Unknown gunmen carry out several attacks against SDF in east Syria
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – Unknown people launched on Saturday at night several attacks in Deir ez-Zor countryside, east Syria. Some of them targeted headquarters of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and resulted in casualties.
A military source of the SDF said that unknown assailants targeted a checkpoint of the SDF near the town of al-Keber, in the western countryside of Deir ez-Zor, with machineguns. No casualties were reported.
This coincided with another attack on two SDF headquarters in the town of Abu Hamam in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, using RPGs and machineguns, according to the source.
Additionally, the village of al-Jarzi and the town of Abu Hardoub, east of Deir ez-Zor, witnessed clashes between unknown gunmen and SDF fighters. As a result, the attackers fled, the source added.
All the aforementioned attacks caused only material damages.
Following the clashes, the SDF raided the towns of Deir ez-Zor to pursue the attackers.
In a separate incident, a military source in the town of Gharanij, east of Deir ez-Zor, told North Press that unknown assailants, riding a motorcycle, opened fire at two SDF fighters near the town.
The attack resulted in the killing of one of the fighters and the injury of the other, the source added.
These attacks come following the “Security Reinforcement” operation that was launched on Aug. 27, by the SDF 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.” The military operation was supported by the US-led Global Coalition.
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.