US-Coalition leaders meet SDF, tribes in NE Syria
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – On Sunday, Ethan Goldrich, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs and Joel Vowell, Commander of the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) met in Northeast Syria with the leaders of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), and tribal leaders from Deir ez-Zor, US Embassy in Syria tweeted on Sunday.
The parties of the meeting agreed on the importance of addressing the grievances of the residents of Deir ez-Zor and the dangers of outsiders interfering in the area.
The meeting came following days of clashes between the SDF and gunmen affiliated to the Syrian government forces and Iranian-backed militias that infiltrated to the eastern side of the Euphrates River and invaded the villages there.
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 al-Bashir 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.
The participants of the meeting stressed “the need to avoid civilian deaths and casualties, and the need for de-escalation of violence as soon as possible.”
At the end of the meeting, both Goldrich and Vowell reiterated the importance of the strong US partnership with the SDF in the efforts of the enduring defeat of ISIS.