The new Syrian government has appointed Abu Hatem Shaqra, a US-sanctioned leader of the militia Ahrar al-Sharqiya, as the commander of the 86th Division, responsible for Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor and Hasakah, according to a report by Al-Araby Al-Jadeed. Though no official aanouncement has been made, the decision places Shaqra in charge of a strategically important region of eastern Syria, home to both Kurdish and Arab communities.
Shaqra’s appointment comes in spite of his documented involvement in human rights abuses. In October 2019, Ahrar al-Sharqiya was implicated in the killing of Hevrin Khalaf, a prominent Kurdish politician and member of the Syrian Democratic Council, the political wing of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-led coalition supported by the United States. The militia ambushed her vehicle on the M4 highway, tortured her and executed her during a Turkish-led offensive against Kurdish forces.
The United States Department of the Treasury sanctioned Shaqra and Ahrar al-Sharqiya on 28 July 2021 for their role in abuses against civilians, particularly Syrian Kurds. The sanctions highlighted Shaqra’s direct complicity in the group’s crimes, including the unlawful killing of Khalaf, which the United Nations described as a potential war crime.
Ahrar al-Sharqiya operates within the Syrian National Army (SNA), a coalition of rebel groups backed by Turkey. The militia has a history of working alongside Turkish forces, notably in Afrin in 2018, where Amnesty International documented their involvement in abductions, torture and the looting of civilian property. This background has fuelled speculation about Shaqra’s ties to Turkish intelligence, though there is no direct evidence to confirm this connection.
Journalist Matthew Petti noted the risks of this appointment on X, stating, “I hope that Shaqra’s appointment does not portend a repeat of what happened with Alawites and Druzes.” Petti’s comment refers to recent and past violence against minority groups under various Syrian regimes, and reflects fears of renewed tensions in the ethnically diverse east.
The decision comes amid Syria’s transitional phase, following the appointment of Ahmed al-Sharaa as transitional president in January. Al-Sharaa, leader of the Islamist group Hey’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has overseen efforts to integrate extremist militias into a national army, a process that has strained relations with the SDF and Kurdish communities wary of the new leadership’s intentions.
Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor and Hasakah are resource-rich regions with significant Kurdish populations, long governed by the SDF. The Kurdish-led forces agreed to integrate into a national Syrian army, but many residents remain distrustful of the government in Damascus, fearing marginalisation under the new leadership.
