Unknown gunmen target Asayish member in Syria’s Deir ez-Zor
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – Three people, including member of the Internal Security Forces of North and East Syria (Asayish) were injured on Friday in armed clashes with unknown gunmen in a town in Deir ez-Zor Governorate, east Syria.
A military source of the Asayish said that unknown gunmen riding a motorcycle targeted a member of the Asayish in the town of Abu Hardub in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, resulting in clashes between them.
The source added that the clashes resulted in the injury of the Asayish member and two civilians who were near the site.
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 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.