Tribal leader says Iran, Russia, Syria cause discord in Deir ez-Zor
HASAKAH, Syria (North Press) – Akram Mahshosh, leader of the Jubur tribe, told North Press on Saturday that Iran, Russia, and the Syrian government work on causing discord and inciting tribes in Deir ez-Zor, eastern Syria.
On Aug. 27, the 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 Islamic State (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 leader 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.
Mahshosh said, “Some parties tried to show the conflict between Deir ez-Zor Military Council and the SDF from a discriminative approach to cause discord and internal fighting between the people of the area with the help of Iran and Russia by inciting tribal leaders residing in the government-held neighborhoods that there is a Kurdish-Arab fighting. However, this is not acceptable.”
“These parties also worked on facilitating entrance of sectarian forces from the west of the Euphrates River to the east to spread division and incite the people of Deir ez-Zor into this fighting. However their plan did not work as the SDF deterred their attempts,” he added.
He noted that the parties that seek to turn the conflict into an internal sedition and a political issue do not represent Arab tribes, stressing that they “support the tribes’ demands if they are right, such as eliminating administrative corruption or shortcomings by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES). However, there are ISIS sleeper cells and other parties that have economic interests related to oil.”
Mahshosh called on the locals, tribes, and military forces to remain calm and not be dragged into these plots, saying the SDF is aware of the situation and will restore the facilities in areas that witnessed clashes to its original status.
He stressed, “Iran is not welcome here. We do not accept Iran’s ideology in our regions. The people in northeast Syria and Syria in general will remain united and will safeguards our country and forces, the SDF, and prevent discord.”