A group of civilian activists in Northern Syria have launched a striking campaign against foreign fighters in an effort to counter their growing influence in rebel-held areas.
Samir Mansour, an activist involved in the creation and distribution of the posters spoke to The National under a pseudonym, explaining the thinking behind them. "We are showing that these foreign fighters are not welcome in Syria, and they have been the main reason behind the international community' attacks on these areas.
“We don’t want them to go home, we just want them to stop working with terror groups. I don’t think they can go home,” he added.
The group’s first target was a British fighter known as Abu Yusuf Al Britani, his real name is believed to be Dimitry Kaplan.
Over the last few weeks, posters adorned with Kaplan’s mug shot have appeared in cities across Idlib province, including Ma’arat Al Numan, Saraqib and Idlib city itself.
The posters allege Kaplan has also been responsible for policing internet cafes in rebel held Syria, amid Hayat Tahrir Al Sham's (HTS) increasingly authoritarian regime.
Security officials believe that Kaplan has links to ISIS, and has previously served as head of HTS’ Istishidi, or martyrdom, operations. A sign of his importance is his four-person body-guard detail, security officials told The National.
Mr Mansour, notes that the posters, which are titled “termination of contract”, are part of a wider civic-rejection of the foreign fighters in some of northern Syria’s most hardline groups.
“People are sick of foreign commanders constant intervening in local disputes”, says Mr Mansour.
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A 2017 report by the Soufan center estimated that as many as 40,000 foreign fighters flocked to to Syria from more than 110 countries. Many joined ISIS, but significant cohorts were also attracted to Al Qaeda linked groups such as HTS and Haras Al Deen, both of which retain a significant presence in Northern Syria.
Despite ISIS loss of Raqqa, and the vast majority of its territory, foreign fighters continue to play key roles in other groups.
This is not the first example of Idlib’s civilian population pushing back against the foreign fighters. Last Wednesday civilian’s protested against a group of Uzbek fighters attempting to establish a new headquarters in a civilian building central Idlib, amid fears the building would be targeted by airstrikes.
“When they are seeking refuge in civilian areas, they are endangering Syrian lives,” warns Mr Mansour.
The campaign is not without risk. Mr Mansour is aware that if caught he could face arrest, torture – even execution, but that threat does not stop him.
“There is no bigger threat at the moment than that posed by HTS, Daesh – who have come back to the area and Ansar Al Deen – all of them have foreign fighters with them. Instead of one threat, we have three.
“The regime is a threat on the frontlines, but in our areas, it’s the foreign fighters.
"Here, they are the real threat – that’s why we fighting back.”
A security source told The National that the campaign "highlights the real attitude that many Syrians – whether in the Opposition or HTS or Daesh – have towards these outsiders.
“They’re unwelcome, and the majority of Syrians have never really welcomed them. Foreign fighters therefore have often formed their own cadres within groups and remained isolated from the locals. This has simply accentuated the differences between them and the locals.”
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Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Intercontinental Cup
Namibia v UAE Saturday Sep 16-Tuesday Sep 19
Table 1 Ireland, 89 points; 2 Afghanistan, 81; 3 Netherlands, 52; 4 Papua New Guinea, 40; 5 Hong Kong, 39; 6 Scotland, 37; 7 UAE, 27; 8 Namibia, 27
SQUADS
South Africa:
JP Duminy (capt), Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock (wkt), AB de Villiers, Robbie Frylinck, Beuran Hendricks, David Miller, Mangaliso Mosehle (wkt), Dane Paterson, Aaron Phangiso, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Tabraiz Shamsi
Bangladesh
Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Imrul Kayes, Liton Das (wkt), Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim (wkt), Nasir Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Shafiul Islam, Soumya Sarkar, Taskin Ahmed
Fixtures
Oct 26: Bloemfontein
Oct 29: Potchefstroom
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
