By Taysir Muhammad
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – In the past years, Iran has sought to infiltrate all aspects of life in Deir ez-Zor Governorate, eastern Syria, through attracting tribes, religious leaders, influential figures, military recruitment, businessmen and changing the culture. Iran seeks to recruit and control the youth of the region by tempting them with money.
Iran entered the western part of Deir ez-Zor in 2017 under the pretense of backing the Syrian government forces in the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS), but when the fighting was over, Iran’s strategy of expansion began.
Iran, through its militias, controls the region from the city of Deir ez-Zor to the town of Abu Kamal, on the Syrian border with Iraq, in addition to seven strategic towns in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor. Despite the presence of the government forces in these regions, Iran ignores it and imposes its control and power entirely on the region.
Deir ez-Zor is witnessing chaos and instability started by discord. The repercussions of the discord evolved into armed conflict and the return of ISIS sleeper cells who took advantage of the chaos.
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.”
A statement issued by the SDF said the operation had “well-defined objectives” and was based on the request of the people of Deir ez-Zor, including the esteemed sheiks and tribal leaders, to “pursue ISIS terrorist cells and eliminate their sources.”
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.
Sources of discord
One notable of a tribe from Deir ez-Zor who preferred to stay unnamed, revealed that Iran has a certain plan in the region. The notable was one among those that Iranian-backed militias tried to persuade and attract to their side.
He told North Press, “I was requested to meet with an Iranian-backed militia in Deir ez-Zor and was asked to join in Iran’s plans to control oil wells” within areas held by the SDF and the US-led Global Coalition.
The militia offered financial temptations and other gains to the notable. He had to show acceptance so he can get away alive.
“They informed me of their plans and talked about the benefits I would gain after assisting them in persuading the members of the tribe into joining them, fighting the SDF and helping with their biggest goal, which is controlling oil wells. They said our share would be a lot,” he said.
On Aug. 31, armed individuals targeted an oil well near Koniko oil field in the countryside of Deir ez-Zor. A local source reported that Iranian-backed militias had brought in weapons and ammunition to the town of Jadid Akidat with the aim of escalating against the SDF. The source speculated that the targeting of the oil well is “in line with the agenda of these militias.”
The notable revealed leaked information to North Press, which indicate that Iran aims through chaos, insecurity and instability to “distract the US-led Global Coalition and hence forcing them to retreat from oil wells, especially since the region is close to the Iraqi border, which facilitates the completion of the Shiite crescent that Iran has worked on for a long time.”
On Sep. 1, President of the Executive Committee of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), Ilham Ahmad, said the clashes in Deir ez-Zor “are driven by Iranian-backed militias and the Syrian government.”
She said in tweet that “Iran and Assad regime want 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.”
She noted it is an attempt by both “to drive out US forces from Syria, which is one of the potential goal.”
Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) only issued a statement, saying they continue to closely monitor events in northeast Syria and ” remain focused on working with the Syrian Democratic Forces to ensure the enduring defeat of Daesh, in support of regional security and stability.”
On Aug. 29, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) held a closed-door meeting with leaders of the National Defense Forces (NDF) affiliated with the Syrian government forces in the city of Deir ez-Zor.
The NDF is a military formation that was founded by the Syrian government and fought along with it during the years of war.
According to a source within the NDF, its leaders made several decisions after the meeting ended, such as reinforcing military posts on the banks of the Euphrates River, putting the forces in high alert status.
According to the latest leaked information obtained by North Press from an exclusive source, General Igor Smoly, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Forces in Syria, head of the Reconciliation Center in Deir ez-Zor, General Andrei, and Nawaf al-Bashir, a pro-Iranian figure, met with tribal leaders in Deir ez-Zor to mobilize them against the SDF and US-led Global Coalition.
The SDF imposed a 48 hour curfew in Deir ez-Zor and seeks to eradicate the source of discord through a military operation to pursue gunmen and ISIS sleeper cells in the area to restore stability and security to Deir ez-Zor.