(Reporting by Abu Abdullah al-Hourani; Translation by Yusra Ahmed)
Rebels of the southern suburbs of Damascus still mired in surprise since 56 fighters of al-Anfal Brigades handed themselves to Syrian regime in Yarmouk Camp for Palestinian Refugees two weeks ago, the move that elicited queries about reasons behind that radical decision to go to the opposite way.
Zaman al-Wasl tried to know the reason behind that collective defection by an exclusive interview with the Brigade’s Commander, Abu Mazen al-Rifai.
The Commander said that hunger and siege besides hopelessness were the main reasons behind his decision. Abu Mazen said, “On March 7, "We planned to escape in batches, after monitoring the activities of the Free Syrian Army’s guards on Thalathin Road near Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp."
"We crossed the road to the regime’s side carrying our full arms, where we were warmly welcomed by the Syrian forces," al-Rifai said.
After that they were taken by buses to a school in Husseiniyeh neighborhood, he added.
Sources mentioned that al-Anfal’s fighters were divided into two groups one stayed in Husseiniyeh, and the other was send to Nisrin Road in Tadamon near Yarmouk camp.
An FSA commander expected that regime wanted to use the experience of al-Anfal Brigade’s fighters in the area and their knowledge of the FSA's bases, what forced rebels to change their plans and bases as a precaution.
Abu Mazen revealed that almost 115 fighters had so far left the Free Syrian Army to join the Syrian regime forces, and they were expected to form the base for the National Defence Forces (NDF) in Husseiniyeh and Thiyabiyeh neighborhoods, while his brigade’s fighters were still in a school in Husseiniyeh with close supervision and guarding.
In regard to the news about killing 4 fighters of al-Anfal Brigade, sources disapproved the story and confirmed that they were not from al-Anfal brigade, and they were most likely fighters wanted to join Abu Mazen’s Brigade after handing themselves to regime, but he requested the sectarian militias to kill them, where they were slaughtered at Sayyeda Zainab Mosque.
Activists explained that severe hunger and poverty the fighters of the Free Syrian Army suffer from in Southern Damascus have played significant role on pushing them to gamble and deny their beliefs and principles to survive.
Activists mentioned that many members of the Free Syrian Army worked in very hard jobs, even battalions’ leader worked as peddlers to secure their families’ food.
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