AANES in Deir ez-Zor holds Syrian government responsible for chaos
RAQQA, Syria (North Press) – The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) in Deir ez-Zor, eastern Syria, issued a statement on Monday holding the Syrian government responsible for the security chaos and vandalism in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor.
Muhammad al-Rajab, co-chair of the Deir ez-Zor Civil Council of the AANES, said “The regime’s forces and its affiliated groups turned its illegal smuggling routes into passageways for militants to cross and military and logistic supply lines.”
The AANES was first formed in 2014 in the Kurdish-majority regions of Afrin, Kobani and Jazira in northern Syria following the withdrawal of the government forces. Later, it was expanded to Manbij, Tabqa, Raqqa, Hasakah and Deir ez-Zor after the SDF defeated ISIS militarily there.
“These groups spread terror, created chaos and systematically vandalized public property using sectarian slogans and depicting the clashes that occurred as a Kurdish-Arab conflict,” he added.
On Aug. 27, the SDF launched a military operation called “Security Reinforcement” with the support of the US-led Global Coalition on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River, specifically in Deir ez-Zor, “to eradicate Islamic State (ISIS) sleeper cells, pursue criminals responsible for perpetrating injustices against the local population, and to track down smugglers who exploit the populace’s livelihoods.”
On Aug. 30, the SDF announced the dismissal of commander of Deir ez-Zor Military Council, Ahmad al-Khabil, known as Abu Khawla, from duty, for his involvement “in multiple crimes and violations, including communication and coordination with external entities hostile to the revolution, committing criminal offenses and engaging in drug trafficking, mismanaging of the security situation, his negative role in increasing the activities of ISIS cells,” according to the SDF.
The operation led to the eruption of clashes between the SDF and gunmen affiliated with the dismissed leader and with al-Bashir whose groups are active in the western bank of the Euphrates which is under the control of the Syrian government forces and Iranian-backed militias.
The statement supported the efforts of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in fulfilling its duties and “fighting whatever damages the social fabric.”
He called on the tribes to take their national responsibility and demanded the US-led Global Coalition to support the military forces to successfully complete their mission.