By Zana al-Ali
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – Dozens of Syrian government-backed and Iranian-backed militants infiltrated on Wednesday villages and towns in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, eastern Syria. These areas are under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
For over a year, infiltration operations against SDF-held areas have been carried out by Iranian-backed militias or government-run groups, led by Ibrahim al-Hefl, a tribal leader of the al-Uqaydat tribe. Al-Hefl declared his fight against the SDF after fleeing to the government-held areas and Iran in September 2023.
North Press interviewed field sources in the towns and villages attacked by the government-backed militants, including Diban, Abu Hamam, Gharanij, and al-Kishkiyah. The sources requested anonymity.
Pre-selected houses
A witness from the town of Gharanij, east of Deir ez-Zor, said that at 3:30 am, the sound of gunfire and shells suddenly began, waking up the residents.
The witness added that over 80 gunmen infiltrated the town, entered pre-selected houses, and targeted SDF posts. The leader of the group in the town was identified as Ahmad al-Mas’oud, close to al-Hefl and supported by the National Defense Forces (NDF), which are affiliated with the government forces and the Iranians.
The witness indicated that the militants were equipped with heavy weapons and launchers, and he observed from videos and pictures that the weapons were new.
The militants withdrew from Gharanij after clashes with the SDF lasted until 7:00 am, but the witness believed some gunmen were still hiding in civilians’ houses.
One of the shells landed near a roundabout close to a school in the village of al-Bahra, east of Deir ez-Zor, killing one person and injuring a girl and another person.
Mastermind of infiltration operations
Local sources said that the infiltration operations are managed in a joint operations room between the NDF and Iranian veterans in Deir ez-Zor, coordinated by al-Hefl.
In one of the circulated videos, Hashem Mas’oud al-Sattam, leader of the Iranian-backed al-Uqaydat Lions, was seen leading the attack on the town of Diban, south of Deir ez-Zor.
Alongside al-Sattam, each area has a group leader who infiltrated the SDF-held areas, including Khalil Yassin al-Ali al-Omar (nicknamed al-Ashram) and Abu al-Yaman from the town of Diban.
Local leaders also included Ahmad al-Mas’oud, Asmar al-Omeiri, Hussein al-Saleh, and Abdurrahman al-Muhammad, leader in the al-Sharqiya Lions militia.
The militants published photos after entering these areas, claiming full control. In one photo, four gunmen are shown, with one holding a flag inscribed “Tribes and Clans Forces,” and two wearing Islamic State (ISIS) uniforms.
Leaked audio of an infiltrator
A leaked audio recording of one of the infiltrators into eastern Euphrates revealed that the group of Kheleif al-Halil, affiliated with the Air Force Intelligence Branch and the NDF, was surrounded by the SDF in al-Omar oil field in Diban.
The infiltrator added that 13 of their militants were killed in the clashes and seven others were arrested.
The SDF accused the government intelligence of being behind the attacks on SDF-controlled areas in eastern Syria, stating that it was done under the instructions of Hossam Luka, head of the General Intelligence Directorate of the Syrian government.
The Euphrates River separates the control areas between the SDF and the U.S.-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS on one side, and the Syrian government forces and Iranian-backed militias on the other side.
On Aug. 6, militias affiliated with the Syrian government forces attacked SDF-held areas on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River, east of Deir ez-Zor.