Deir ez-Zor clashes driven by Iran militias, Syrian regime – SDC president
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Clashes erupted in Deir ez-Zor, eastern Syria, for six days are driven by Iranian-backed militias and the Syrian government, President of the Executive Committee of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) Ilham Ahmad said on Friday, warning of far-reaching effects.
On Aug. 27, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) launched a military operation called “Security Reinforcement” with the support of the US-led Global Coalition on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River, specifically in Deir ez-Zor, “to eradicate ISIS sleeper cells, pursue criminals responsible for perpetrating injustices against the local population, and to track down smugglers who exploit the populace’s livelihoods.”
On Aug. 30, the SDF announced the dismissal of commander of Deir ez-Zor Military Council, Ahmad al-Khabil, known as Abu Khawla, from duty, for his involvement “in multiple crimes and violations, including communication and coordination with external entities hostile to the revolution, committing criminal offenses and engaging in drug trafficking, mismanaging of the security situation, his negative role in increasing the activities of ISIS cells,” according to the SDF.
The operation led to the eruption of clashes between the SDF and gunmen affiliated with the dismissed leaders and with Nawaf al-Bashir, leader of al-Baggara tribe and a pro-Iranian figure whose groups are active in the western bank of the Euphrates which is under the control of the Syrian government forces and Iranian-backed militias.
“There is evidence that suggests this disturbance is being driven by Iranian-backed militias and the Syrian regime who want to create unrest and instability throughout the region,” Ilham Ahmad tweeted.
The claimed agenda behind these clashes, Ilham Ahmad added, “is considerably more frightening.” She noted, “Iran and Assad regime wants to depict this unrest as a result of an ethnic conflict between Arabs and Kurds and to distract the Syrians from the protest movements in south of Syria.”
Earlier on Friday, exclusive sources told North Press that members the Military Security Branch of the government enter the town of Abu Hamam, east of Deir ez-Zor, that is under the control of the SDF, in coordination with gunmen allied with the leaders the SDF had dismissed. They open fire on the checkpoints of the SDF and then flee to the west of the Euphrates.
The SDC president indicated that both Iran and the “Syrian regime” inflamed the tension “to drive American troops out of Syria.”
“They may be attempting to win international pity and support for this cause by presenting the situation as being driven by Arab tribes,” she said.
Ahmad warned that the clashes would have “far-reaching effects,” adding “It has wider geopolitical repercussions in addition to endangering the stability of North East Syria.”
“Peace and communication must be prioritized by all parties in these hard times. The people of North East Syria deserve stability and security because they have already endured enough suffering,” Ilham Ahmad concluded.