SDF clashes with fuel smugglers east of Syria’s Deir ez-Zor
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) clashed on Tuesday with fuel smugglers at two unofficial river crossings on the Euphrates River banks east of Deir ez-Zor, east Syria, reporting no casualties.
After storming al-Hesiya and Shabakah crossings in the center of Shuhail town, clashes erupted between an SDF patrol and the fuel smugglers for over an hour which ended with the latter running away towards the Syrian government-held areas west of the Euphrates, a military source from the SDF said.
However, no casualties were reported.
As a result, the SDF targeted ferries and trucks loaded with fuel, meant to be smuggled to the government-held areas, with RPG-7, according to the source.
The SDF periodically launches patrols on the Euphrates banks with the aim to curb basic materials smuggling to the areas under the government’s control.
On April 23, the SDF confiscated large quantities of fuel that were meant to be smuggled to the government-run areas in Jadeed Bakkarah in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor.