Armed clash claims lives of two SDF fighters in Syria’s Deir ez-Zor
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – Two fighters of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) lost on Friday their lives and four others were wounded in an armed clash with a group of smugglers in a town in east of Deir ez-Zor, east Syria.
As a result, a smuggler was killed and three others were injured.
A military source of the SDF in the town of Abu Hamam, 85 kilometers east of Deir ez-Zor, told North Press, “Our forces stormed al-Aliyat river crossing in center of the town, leading to clashes between members of the SDF and the smugglers using machineguns.”
The smugglers tried to flee towards the Syrian government forces-held areas in west of the Euphrates, according to the military source.
“The clashes claimed lives of two SDF fighters and wounded four others, who were transferred to al-Omari Military Hospital,” the source added.
One of the wounded fighters was critically wounded, according to a doctor operating in the hospital.
During the armed clashes, one of the smugglers was killed and three others were wounded, who were transferred to the government-held areas, according to the same source.
The SDF brought in massive military reinforcements to the town and imposed a military cordon to pursue the wanted individuals in the town, the source further explained.
The SDF has recently intensified its raids on the river crossings that link between the government-held areas and those of the SDF following a campaign to confront smuggling that was launched in January.
Two days ago, the SDF stormed smuggling crossings in the town of Shuhail in the eastern countryside of Deir ez-Zor and managed to confiscate large quantities of fuel.