Sootoro
| Gozarto Protection Forces ܡܟܬܒܐ ܕܣܘܬܪܐ ܣܘܪܝܝܐ | |
|---|---|
|
Logo of the Gozarto Protection Forces. | |
| Active | 2012–Present |
| Country | Syria |
| Allegiance |
 Syrian government |
| Type | Light infantry (militia) |
| Role | Security and policing |
| Size | 500+[1] |
| Engagements | |
The Gozarto Protection Force (GPF), also known as Sootoro (Syriac: ܡܟܬܒܐ ܕܣܘܬܪܐ ܣܘܪܝܝܐ, Arabic: سوتورو), is a regional militia based in Qamishli, Al-Hasakah Governorate, Syria, composed of members of the local Christian Assyrian/Syriac and some Armenian communities, founded after the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War that began in 2011. Sootoro claims to be affiliated with the Civil Peace Committee for Syriac Orthodox,[2] Unlike the Kurdish-aligned Sutoro in Al-Hasakah Governorate, which is aligned with the pro-Syrian Opposition Syriac Union Party, the Qamishli Sootoro is aligned with the Syrian government.[3]
History
Sootoro, or Sutoro, was formed as a consequence of the Syrian Civil War that began in 2011, with the task to protect local civilians from the war.
In late 2013, the split became clear between Sootoro and the Sutoro Police, the armed wing of the Syriac Union Party. Both Sootoro and the Sutoro Police keep the same Syriac language name, but apply different transliterations and have different emblems.[4]
In November 2013, the media office of the Qamishli Sootoro stated that it operated exclusively in the city of Qamishli. By December 2013, the group was explicitly disavowing any connection to the SUP in their press releases.
Ever since, the two groups assert separate identities. The Sootoro based in Qamishli, affiliated with the Syrian government, considers the Sutoro Police to be a breakaway group, while the Sutoro, affiliated with Kurdish forces, has claimed that the Qamishli Sootoro has appropriated its name.
References
- ↑ "Pro-regime militias in Syria". Yahoo News. 25 September 2015. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
- ↑ al-Tamimi, Aymenn Jawad (23 February 2014). "Christian Militia and Political Dynamics in Syria". Syria Comment. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
- ↑ Al Tamimi, Aymenn J (24 March 2014). "Assad regime lacks the total support of Syria’s Christians". The National. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
- ↑ Carl Drott (18 November 2013). "Qamishli’s Cold War". Le Monde Diplomatique. Retrieved 10 December 2013.