Syrian tribes launch offensive against US-backed SDF in Deir Ezzor
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Arab tribal fighters in Syria are partaking in a new battle against the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the eastern city of Deir Ezzor.
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US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters stand guard on a street at al-Baseera town, in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, Syria, Sept. 4, 2023 (AP)
Tribal fighters in Syria's east are participating in a new large-scale offensive in the Deir Ezzor countryside in light of their effort to take control over the Kurdish-controlled areas in the region, local media reported on Sunday.
The tribal fighters launched a large-scale offensive on SDF-controlled areas in numerous towns in the eastern and western Deir Ezzor countryside.
Local sources told Al Mayadeen that the tribal fighters attacked SDF sites on Sunday dawn, managing to take over the majority of the town of Abu Hardoub and also enter the town of Dhebian and take over several neighborhoods in it as they continued to make progress in the locality.
"Tribal fighters managed to capture several SDF militants and take them to safe areas," the local sources said. "They also downed an SDF UAV that attacked civilian areas."
SDF caused at least four civilian deaths by bombing residential buildings in the town of Abu Hardoub, local sources said, noting that they started mobilizing their forces in a bid to reclaim the areas they lost in the region.
In parallel, the region where the clashes are taking place has international coalition drones and helicopters continuously flying overhead. This is done out of fear that the attacks may reach their bases and the areas under their control.
Tribal fighters launched scattered attacks on areas controlled by the SDF after the latter initiated a battle called "Enhancing Security and Safety" in Deir Ezzor. During this battle, they arrested all the members of the Deir Ezzor Military Council affiliated with the SDF, accusing them of corruption and collusion with hostile forces.
Tribal members took control of the entire eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor at the beginning of September before the SDF regained control after mobilizing a large number of forces in the area.
Tribal fighters accuse the Kurdish leaders of the SDF of monopolizing military and administrative rule in the region, as well as preventing the residents of the region from managing their own areas while looting and plundering its resources.
The SDF took control of the entire countryside of Deir Ezzor, located on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River, after capturing the town of Baghuz, the last stronghold of ISIS in Syria, in February 2019. They established a "civil and military administration" to administrate the region amidst accusations that it is merely a symbolic administration and that it is the Kurdish elements within the SDF who actually run the region.
The chief of the Akidat tribe in Syria, Ibrahim al-Hifl, announced in September the start of a "new battle" by Arab tribes against the SDF forces, calling for a general mobilization in the countryside of Deir Ezzor to support the engaged tribal forces
A few days earlier, Sheikh al-Hifl had announced the formation of a military leadership for the tribes and clans army in the countryside of Deir Ezzor. He called on tribe members to launch attacks on SDF positions after the latter had declared an end to clashes on September 6 in the area, claiming to have regained control of the entire eastern Deir Ezzor.
The fighting erupted after the Kurdish-dominated militia arrested the head of the Deir Ezzor military council (DEMC), 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.
Furthermore, the SDF went on an arrest spree and apprehended several leaders of the DEMC after raiding their homes in the Khasham and al-Aziziyah neighborhoods in al-Hasakah
Control of the province is split between the US-backed SDF to the east of the Euphrates River and the Syrian government forces to the West.
Deir Ezzor is highly rich in resources and borders Iraq. The US currently occupies several areas in the governorate, which has allowed it to loot and smuggle energy resources into Iraq.
