Deir ez-Zor Military Council commander: Syrian regime and Iran behind assassinations
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – Qasora Deir ez-Zor, commander of the 3rd Brigade of the Deir ez-Zor Military Council, said that “the Syrian regime and Iranian militias are behind the latest assassinations, including the assassination of Sheikh Mutashar al-Hafl.”
Deir ez-Zor added in a statement to North Press, “our forces were able to arrest those who targeted SDF members and points.”
“This came after members of the Syrian regime and Iranian militias infiltrated the ranks of civilians who demonstrated in the area,” he added.
He pointed out that those members admitted during the investigations that they belong to the Syrian regime, and crossed from areas west of the Euphrates.
Two dignitaries of the Akidat tribe in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, Sheikh Mutashar al-Hafl and Sheikh Ibrahim al-Hafl, were targeted by unknown persons on the first day of the Eid al-Adha holiday.
The attack resulted in the death of Sheikh Mutashar and his driver, while Sheikh Ibrahim was injured.
The attack led to demonstrations demanding an investigation of the assassination, and Hawaij town in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor witnessed, on August 4, attacks by masked gunmen on points belonging to the Syrian Democratic Forces.
Qasora said that the “Syrian regime, its supporters, and the Iranian militias aimed to cause strife in the region between the people and the military forces.”
According to him, pro-government elements carried out the assassinations in Deir ez-Zor to frame the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
He further explained that Deir ez-Zor Military Council forces were able to establish security in the area, and they concluded that the Islamic State (ISIS) is not the region’s only danger.
He pointed out that the Deterrence of Terrorism operation carried out by the SDF came after appeals by residents and tribal sheikhs in Deir ez-Zor.
During the first stage of the campaign, the SDF arrested about 120 suspects combing 150 villages along the border with Iraq, starting from Dashisha, south of Hasakah, to Baghouz.
The SDF combed the northeastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, an area measuring about 175 by 60 kilometers, and in the second stage of the campaign they arrested 23 suspects, including an emir (ISIS prince).
Qasora pointed out that ISIS continues to plant mines and IEDs, with the aim of relieving its militants who were being pursued in Dhiban, Shehail and Zer.
The Deir ez-Zor Military Council reinforced its points on the Euphrates as well as the Self-Defense Forces (a conscription-based force in North and East Syria) points and blocked the river crossings, with the exception of two crossings for humanitarian cases in Shuhail and Dhiban.