By Omar Abdurrahman
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – Ammar suffers from the agony of forced displacement due to unstable security conditions and escalating hostilities on both banks of the Euphrates River in Deir ez-Zor Governorate, eastern Syria.
Ammar al-Ahmad, a resident from the town of al-Quriyah in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, shares common conditions with most residents on the banks of the Euphrates River. They were forced to leave their houses due to shelling amid frequent clashes between armed groups affiliated with the Syrian government forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
The frequent clashes, indiscriminate shooting, and shelling cause panic among the locals and lead to displacement as armed groups infiltrate from areas in the west of the Euphrates to its east, exacerbating the situation.
Escalation
Al-Ahmad was forced to leave his house after he was harassed by militants led by Ibrahim al-Hefl to stop him from accessing his field.
Al-Hefl, backed by the government forces and Iranian-backed militias in areas west of the Euphrates River, became known during the recent clashes in Deir ez-Zor, where he worked to mobilize militants and called to fight against the SDF.
Al-Ahmad moved from his house after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) seized houses in residential areas to use them as platforms to launch rockets against U.S. bases in areas east of the Euphrates.
Deir ez-Zor witnessed security tensions in tandem with attacks by Iranian-backed militias against U.S. forces. Iran and the Syrian government backed armed groups to fight the SDF, the US-led Global Coalition’s ally in fighting ISIS.
Armed groups affiliated with the government forces and Iranian-backed militias, prevent residents in areas west of the Euphrates from accessing their farmlands, their main source of income and livelihood.
Al-Ahmad resides with his family of eight in a mud hut on the outskirts of the town. They lack basic necessities, especially as winter approaches.
Previously, al-Ahmad worked in fishing and farming, but now he is struggling to make ends meet, relying on “charitable people” as he described.
The deterioration of his financial situation after he lost his job forced him to sell the land he inherited from his father.
According to al-Ahmad, militants affiliated with al-Hefl pose a danger to the population. They commit indiscriminate actions forcing families to displace and live in tents to stay away from military escalations.
The eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor has witnessed a large-scale displacement due to the military escalation between the US-led Global Coalition and Iranian-backed militias, in addition to harassments by militants supported by government forces.
Safety
Jaber al-Ammash, a resident hailing from the eastern town of al-Mayadin in Deir ez-Zor, was compelled to flee when bullets struck his house. This unfortunate incident occurred as militants took advantage of civilian houses near the river bank as hiding spots.
Al-Ammash told North Press that the militants force the residents out of their houses to hide there and cross to the other side of the Euphrates to target SDF posts.
The man moved to the city of Deir ez-Zor, where he was forced to pay rent that he could barely afford for a limited period.
He is concerned about the continued actions of Iranian-backed militias and the government forces, who use armed groups to target the SDF and threaten the U.S. bases.
When he left his house, the fighting had ceased for a short period, so his concern was to escape with his family to safety. He did not take any belongings with him.
According to estimations by activists, more than two hundred families have been displaced in Deir ez-Zor from the areas west of the Euphrates River, which are controlled by Iranian militias and the government forces, due to the recent escalation. The militias seize civilian houses to use as platforms for launching rockets and hideouts for militants affiliated with al-Hefl.
The majority of the families have fled towards areas under the control of the SDF, while others have sought refuge in the city center. Others stay with relatives, and some have rented houses outside the escalation zone. There are also those who are residing in tents on the outskirts of the villages and towns in west of the Euphrates.
The residents of Deir ez-Zor are concerned about further waves of displacement due to the security tensions and escalation between the U.S. and Iranian-backed militias.