA, Turkey (AA) - The leaders of Syrian Arab tribes whose land has been occupied by the Daesh and PYD/PKK terrorist groups gathered in Turkey’s southeastern Sanliurfa province on Tuesday to discuss means of establishing a unified front against terror.

Fifty tribal leaders from Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor and Al-Hassakah in Syria attended the event, which was held at Sanliurfa’s Harran Hotel under the banner “Working together to end occupation by Assad, Russia, Iran, Hezbollah, Daesh and the PYD”.

According to a statement issued at the conclusion of the meeting, the event’s main objective was to discuss proposals for the establishment of a tribal force tasked with clearing the region of terrorism.

The proposed force, the statement added, would be led by the anti-Assad Free Syrian Army.

In an opening address, Sheikh Rafi al-Rajo Ukla, a Syrian tribal leader, requested the international community’s support for the scheme.

“We call on the international community to support our efforts to eliminate the terrorism of Daesh, the PYD and the Assad regime from [Syria’s] Al-Hassakah and Euphrates regions,” he said.