SDF announces taking full control of town in Syria’s Deir ez-Zor
RAQQA, Syria (North Press) – Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced on Wednesday taking full control of the town of Diban in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, eastern Syria.
Head of SDF Media Center, Farhad Shami, posted on his Facebook account that the SDF seized full control of the town.
He added that combing operations for gunmen were complete. “The gunmen fled to areas held by the Syrian regime where they came from previously,” he said.
The SDF said militants of the National Defense Forces (NDF) affiliated with government forces entered areas held by the SDF in the east of Euphrates River and participated in the fighting against their forces. They also stated they found Iranian weapons in towns in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor.
Shami announced on Tuesday that the SDF arrested four NDF militants in the town of Diban.
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 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 leaders and with Nawaf al-Bashir, leader of al-Baggara tribe and a pro-Iranian figure 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.