Over 30 SDF militias defected from the Washington-backed SDF in Raqqa city after their commander ordered them to storm protesting civilians in the city.
In the meantime, a sum of 300 Arab members of the SDF that had been dispatched to Raqqa from their positions in Northeastern Syria rejected obeying their commanders’ orders to crack down on popular uprising in region and withdrew from their new positions in the city.
Local sources said that yet the SDF continued their crackdown on protesters in Raqqa, adding that the SDF has set up over 15 checkpoints in residential areas in the city and its militias have been patrolling regularly across the city.
In a relevant development last week, unknown attackers opened fire at a group of the SDF in al-Karamah settlement in Eastern Raqqa, killing a militiaman and injuring nine more.
In the meantime, over eighty civilians gathered in al-Sa’ah Square in Raqqa city and protested against SDF’s forced recruitment, calling for release of their arrested young men. Also, a field source pointed to the popular uprising against SDF in Raqqa city in recent weeks, and said the SDF has come under a fresh wave of attacks.