Iran and regime’s cells sow discord in Syria’s Deir ez-Zor: Asayish leader to North Press
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – “Some pro-Iranian and Syrian regime terrorist sleeper cells crossed into some areas of the Deir ez-Zor countryside in disguise,” said Bashar al-Saab, a leader in the Internal Security Forces (Asayish) in Deir ez-Zor.
“This happened after the signing of an agreement with an American company regarding the development of oil fields in northeastern Syria.”
In an exclusive statement to North Press, al-Saab said the aim of the sleeper cells aimed to “sow discord among the people of Deir ez-Zor and to destabilize security and stability in the region.”
He noted the existence of other terrorist sleeper cells that have committed terrorist acts, including assassinations, bombings, and threats against notables, tribal sheikhs, and employees working in the civil administration.
Al-Saab pointed out they are working to “thwart those schemes,” and that they “have thwarted several attempts, and arrested and pursued the perpetrators.”
Regarding the recent events in Deir ez-Zor, al Saab said some “malicious parties blew up the events in the media.”
“The majority of the employees and military members working in the civil administration in Deir ez-Zor are mainly from the region,” al-Saab said.
He added they continue cooperating with the tribal sheikhs and people of the region to repel this “malicious strife.”
Two dignitaries of the Akidat clan in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor, Sheikh Mutashar al-Hafl and Sheikh Ibrahim al-Hafl, were attacked by unknown persons at the first day of Eid al-Adha, killing Sheikh Mutashar al-Hafl and his driver and injuring Sheikh Ibrahim al-Hafl.
On August 4, the town of al-Hawayej in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor witnessed attacks by masked gunmen against points of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) after a demonstration calling for an investigation about the assassination of Sheikh Mutashar.
In a statement issued on August 4, the SDF announced it started, along with the Asayish, “a security campaign in the towns of al-Shuhail and al-Hawayej in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor.”
The statement added the campaign “targets ISIS sleeper cells and cells affiliated with parties trying to take advantage of these conditions to stir up discord,” without naming those parties.
The co-chair of the Deir ez-Zor Civil Council, Ghassan al-Youssef, told North Press that people and entities linked to ISIS, the Syrian government, and Iran are responsible for what he called “riots” in the Deir ez-Zor countryside.
He added that these actions took place after security operations carried out by the SDF to eliminate ISIS sleeper cells.