ISIS claims attack on SDF fighter in Syria’s Deir ez-Zor
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – Islamic State Organization (ISIS) took responsibility on Saturday for targeting a fighter of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in a town east of Deir ez-Zor Governorate, eastern Syria.
ISIS-affiliated Amaq news agency published a statement saying that the organization’s militants targeted with machine guns the SDF fighter Elias al-Hammoud near his house in al-Jabal neighborhood at the center of the town of al-Busayrah, 35 km east of Deir ez-Zor.
“The attack seriously injured al-Hammoud,” according to the statement.
Amaq explained the reason behind the assault as “dealing with the US-led coalition.”
Al-Hammoud was shot on Friday in front of his house by gunmen riding a motorbike, while he was spending his leave, according to a military source of the SDF.
The countryside of Deir ez-Zor witnesses a spike in assassinations, targeting SDF fighters, employees of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), tribal leaders and civilians, despite the intensive security operations launched by the SDF.
On Thursday, an SDF fighter was kidnapped by unknown assailants, to be found dead hours later in the town of Dhiban, east of Deir ez-Zor.
ISIS published on Friday night rare photos showing its cells in the Syrian Badia (desert) completely equipped with heavy machine guns such as DShK.