As the Syrian regime, backed by Russia, is on the verge of taking control of the remaining opposition-held areas in southern Syria, Damascus is trying to mobilize Syrian tribes against foreign forces, including those of the United States, in the country's east.
Regime forces seized the Nassib crossing on the border with Jordan July 6. The next day, some 55 Arab and Kurdish tribes meeting in Aleppo declared their total support for the “Syrian Arab Army, led by President Bashar al-Assad, to confront the Turkish aggression and its supporters, namely the US, France and others.”
Back on June 2, around 70 Syrian tribal members and leaders in Deir Hafer city, in northern Aleppo province, announced they were forming a force called the Popular Tribal Resistance Units. The closing statement of that conference said pro-regime units aim to “resist the US, French and Turkish presence in eastern Syria and reject any presence or intervention of military forces of any state on Syrian soil without the government’s approval and coordination."
It added, "The Popular Tribal Resistance Units will be a real backbone for the Syrian army.”