Arab tribes accuse Turkey, Syrian Government and Iran of attacks in Syria’s eastern Deir ez-Zor

RAQQA, Syria (North Press) – A prominent Arab tribe in northern Syria held regional powers responsible for the assassination of tribal and political figures in the region, the leader of Sabkha tribe in Syria’s Raqqa said on Wednesday.

“Turkey, Syrian Government and the Iranian militias try to worsen the conditions in Deir ez-Zor, create discord and destabilize the security situation," Sheikh Mohammad Turki Soaan, the leader of Sabkha Arab tribe in Raqqa, told North Press.

“Groups inside Syria but supported by external parties, have an interest in assassinating Arab tribal sheikhs and Kurdish political figures in order to create a conflict between the Arab tribes themselves and between the Kurds and Arabs,” he said.

Two prominent leaders of al-Egidat tribe Sheikh Mutashar Hammoud al-Jad’an al-Hafel and Sheikh Ibrahim al-Khalil al-Aboud al-Jad’an al-Hafel were were attacked by unknown gunmen last week on the first day of Eid al-Adha festival while returning from a tribal reconciliation conference.

The attack led to the death of Sheikh Mutashar and his driver, and the injury of Sheikh Ibrahim al-Khalil.  

The town of Hawayej, east of Deir ez-Zor countryside, on Tuesday, witnessed an attack by number of masked armed men, targeting military posts belonging to the SDF and their ally known as Deir ez-Zor Military Council, after protesters went out demanding an investigation in the assassination of tribal leaders of al-Egidat tribe.

 
Sheikh Soaan said the assassination of Egidat tribe leaders was not the first terrorist act in the region. "Sheikh Bashir Howidi, a prominent figure of Afadla tribe in Raqqa and Sheikh Abaid Khalaf Hassan, the head of Bu Asaf tribe were assassinated as well as the Kurdish politician Qmar Alosh were assassinated."

Soaan further explained, "The series of assassinations against the people of the region was not limited only to the sheikhs of Arab tribes and Kurds politicians. There were many mass murders against the people of the Sabkha clan occurred in Syrian Government-held areas and for several times."

"There are groups and parties want to foil the project of Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, after or before any conference or meeting with all communities of North and East Syria, a tribal or politician figure is being assassinated."  

Sheikh Soaan also called for intensifying efforts "To reveal those who assassinated the leaders of Egidat tribe."  

(Reporting by Mustafa Khalil; Editing by Hisham Arafat)