Situation escalates in Deir ezzor, clashes between Arab tribes and SDF

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
31 Aug 2023 16:39

Al Mayadeen's correspondent reports that renewed clashes have broken out between tribal fighters and SDF militias in Deir Ezzor.

US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) militiamen stand guard at Al Naeem Square, in Raqqa, Syria, Monday, Feb. 7, 2022 (AP)

Clashes erupted this morning between tribal fighters from Deir Ezzor and SDF militias in the vicinity of the town of Dhiban, north of Deir Ezzor, Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Syria reported.

Concurrently, the SDF withdrew its checkpoints from the towns of Tayyana and Al-Shaafah, calling back its armored vehicles from the town of Al-Sourah, north of Deir Ezzor, towards Al-Hasakah.

🚨مشاهد لاشتباكات عرب دير الزور وPKK
pic.twitter.com/AxpNOmegwJ
— اوبزيرفر | (@B667i) August 31, 2023

Hundreds of tribal fighters rallied at the residence of Sheikh Ibrahim Khalil al-Hafel, an influential figure among the tribes, in Dhara town, expressing their support against the SDF offensive.

Locals have erected earthen barriers on roads in Abu Hammam, Ghraneij, and Al-Kishkiah areas, as a sort of precautionary measure against a potential SDF offensive.

توافد مقاتلي العشائر الى ديوان الشيخ ابراهيم الهفل في #ذيبان بريف دير الزور pic.twitter.com/k4iQ8uZING
— عمر رحمون (@Rahmon83) August 31, 2023

It was reported earlier this week that intermittent clashes were breaking out between armed tribal groups and affiliates of the Deir Ezzor Military Council, on one side, and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), on the other, in the northern and western countryside of Deir Ezzor Governorate.

The Council's militants managed to regain control of "Abu Khawla Palace" in the village of Rabieda, Deir Ezzor.

هروب مجموعة من عناصر ميلـ.ـيشيا PKK/PYD (مليشيا قسد) إثر هجوم لـ قـ.ـوات العشائر على أحد المقرات العسكرية شرق ديرالزور.#دير_الزور pic.twitter.com/XMQ96JEyMZ
— العراق برس (@aliraqplus) August 31, 2023

Additionally, the Council and the tribal groups blocked roads connecting the northern and western countryside of Deir Ezzor and threatened to target any patrols belonging to the SDF. These forces were accused of attempting to eliminate Arab leaders within their ranks and imposing the dominance of Kurdish elements on the residents of the Governate's countryside.

Elders and prominent figures of Arab tribes in Deir Ezzor issued an official statement giving both the US-led coalition and the SDF a 12-hour ultimatum to release those detained and to lift the siege on families trapped in Al-Hasakah, threatening to declare general mobilization against the militants if their demands are not met by the deadline.