Sutoro
{{Distinguish|Sootoro}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name = Sutoro
ܣܘܬܪܐ
| image = Logo of the Sutoro Syriac Police.jpg
| image_size = 200
|caption =
|dates = 2012–present
|country = Syria
|allegiance = Syriac Union Party (Syria)
{{flagicon image|Flag of the Syrian revolution.svg}}{{flagicon image|De facto SA-NES Flag.svg}} Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria
|branch =
|type = Police
|role = Close-quarters battle
Crowd control
Desert warfare
Force protection
HUMINT
Internal security
Law enforcement
Patrolling
Public security
Raiding
Random checkpoint
Surveillance
Urban warfare
|size = 1,000+ (June 2013){{cite web|last=Ramezani|first=K.|url=http://www.20min.ch/ausland/news/story/19238957|title=Schweizer Söldner im syrischen Bürgerkrieg - Hintergrund|publisher=20 Minuten|date=12 July 2013|access-date=10 December 2013}}
|garrison = Al-Malikiyah, Hasakah Governorate, Syria
|nickname = Sutoro
|patron =
|motto =
|colors =
|colors_label =
|march =
|mascot =
|battles =
|anniversaries =
|decorations =
|battle_honours =
|website = https://www.facebook.com/Sutoro.S.S.F/
|commander1 = Ashur Abu Sargon{{Cite web|url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/fr/news/christian-militias-loot-christian-towns-northeastern-syria-1259013833|title=Christian militias loot Christian towns in northeastern Syria|work=Middle East Eye|date=18 October 2015}}
|commander1_label = General commander, 2015
|commander2_label = Spokesperson
|commander3 =
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}}
The Syriac Security Office ({{langx|syr|ܡܟܬܒܐ ܕܣܘܬܪܐ ܣܘܪܝܝܐ|Mawtbo d'Sutoro Suryoyo}}, {{langx|ar|سوتورو}}), commonly known as the Sutoro or the Sutoro Police, is an Assyrian Christian police force in the Jazira Region of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria in Syria, where it works in concert with the general Asayish police force of the canton with the mission to police ethnic Assyrian areas and neighbourhoods. It’s establishment is associated with the Syriac Union Party (SUP).{{cite web|url=https://www.welt.de/politik/ausland/article121122500/Die-Christen-in-Syrien-ziehen-in-die-Schlacht.html|title=Bürgerkrieg : Die Christen in Syrien ziehen in die Schlacht - Nachrichten Politik - Ausland - DIE WELT|publisher=Welt.de|date=23 October 2013|access-date=10 December 2013}}{{cite web|author=Carl Drott|url=http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=62667|title=Qamishli's Cold War|publisher=Le Monde Diplomatique|date=18 November 2013|access-date=10 December 2013}}
History
= Integration in the Rojava institutions =
With the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War and the Rojava conflict, Sutoro units were first organized in town of al-Qahtaniyah (Qabre Hewore), and soon thereafter in al-Malikiyah (Dayrik). The Syriac Union Party maintains warm and friendly relations with its Kurdish neighbours, and it was one of numerous organizations to join the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) in establishing a formal administration for self-governance in northern Syria called Rojava. Following this policy, the Sutoro has sought to align itself with the Kurdish People's Defense Units (YPG) from an early juncture.{{cite web|author=Andrea Glioti|url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/06/syria-syriacs-assyrians-kurds-pyd.html|title=Syriac Christians, Kurds Boost Cooperation in Syria|publisher=Al-Monitor|date=20 June 2013|access-date=17 December 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150406022926/http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/06/syria-syriacs-assyrians-kurds-pyd.html|archive-date=6 April 2015|df=dmy-all}} Although the Kurds were initially suspicious when it started organizing and wanted its members to either disarm or join Kurdish formations, the Sutoro was soon accepted and welcomed by Kurdish forces. It became fully integrated in the administration of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, operating alongside the general Rojavan Asayish police force, manning joint checkpoints and patrolling neighbourhoods together, while its paramilitary counterpart, the Syriac Military Council (MFS), joined an alliance with the YPG in January 2014.{{cite news|url=http://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/instead-of-fleeing-some-of-syrias-christians-will-stand-their-ground#full |title=Instead of fleeing, some of Syria's Christians will stand their ground|last=Szlanko|first=Balint|date=20 February 2014|publisher=The National|access-date=25 February 2014}}
= Breakaway of group "Sootoro" =
{{main|Sootoro}}
The Sutoro Police should not be confused with the Sootoro, which has the same name in the Syriac language, but uses the English translation "Syriac Protection Office" and the transliteration "Sootoro". This police organization in the city of Qamishli was originally founded as the local branch of the Sutero but in late 2013 broke away, turning itself into a militia aligned with the Ba'athist government of Bashar al-Assad.{{cite web|url=http://www.joshualandis.com/blog/christian-militia-political-dynamics-syria/|title=Christian Militia and Political Dynamics in Syria|last=al-Tamimi|first=Aymenn Jawad|date=23 February 2014|publisher=Syria Comment|access-date=25 February 2014}} The Sutoro later founded a new branch in Qamishli.
See also
External links
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lq3mVbsFuN8 Sutoro - Assyrians/Arameans train to protect their areas in Syria] RT video
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Syrian Civil War}}
{{Rojava topics}}
Category:Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria