Residents of Syria’s Deir ez-Zor prevent Russian forces from entering their villages
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – On Thursday, local residents of Deir ez-Zor countryside, eastern Syria, prevented Russian forces from entering their villages to go to their positions in Raqqa.
In coordination with US-led Global Coalition, the Russian forces wanted to cross from the town of al-Hussainiya, west of Deir ez-Zor, which is under the control of the government forces, to the town of al-Jeneina, which is controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF),” a military source in Deir ez-Zor countryside told North Press.
“The Russian forces wanted to go to their positions in Raqqa, passing through the SDF-controlled areas in Deir ez-Zor countryside,” the sources added.
Local residents, however, prevented the Russian forces from crossing, and set tires on fire. One of the residents said in a video recording obtained by North Press, “We will not allow you to enter except on our bodies.”
The video recorded someone else saying: “”You are Bashar al-Assad’s allies, and he destroyed our homes.”
Forces from the Deir ez-Zor Military Council intervened, until the Russian forces withdrew to their position in the town of al-Hussainiya, according to the same sources.
Activists in the Deir ez-Zor countryside said that there are calls to demonstrate on Friday “to reject the Russian interference, or being in the area.”