Deir ez-Zor residents protest interference of Tehran, Damascus in region
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – On Sunday, local residents and officials protested in the town of Hajin in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, eastern Syria, and condemned the Syrian government and Iran’s acts of interference in their region.
The local council of the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor delivered a statement in a protest condemning the intervention of Damascus and Tehran. The statement highlighted that these acts of interference aim to undermine the stability of areas held by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).
On Aug. 30, the Syrian Democratic Forces (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, and his negative role in increasing the activities of ISIS cells,” according to the SDF.
The operation sparked 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.
On Sep. 26, the SDF announced expelling the gunmen from Diban and regaining control over posts on the Euphrates River they had retreated from before.
The residents’ statement also condemned the Syrian government and Iran over sending gunmen and equipping them with weapons and ammunition.
Yahya Ali, Chairman of the Eastern Region Council of Future Syria Party, said that “the residents of Deir ez-Zor reject the Iranian interference and support the SDF to thwart all external encroachments.”