Al Mayadeen sources: SDF withdraws from several villages East Syria

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
1 Sep 2023 20:54
1 Shares

Arab Tribal fighters have managed to seize control of several villages, towns, and points in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in military practices with the US occupation troops on March 25, 2022 (AFP)

Sources in eastern Syria 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 warriors battling against the PKK/YPG start to control of the oil wells in Deir Ez Zor in #Syria. pic.twitter.com/5eI8gyVVl7
— Mete Sohtaoğlu (@metesohtaoglu) September 1, 2023

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-Bagouz 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 Mabij and Al-Bab.

Turkish-affiliated Syrian National Army posted videos claiming they had "taken control of the villages of Arab Hasan and Al-Mushannaleh" in the countryside of Manbij and Al-Bab, while the spokesperson for the Manbij Military Council, Sharfan Darwish, quickly denied "any news of mercenaries gaining control over any point or checkpoint in the villages and towns of the countryside of Manbij and Al-Bab."

Darwish confirmed "their forces' readiness to repel all attacks" and that "the clashes are ongoing in the villages of Al-Mushannaleh, Arab Hasan, Um Jalloud, Al-Sayyadah, and Al-Dandaniyah."

Simultaneously, Russian airstrikes targeted the points that militias from the Turkish-affiliated Syrian National Army, under the guise of Arab tribes, were advancing towards in one of the villages in eastern Aleppo countryside under the control of SDF.

These Russian airstrikes followed clashes between Turkish-affiliated Syrian National Army and SDF in the village of Al-Mushannaleh on the Manbij front in the eastern Aleppo countryside, where Russian forces, in coordination with the Syrian government, seek to prevent the advance of the National Army in northern Syrian regions.

In a related context, the US State Department issued a statement expressing concern about "violence, including loss of life, in Deir Ezzor", and called on "all parties to cease the escalation and resolve the situation peacefully," while emphasizing "continuing support for the SDF to achieve the final defeat of ISIS."

New Arab tribe joins fight to repel US-backed SDF from Deir Ezzor

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.