Protests continue against the US-backed so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the countryside of Deir Ezzor, denouncing what they reported to be the crime of kidnapping two girls who took refuge in the head of the Bakara tribe, raping and killing them, and dumping their bodies in a village in the western countryside of Deir Ezzor.

The people accused the brother of the commander of the "Deir Ezzor Military Council" belonging to the Kurdish militants, Ahmed al-Khabil (Abu Khawla), of committing the crime and trying to hide its circumstances.

Read more: Demonstrations in the countryside of Deir Ezzor against SDF attacks

As a result, large demonstrations erupted yesterday in the villages of the western countryside of Deir Ezzor in protest against the crime, with demands for the perpetrators to be held accountable, and for the Deir Ezzor Military Council to be dissolved. 

The demonstrators took control of a number of SDF headquarters in the villages of Al-Jia'a and Al-Hossan in the western countryside of Deir Ezzor while asserting that they would not leave them until their demands for the dissolution of the "Deir Ezzor Military Council" are met or the SDF leaves all the areas it occupies. 

Demonstrations against crime

This morning, the demonstrations spread to most of the villages of the western countryside of Deir Ezzor in Al-Hossan, Hawayej Abu Mas'a, Muhaymidah, Al-Kibar, and Al-Jia'a, and reached the town of Markada and the village of Zain Al-Mubraj in the southern countryside of Al-Hasakah, with public roads blocked by burning tires.

Read more: SDF murders school student in Deir Ezzor, Syria

A number of young men of the Bakara tribe issued a statement confirming their "willingness to defend their areas in the face of the practices of the Deir Ezzor Military Council affiliated with the SDF," threatening, "the international coalition that they will expel it from the region, just as they expelled their French and Ottoman ancestors." 

In their statement, the youths of the Bakara tribe described the SDF council that governs the region as, "thieves, bandits, and drug addicts," calling for, "dissolving the military council and holding its members accountable." 

SDF is conducting an investigation into the incident

In an attempt to absorb the people's anger, the SDF General Command issued a statement confirming that it had, "launched a comprehensive investigation to find out the circumstances and aspects of the crime and those involved in it while undertaking to pursue and arrest them and bring them to court for trial."

Referring to "the attempt of some unruly groups affiliated with hostile parties to exploit the crime to strike security and social peace in the region."

Read more: No Education under US-backed SDF rule

The countryside of Deir Ezzor, which is under the control of the SDF, is experiencing a continuous deterioration in the living conditions, with frequent demonstrations denouncing the marginalization of the Arab clans in the region, with the US-backed Kurdish forces being accused of stealing oil and depriving the people of their right to obtain fuel, which led to the deterioration of agriculture and the economy, and the spread of unemployment among the people.

Earlier in October, hundreds took to the streets in the villages of the western countryside of Deir Ezzor in Syria, which are under the control of the SDFmilitias, to protest against the practices of the administration and the deterioration of the humanitarian and living situation in the region.

The participants in the protests demanded fighting the rampant corruption in the institutions of the Autonomous Administration. They also demanded the availability of fuel, water, and electricity, as well as job opportunities for young people, in a way that curbs the sharp wave of migration and supports agriculture.

It is worth noting that the Syrian government accuses the SDF Autonomous Administration of selling, stealing, and smuggling fuel and wheat, and the salaries of workers in the Autonomous Administration do not exceed 300 thousand SYP, which is equivalent to about $60 only.