Several attacks leave civilian, military casualties in NE Syria
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – Unidentified gunmen conducted on Saturday several attacks in Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa governorate, eastern and northern Syria, leaving behind civilian and military casualties.
Media outlets close to the Islamic State (ISIS) said ISIS militants attacked a military vehicle of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) with an IED between the towns of Ain Issa and Tel al-Samen in northern Raqqa.
The attack resulted in the injury of four SDF fighters and the destruction of their vehicle, according to media outlets. The SDF has yet to comment on the incident.
A local source from the town of Hawaij, east of Deir ez-Zor, said unidentified gunmen riding a motorcycle targeted with machineguns Mahmoud al-Katto and Saad al-Wardi on the main road in the town.
The source told North Press the attack led to the immediate killing of al-Katto and the injury of al-Wardi. He was taken to the Shuhail Hospital and “is in critical condition,” according to the source.
Al-Katto worked as the head of the Local Council in Hawaij, affiliated with the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), and al-Wardi worked as the services officer in the same council.
In the north of Deir ez-Zor city, a military source within the Iranian-backed Liwa al-Quds militia said unknown gunmen attacked a military vehicle of the militia on the main road in the village of al-Bogheliya.
The attack killed one militant from the militia and injured another, the source told North Press.
Two days earlier, unidentified gunmen killed a member of the Military Security of the Syrian government forces in the village of al-Harmoushiya in the west of Deir ez-Zor.
Although the SDF launches intensive security operations, the countryside of Deir ez-Zor witnesses increasing killing incidents carried out against SDF members, employees of the AANES, tribal figures and civilian residents.
Iranian-backed militias and the government forces control large areas of the Syrian Desert and the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, which constitutes a source of concern as it witnesses intensive operations by the ISIS sleeper cells.