Tension still skyrocketing between pro-Turkey militias in Idlib and Aleppo. Discontent over unpaid wages and further cuts in Ankara’s aid is growing

Tension skyrocketing between pro-Turkey militias in Idlib and Aleppo. Local groups are increasingly nervous not receiving wages for over two months, following the tightening that Ankara has given on funding. On April 1, members of the “National Army” also organized a protest in Al-Bab (Aleppo), but so far nothing has changed. Only the Sulieman Shah faction has been paid as a surprise in the last few hours. Moreover, this had a counterproductive effect. In the other militias, in fact, discontent has increased further at being excluded from the initiative and there is suspicion about the origin of the funds. Above all because it seems that Turkish intelligence has cut them again, also reducing those for uniforms. Not surprisingly, someone blew up an IED in Fu’ah, a city controlled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Ankara’s main ally in Syria, just as the vehicle in which one of its leaders was traveling.

Furthermore, Ramadan is on the way, and it could further aggravate the situation. Deprivation, coupled with discontent, risk being a lethal mix

The tension between the pro-Turkish militias in Idlib and Aleppo, however, is likely to worsen again in the short term. This is because Ramadan is approaching, this year it should begin on April 13. The discontent for the lack of funds, combined with the effects of the deprivations to which all the faithful must undergo in this period, are a lethal mix and a small accident could trigger an escalation of violence in northern Syria, with unpredictable results. Precisely in a period in which, however, traditionally the waves of violence slow down.