2 Government-linked militants killed in Syria’s Deir ez-Zor
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – Two militants in armed groups affiliated with the Syrian government forces were killed on Wednesday in clashes over a dispute on smuggling revenues in Deir ez-Zor Governorate, eastern Syria.
A military source told North Press that the clashes have been ongoing for the second day between the National Defense Forces (NDF) and the al-Qaterji armed group, both are militias affiliated with the government forces, over smuggling revenues in the town of Bouqros in the east of Deir ez-Zor.
The al-Qaterji armed group is funded by Hussam al-Qaterji who was known as the godfather of the Syrian government’s oil and wheat trade with the Islamic State (ISIS). He was officially designated pursuant to Executive Order 13573, titled “Blocking the Property of Senior Officials of the Government of Syria,” based on his position as a senior official within the Government of Syria.
The source added that the clashes resulted in the killing of Ziyad al-Matar, 24, and Nayif al-Shawi, 27, who both are NDF members. Since the beginning of the clashes, three individuals have been killed and seven others have been wounded.
According to the source, the clashes renewed after ceasing for a few hours on Tuesday following the intervention of the Military Security and the Fourth Division of the government forces.