We remain in the region, Coalition to Syria’s Deir ez-Zor residents
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – The US-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS conveyed a message to the residents of the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor as reading “We will remain in the region.”
A delegation of the Coalition met the residents face to face reassuring they will remain in the area and will not withdraw, according to Fayez Nouri, a resident from Abu Hamam town.
“The people who met the Coalition forces called for the need to maintain stability in terms of administration and security plus improving the livelihood conditions of the population,” he told North Press.
The Coalition assured they will sustain cooperation with their partners namely the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to protect the areas liberated from the grip of ISIS, according to residents.
Abdul-Aziz al-Abd, an eyewitness from the village of al-Kashkiya, in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, said the people of Deir ez-Zor illustrated to the Coalition the bad living conditions the people experience.
“The Coalitions’ delegation was briefed on the basic needs of the people and the necessity of supporting the service sector,” al-Abd said.
In turn, the delegation denied rumors that the Syrian government forces will enter the areas controlled by the Autonomous Administration.
A source from the SDF Coordination and Military Operations Center stated to North Press on condition of anonymity, that the Coalition with its partners the SDF and the Internal Security Forces of North and East Syria (Asayish) work to increase activities and expand the range of patrols in the field of security to affirm that the joint anti-terrorism operations are going on.
The recent joint patrols affirm that protecting the region as well as the population from the danger of ISIS active sleeper cells is top priority.
On December 6, six US M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles along with a Humvee carrying soldiers of the US-led Global Coalition accompanied by the SDF fighters drove to a military base in Deir ez-Zor city.
This is the first time that M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, brought to northeast Syria in the framework of supporting US military bases in the region, head to Deir ez-Zor.
“The military activities in Deir ez-Zor is a joint message confirming that the regions’ security is top priority specially after the escalation of ISIS assaults and threats to attack prisons that hold thousands of ISIS leaders and fighters,” the source added.
Recently, ISIS has ramped up attacks on SDF’s checkpoints and headquarters in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor and also targeting Autonomous Administration officials, dignitaries and civilians.