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Terrorism

Ethnic divisions, feuding roil ISIL in al-Raqa

By Waleed Abu al-Khair in Cairo

'Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant' fighters look on as a member of the group carries out the hadd punishment against an al-Raqa resident in 2016. Tensions have been rising between ISIL fighters of different nationalities as the noose tightens around the group in the city. [Photo courtesy of Al-Raqa is being Slaughtered Silently]

'Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant' fighters look on as a member of the group carries out the hadd punishment against an al-Raqa resident in 2016. Tensions have been rising between ISIL fighters of different nationalities as the noose tightens around the group in the city. [Photo courtesy of Al-Raqa is being Slaughtered Silently]

Inside the Syrian city of al-Raqa, which the "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL) considers the capital of its "caliphate", fighters of different nationalities have been feuding.

Matters finally reached the boiling point, between Syrian and Tunisian fighters in particular, eyewitnesses tell Diyaruna, as evidenced by the outbreak of firefights and clashes.

The Tunisians have banded together, vacating homes inside the city they had taken over and assembling in another area, al-Raqa merchant Wael Mustafa said.

They are staying out of sight and off the streets of al-Raqa, he said, adding that "residents have noticed that al-hesba patrols ("religious police") no longer include Tunisians".

Tunisian elements now appear suddenly in the market in groups of 10 or more to shop for food, Mustafa said, adding that while some of them shop, others stay outside to provide protection for the rest of the group.

"They no longer spend hours in the market as they sometimes did in the past," he said, noting that their shopping outings are now very short.

Some Tunisians used to live downtown, but have now vacated the houses they occupied and moved to the area where their compatriots are clustered, he said.

This is believed to be on the outskirts of al-Raqa near al-Rumeila street where bulldozers recently blocked all roads leading to the area, he said.

Rising internal tensions

Merchants in the market have witnessed several fights between local ISIL elements from al-Raqa and Tunisian elements.

"These are largely over the instantaneous imposition of fines on those who violate the group's rules," Mustafa said, noting that the Tunisians have imposed these fines to collect money, and local elements seek to do the same.

According to Syrian ISIL elements, he said, the reason behind the tension is that the Tunisians refused to fight on the front lines or to move to Deir Ezzor on account of the danger they would encounter.

They are now adamant to leave the area, he said, with the intent of returning to Tunisia or escaping to a European country.

"This has infuriated the local elements, who are forced to fight on the front lines and have suffered heavy casualties as a result," he said.

Mustafa said some residents told him that clashes erupted between the Tunisian elements and al-hesba patrols in a street leading to al-Naim roundabout, in which a number of people were killed and wounded.

The group covered up the incident, the residents told him, by claiming the dead and wounded had fallen in battles against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

Rebellion against leadership

This is not the first time that Tunisian groups have been observed to rebel against ISIL's leadership, said Syrian lawyer Mohammed al-Abdullah, who has been documenting Syria's war and the crimes committed by ISIL.

"In 2015, matters came to a head between Tunisian and Gulf groups because of disputes over leadership and emirship," he told Diyaruna.

The situation is very tense between Tunisian and Arab elements, including Iraqis and Saudis, al-Abdullah said, adding that several skirmishes also have broken out between Syrian and Tunisian elements.

The disputes began to come out into the open as a result of the struggle for power, he said, explaining that Tunisians want to occupy the top positions and believe they are entitled to them, as they left their country to join the group.

"The same is true for Gulf nationals and the Iraqis, as the latter group insists on monopolising the leadership positions on account of the situation in Iraq," he said, noting that Iraqi elements are unable to return because the group has lost much of the territory that it once controlled there.

Some media reports indicate that internal disputes escalated recently, sparked by resentment that the group’s Shura Council had reportedly chosen Iraqi Abu Hafsa al-Mousilli to succeed Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Loyalty crumbles under pressure

"The more military pressure on the group increases, the more disagreements come to the surface, especially between groups of different nationalities," said terror group expert Maj. Gen. Yahya Mohammed Ali, a retired Egyptian military officer.

This is proof of the tenuous loyalty among ISIL fighters, which the group has portrayed as being solid and founded on strong religious and ideological principles, he told Diyaruna.

"All armed groups and even armies face these pressures during battles, and they often pose the toughest test for the leadership," he said.

Had ISIL's organisational structure been sound, its internal relations would have remained stable, he noted.

"However, when the recruitment process is based on money, houses and numerous marriages, the situation is bound to get to this point," Ali said.

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