SDF announced military operation to confront Arab tribes in Deir Ezzor
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The Syrian Democratic Forces impose a curfew in Deir Ezzor's countryside following violent clashes that resulted in losses on their end.
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Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters in Deir Ezzor, Syria (Archive)
Al Mayadeen's correspondent to Syria reported that SDF armed groups announced that they are launching a military operation to confront Arab tribes East of the Euphrates River.
Our correspondent added that SDF armed groups used Artillery and grad MLRS to bomb the town of Al-Busayrah in Deir Ezzor Eastern countryside after Arab Tribal fighters took control of it.
Local sources from northern Deir Ezzor confirm the control of Arab tribal fighters over the entire towns of Al-Baghouz, Al-Basir, and Al-Shahil. The sources confirmed Arab tribal fighters control the road leading to the Al-Omar oil field, which is the largest US base in the area.
Arab tribes took control of the entire river line opposite the Syrian army positions in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, local sources confirmed.
The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Friday imposed a curfew in the Deir Ezzor countryside after sustaining losses in the governorate's east.
Due to the security situation in eastern Deir Ezzor and armed groups, including ISIS, taking advantage of the situation there, the military council of Deir Ezzor and the Internal Security Forces imposed a curfew, SDF said in a statement.
"The curfew will start at 5 AM Saturday and last for 48 hours," the statement added.
The SDF forces in the area are working to ensure the safety of civilians and their property against the sabotage of the armed groups and to prevent said groups from hiding among civilians.
Sources in eastern Syria earlier on Friday told Al Mayadeen that fighters from Arab tribes have taken full control of the town of Hajin in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, shortly after the withdrawal of the SDF militias from the area.
The sources also confirmed that SDF militias withdrew from several other villages in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor. Video clips shared by journalists on social media showed armed tribal fighters in these villages.
Arab Tribes and the "Syrian National Army" attacked Manbij
Villages and towns in the eastern and northern countryside of Deir Ezzor witnessed intense clashes throughout last night between fighters from local Arab tribes and the Deir Ezzor Military Council on one side, and armed SDF militias on the other side. The latter attempted to take control of the entire Deir Ezzor and end the armed presence of the Arab tribes.
The clashes resulted in SDF gaining control over several villages in the northern countryside of Deir Ezzor, following the reinforcement of military forces from Al-Hasakah, Manbij, Raqqa, and Ain al-Arab, supported by heavy weapons, rocket launchers, and tanks, to capture the villages of Abriha, Al-Azabah, Al-Rabieh, and Al-Daman before withdrawing from Al-Daman under the pressure of tribal fire.
In the eastern countryside, Arab tribal fighters managed to take control of several villages, towns, and outposts, seizing a number of armored vehicles, weapons, and ammunition after the withdrawal of SDF fighters and the defection of another group who surrendered to the tribal fighters.
The tribes' members took control of a military police headquarters in Granij, a checkpoint in the town of Al-Tayyana, and the Asayish center in Dhiban. Concurrently, the armed SDF groups completely withdrew from the town of Al-Baghouz after being given a deadline to leave the town by the tribal fighters. They also repelled a wide-scale attack by SDF towards the town of Al-Busayrah.
Turkish-affiliated Syrian National Army announced the opening of crossings for those willing from the tribal communities to fight against SDF in Manbij and Al-Bab, which did happen, as armed forces who claimed to be from the tribal communities fought side to side with the National Army against the SDF's advances in several villages in Manbij and Al-Bab.
Moreover, earlier today, Humat Al-Jazira armed group announced joining Arab tribal fighters in confronting the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), just days after defecting from the US-backed Kurdish militia.
The newly-joined tribesmen were previously affiliates of SDF's Deir Ezzor Military Council (DEMC) and operated under the central operations room in Al-Busayrah.
It is worth noting that armed clashes broke out last week between armed tribal groups and affiliates of the DEMC, on one side, and the SDF, on the other, in the northern and western countryside of Deir Ezzor Governorate.
The fighting erupted after the Kurdish militia arrested the head of the military council, Ahmad Abu Khawla also known as Ahmed Khabil. The Arab leader was lured by the SDF to a senior meeting in the rural areas of Al-Hasakah and subsequently detained.
